Board of Directors
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Jerry Quick, Board Past President and Founder of AeC
Jerry Quick is the founder and past president of the ministry Amigos en Cristo. Jerry and his wife Lisa have two grown daughters, Ashley Maria, Colleen and son-in-law, Cameron Mitchell. A major brokerage firm has employed Jerry for over 40 years. He and Lisa live in Springfield, Illinois. Jerry and his family first started taking groups to Juarez on short-term mission trips in February of 2000. In 2007, Jerry sensed that God was calling him to do more for the people in Juarez. In 2008, we incorporated as Amigos en Cristo Ministries and since then, Jerry’s major charge has been trying to follow God’s leading for the ministry. |
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Chris Herrington
Christian Herrington has been on the Board of Directors since it's inception in 2008. He went on his first trip to Mexico in March of 2003 with a team of youth to build homes. He was immediately hooked. "There is something special about being the hands and feet of Christ in the mission field that nothing in this world can compare with. It's like enjoying a small slice of heaven here on earth." said Christian. "God calls us to help the less fortunate out in the world, but somehow when you're doing it, you are the one who is greatly blessed by the experience." Chris lives in New Hampshire with his wife and their four grown children. "Amigos en Cristo has played a vital role in the life of my family and me. The people we work with and those we serve in Mexico we consider our family. The Friendship and Love we share with them has enriched our lives and we hold near and dear to our hearts." |
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Kurt Wilke
Kurt Wilke has been a board member since 2008, and assists with legal and financial matters for Amigos en Cristo. Kurt, his wife Beth, and their two children, Brian and Katie, first visited Juarez on a home building mission trip in 2005. Kurt has returned to Juarez several times as a board member. Kurt is a partner in the Springfield law firm Barber, Segatto, Hoffee, Wilke & Cate. Kurt and Beth are members of Cherry Hills Baptist Church, where Kurt serves on the Board of Elders. Kurt is a past president of the Ball-Chatham School Board. "Amigos plays such a vital role in providing life-changing opportunities to these kids in a Christian environment." |
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Jim Fay
Jim Fay became a board member in 2010 and regularly travels to the Amigos en Cristo ministries with his wife, Lynn. Jim retired from the Illinois State Police in 2006 and works now as the Administrator at Cherry Hills Baptist Church. He says, "The greatest thing about AeC Ministries is that our aim is not to do all of the work ourselves but instead to build up the local Juarez leaders for self-sustaining ministry. A side benefit is that going to Juarez and working side by side with people who have so little compared to our abundance always 'resets my life scale'." |
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Gene Wilken
Gene Wilken serves on the Finance Stewardship Team at Cherry Hills and joined the Amigos en Cristo board in 2010. Gene continues to support this ministry having seen the needs in Juarez while on a mission trip there. Gene is Executive Vice President of Bunn-O-Matic Corporation. Gene and his wife, Pat, have three grown children. |
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Carol Diedrichsen, Secretary
Carol Diedrichsen joined the board of Amigos en Cristo in 2011 after retiring as an education consultant and teacher. She and her husband Mike are active in local ministries in Springfield, IL and have both served on mission trips in Mexico. She says, "God is teaching us a lot through this ministry about His faithfulness and the beauty of the Body of Christ. We'd love to have you join us in the work in Mexico." Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. |
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Colleen Mitchell
Colleeen Mitchell, daughter of Jerry and Lisa Quick, is a graduate of Hope College. She has grown up serving in Juarez and recruited numerous groups to join in the work for the ministry. During her many trips serving in Juarez and in her college experiences and studies, she has gained leadership experience and speaks the language and to the hearts of our Mexican brothers and sisters. |
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Julie Zara, Board President
Julie Zara is a mother of three daughters, Hannah, Emily and Claire. Julie and her husband, Brad, attend Hope Evangelical Free Church. They are owners of Zara's Collision Center. Before joining the business, Julie taught elementary school for 6 years and high school special education for 7 years. Julie, Brad and their youngest daughter, Claire, went to Juarez for the first time in June of 2014. They had such a wonderful experience, they returned again in 2015. "I love the work that the Quick's and the other board members are doing in Juarez. I have a strong passion for education, women and children and love having the opportunity to share Christ's love for them while serving in Juarez." |
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Brad Zara
Brad joined the Amigos en Cristo board in 2015 along with his wife Julie. "I quickly fell in love with the people in Juarez. Even though I can't speak their language, I have no problem interpreting their deep appreciation for all that Amigos en Cristo is doing in their lives and in their community. While there are plenty of people in need in our local community, these needs are typically due to gaps in the many services provided by our government. However, the people in Juarez receive no government assistance so the needs are much greater. I look forward to serving these wonderful people as an AeC board member and as the hands and feet of God." |
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Jennifer Johnson
Jenni joined the Amigos en Cristo board in the summer of 2017. She works as the drafting coordinator at Edwards Group LLC. Her first trip to Juarez was in 2015 and she says her heart has never been the same since. "The culture is bright, the people are gentle, and I always feel like I leave a renewed person." Jenni was also an intern with Amigos en Cristo in June of 2017. "The hands of God are so actively working in this city and it is true blessing to get to be a part of His mission." |