Kim and Jared met through camp ministry in 2002 at The Oaks Camp and Conference Center in California. As their relationship grew they saw God's hand participating in youth and community ministry. Jared's up bringing included travel to Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and India, with residency in New Zealand. Together they knew God would lead them into new places and committed to spend their lives on his mission for them.
Once married, they lived near Winona Lake, Indiana (Kim's home town). Jared worked Inside Sales at Da-Lite Screen Company; Kim worked at coffee shops and directed children's ministry at their church. A great small group was formed, from which many young couples departed into full-time missions, including the Meidals!
For almost 12 years they have served at The Oaks Camp and Conference Center as full-time missionary staff with World Impact. The Oaks Camp specializes in giving urban and at-risk youth a unique camping experience, as well as being a rental facility for almost 400 churches and guest groups each year. At The Oaks, Kim started a coffee house, a pottery program, and supported many administrative tasks, marketing and graphic design projects, fundraising events and community programs. Jared directed outdoor science camps for nine years, and supported the summer and winter youth camp programs; while also serving in leadership committees and developing the computer and network system at camp. The last two years Jared served as Assistant Camp Director. Raising their three boys (now 8,7, and 3) in a camp setting has been a blessing and adventure!
In 2012 Jared and Kim began a year of foster care. Two placements of baby girls during that year led their lives to be turned around, and their eyes opened. They knew they were graced with many blessings, and were still learning to raise a young family; yet they sensed God had particular ways he wanted to use their time, energy and focus in pouring out for those without a stable family. Within a year the opportunity to continue foster care closed due to the pregnancy of their third boy, and they wondered what would be next, knowing they had glimpsed something further to come.
In February of 2017 Jared was invited by a cousin to join his trip to Monterrey, Mexico with Back2Back Ministries. Jared heard the founder speak at an event in Northern California a few weeks later. Suddenly Jared and Kim felt they were observing an organization and model of ministry which matched the call God had put on them, and ways they wanted to be used with their gifts, time and future for vulnerable children. Back2Back’s ministry focus is the 163 million children who are orphans around the world, through trauma competent care and holistic child development partnerships. The goal is for each child to experience restoration to a life of purpose in which they can become fulfilled and mature Christian adults. After seeing this firsthand in Mexico last month, Jared believes that this organization has a unique and professional way of delivering a demonstration of the gospel toward a group which desperately needs it.
In this newest season of ministry, Jared will serve as the IT Director for Back2Back Ministries, based at the Home Office in Mason, Ohio. He will use his 11 years of experience managing IT and web at The Oaks Camp to fill a need that the office has and will help support the growing ministry so that Back2Back Ministries can reach more kids, more effectively.
