Our Story So Far…
Jen grew up in Southern Illinois, but began her life in full-time ministry in South Africa, working with a Christian performing arts ministry called 13th FLOOR where she received ministry training as well as vocational training in dance and theater. During that time she ministered primarily to youth in South Africa, Namibia, Europe, and the United States through full-scale theatrical productions addressing relevant issues for youth, and bringing the truth and hope of Christ into these dark scenarios. After working with 13th FLOOR from 2005 through end of 2007 she connected with an inner-city ministry in Minneapolis called Source Ministries where she came on as staff in the beginning of 2008. During her time with Source she was involved in a variety of programs and ministry opportunities, with the primary goal of sharing the Gospel within the arts community of South Minneapolis and also reaching out to homeless youth in the area
Drew grew up a Minnesota boy, but began working with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in Panama where he received specialized mission development through the Discipleship Training School. Between 2006 and 2008 he served in Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Kenya where he focused primarily on evangelism and discipleship with unreached people and young missionaries. In 2008 he returned to the United States and was hired on by North Heights, a large suburban church in Minnesota, where he became the Outreach Ministries Coordinator for the Emerging Generation; creating strategic relationships with other ministries and non-profits and developing service and volunteer opportunities for high school and college students to participate in, both locally and internationally.
In 2010, after getting married, Drew and Jen prayerfully embarked on a new season of life and ministry together as they began serving with YWAM in Minnesota. During their time at the ministry base they helped further develop and staff the Discipleship Training School and the School of Ministry Development, where they were training and equipping young missionaries and leading outreach teams internationally to Colombia (2011) and Nepal (2013). They also helped to develop an emphasis on ministry through Creative Arts, Worship, and Prayer Ministry that is continuing to increase the influence of the Minnesota Training Base.
Over the time Andrew & Jennifer were serving at the Minnesota Training Base, a burden developed in their hearts to develop a strategy to reach into Minneapolis and St Paul, the “Twin Cities” of Minnesota. In 2011 they began developing a strategy for how to bring the Love of God into the Cities through Youth With A Mission. After much preparation, in 2013 they were launched into the Twin Cities to serve full-time in “Urban Missions” and help develop and disciple others with a similar vision and burden. During this time a lot happened, The overall vision of the YWAM training center shifted toward decentralizing and building ministry opportunities in the city, new urban missionaries and teams made the transition to serve outside of the training center, ywam alumni were given a platform for prayer, encouragement, and help as they transitioned out from the mission field and Drew and Jen also added to their family with the birth of their son Asher in December 2013.
After being brought onto the YWAM Minneapolis City Leadership, and seeing a number of YWAM teams and individuals establish themselves in the Twin Cities, they prayerfully considered their next steps and felt like this chapter of serving in Minnesota was coming to an end at the beginning of 2015. Their Reuss family spent a year of further skill development and training. First, they moved to the Lakeside, Montana YWAM base where Jen attended an intensive worship internship training, and then the family headed down South to Costa Rica, where Drew participated in a Community Development at the YWAM base in San Jose. They have since landed at the “University of the Nations” base in Kona, Hawaii, at the beginning of 2016. In 2017 their family grew once again with the birth of their daughter Azária, and they are currently putting their skills and experience to use as they are helping to raise up the next generation of missionaries and sending them out into the nations to share about Jesus, and empower people with the Gospel!
thereussfamily.com 
‘He’ has chosen you for an important mission; you are fulfilling His chosen path for you…blessings and warm wishes from Little Canada! Please give us a shout if you are in need of something specific and I can work with your Dad to try and get it to you in your new home!!
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