CENTER for STUDENT MISSIONS

Jeremy Audas

More info coming soon!

Kara Bettis

Kara is from Cumberland, RI. In the fall she will be a junior at The King’s College in NYC studying to become an international or investigative journalist. This is her first time with CSM, but during high school, she participated in two mission trips with her church to the Dominican Republic, and was also co-leader of her youth group. Throughout college, Kara has participated in multiple ministries, including leading her hall as a resident advisor, tutoring underprivileged children in the local city of Lynn, MA, and teaching children’s Sunday school at a local Hispanic congregation. She believes that life is a glorious opportunity, and she likes to live that out through her passions for Jesus, people, Truth, social justice, travelling, and writing. Kara loves laughing, blogging, playing keyboard, pranks, and the outdoors—hiking, cliff jumping, or high ropes courses. “I am so excited to see where God will take each and every individual who steps through CSM’s doors and every person in Chicago who is blessed by CSM. I can’t wait to meet you!”

Jenny Dai

Jenny was born and raised in a small town called Framingham, MA. Now living in Southern California, she is currently finishing up her first year at California State University of Fullerton where she is studying Child and Adolescent Development. On the mission trips she has been to in Mexico, God has opened her eyes to the simple lives of children and their families who work so hard to get through each day. Jenny enjoys working with youth and get extremely encouraged from witnessing God in their lives. She is an easy person to get along with and is always open to learn new things. “My decision to work with CSM students this summer comes from my desire to know God and His people on a deeper, real level. God impressed in me a heart to be a part of His solution for the city that is so racially divided and undergoing the Plan for Transformation. I believe that God can use CSM to transform lives in the beautiful city of Chicago!”

Katelyn Durst

More info coming soon!

Rachelle Howard

Rachelle is from Burbank, in sunny Southern California. She is currently a junior at Taylor University (Indiana) studying Christian Educational Ministries. She loves what she’s learning and hopes to pursue ministry with youth and missions when she graduates. Rachelle has been a part of missions to Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Italy, Russia and most recently Singapore. She is continually becoming more and more passionate about connecting people and the Church community around the world. This year, she has enjoyed being a high school camp counselor, a high school small group leader at her church, and the discipleship assistant on her dorm floor. Through these positions, it has been incredible to rejoice in what God is doing in the lives of others. One thing you should know about her is that she loves giraffes! She also enjoys animal crackers, playing guitar, painting and listening to people’s stories (will always go on a coffee or tea date with no hesitation). “I am looking forward to working with CSM this summer because I am passionate about giving students the opportunity to grow in their love for ministry and serve the Kingdom of God in urban Chicago. I’m also excited to personally bring glory to God by sharing His love and hope in the city.”

Gregory Keller

Gregory is from Montz, LA, and will be a junior at LSU in the fall. He is studying rocks and dirt (Geology) and has been on a couple of fossil digs. He has been on a couple of mission trips, including several hurricane damage repair days after Katrina, a week-long trip to Mississippi in high school, an urban mission trip to Memphis, and spent a week with CSM Chicago. Gregory remains active with his youth group from his home church, leads worship for retreats and works with junior high youth. He knows enough about bmx, skimboarding, frisbee, baseball, football and ping pong to fool you into thinking he is good at them. He also enjoys making music, whether that be guitar, mandolin, bass, or stumbling his way clumsily around the piano. “I hope to help students understand that they are big enough to help and enjoy ‘blessed connection’, the web of Christianity that sprawls across the whole earth. Tremendous growth can occur when you tap into the resources that our Lord has supplied us with, and I have been blessed every time i connect with a new part of the church. I plan to do just that this summer, grow myself, and help others grow.”

Kyle Long

Kyle is a Freshmen studying at Taylor University in Upland, IN. He is majoring in Finance and minoring in Spanish. His current hometown is Lake Zurich, IL, but has lived all around the country in; Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois and California. Kyle has been on mission trips to New Orleans for a week last summer and Silver Birch Ranch Camp in Wisconsin for a week last spring. He really enjoyed working with the high school students and having great conversations with them. His hobbies include road biking, zumba two days a week and great conversation. “My goal this summer in working with CSM is to completely trust in God and be led by His Holy Spirit to share the love and joy of His Kingdom to those who greatly need to know how much they are truly loved!”

Lauren Maniaci

Lauren is from O’Fallon Missouri. She goes to Missouri Baptist University, and is technically a junior there by credit hour, however it is her second year. She has been on two mission trips with CSM (Chicago and Nashville) and has also been on a mission trip to another area in Tennessee. She is also planning to attend a mission trip to Haiti soon. Lauren’s experience working with junior high and senior high students have been mostly in her church. She is a college leader on all of the weekend outings and also disciple a few girls whom range in grade from 6th grade to freshman in college. Lauren has also led other church retreats. Her interests involve spending quality time with friends and family. Lauren has 2 nephews and a niece whom she absolutely adores being with and loves bringing them to church. Having a very large family, get togethers are always interesting and always a blessing. “My heart for working with CSM is to engage students into the culture around them, and see how they can take that life-changing experience back home with them. Also, to show that they don’t need to go to a foreign country to see broken people, it is simply right here in America.”

Kelsey Meadows

Kelsey is from Texarkana, TX. She is a junior at Union University in Jackson, TN, where she is majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Christian Studies. Kelsey did a mission trip to CSM San Francisco when she was in high school. She has been going to a Christian camp, Brookhill Ranch, for 11 years. The past four years, she has worked on staff as a Counselor. Kelsey has also served as a small group leader in her youth group and also as the worship leader for her church. God has gifted Kelsey with a passion for music. She writes music, sings, and plays the guitar, as well as other various instruments.“ All I want to do is love people, as Christ loved people, and what that looks like is service. Christ showed love by becoming a servant, and that’s exactly why I want to serve with CSM this summer.”

Hannah Morley

Hannah is from Medford, OR. She just finished her first year studying Urban Ministries Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She has been involved in missions since she was in Junior High and has traveled to Vanuatu (a country located in the South Pacific), Mexico, El Salvador and on two mission trips with CSM during her high school years. Hannah has worked with the youth at her home church and helped plan a small, hometown mission trip. She loves hanging out with Junior High and High School students! Hannah has a love for children’s books (is currently working on writing one of her own), country music, and Ultimate Frisbee.“I believe God has a purpose for the city and has called His people to be His hands and feet. I am excited to have the opportunity to show others this beautiful city, serving the least of these, in order to glorify our Lord.”

Grant Novak

More info coming soon!

Matthew Peterson

Matt “Matty” Peterson is a Denver, Colorado native entering his senior year of studies at Azusa Pacific University where he is pursuing a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Global Studies. A city boy who loves nature, Matty finds home and solitude and sees God’s workmanship both in the outdoors as well as in the heart of the city. Matty is an avid sports fan who enjoys writing and sees great power for personal and social change and racial reconciliation through athletics and art. He has been leading Middle School and High School Groups at Bible Study and Camp for the past six years, and believes youth are the key to seeing a transformation in the world around us. Matty is excited to return for a second summer as a CSM Host in Chicago. He hopes to be a part of the work Christ is already doing in this beloved city, and sharing his and his Father’s heart for the city with the groups that join. There is not only work and healing to be done in Chicago, but work and healing God can do in us through this city and the people who call it home. He also hopes to set up roots in Chicago to return back to after graduation, and prayerfully make Chicago a more permanent long term home. However with God at the wheel, he clings not to his own plans but rather to Jesus as He guides Matty on this journey, and hopes you do the same.

Chelsea Whyte

Chelsea is from Palm Harbor, FL. She is a senior at Anderson University, studying Bible & Religion and Youth Ministry. She has done several hurricane relief mission trips in both Florida and Mississippi, as well as urban mission trips in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Chelsea has been involved with her Jr. High ministry during high school and is currently volunteering with a Jr. High ministry at a church in Anderson. She has also done several youth ministry internships which have helped develop her passion for students. In her free time, Chelsea loves being outside, going swimming, dancing, listening to and playing music, and spending time with friends. “What I’m most looking forward to this summer working with CSM is seeing students’ lives change as they serve others and realize they have the God given potential to make an impact.”

Rachel Wingle

Rachel is originally from Lebanon, PA. She went to Shippensburg University for her undergraduate degree in Social Work and minor in Ethnic Studies (May 2010). She continued at Shippensburg for one more year to receive her Master’s in Social Work (May 2011). Throughout high school, Rachel was able to attend a few work camp trips with REACH (similar to Habitat for Humanity). In college, she went on spring break trips with Habitat in Sandtown (Baltimore) and participated in outreach to the homeless in Atlanta, GA with SafeHouse. During her summers, she worked at Christian camps: Summer’s Best Two Weeks and Ligonier Camp and Conference Center with youth ages 8-18. During another summer, she took a month long trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia with Pioneers mission’s organization. She really loves learning about different cultures and understanding how her “western view” impacts the way she lives, her view of the world, and even her view of God. She enjoys being with people, whether that’s just hanging out, hiking, or talking over a cup of coffee and dessert! On her own, she enjoys working on some spoken word poetry, reading, taking a quick nap, working out, or riding bike. “I am really excited to be a city host with CSM in Chicago. I’ve never been to Chicago, but I’m looking forward to learning a lot about the city and its needs and how we can play a part in God’s restoration in the city. I hope to enjoy leading and learning from the youth that come to the city, staff and sponsors. I hope to inspire new perspectives and growth for those that come to the city for their trip. Lastly, I know for sure that my eyes will be even more open to the realities of the brokenness in the city and the greatness of God’s work.”