ABOUT
Internation Mission Partnerships And Cross-cultural Training
IMPACT's Mission is to form, train and send teams, prepared to serve Christ and his Church through cross-cultural mission journeys that nurture the ministries of global partners and train participants to be missionaries at home.
IMPACT's Vision is to cultivate relationships that mutually impact Christians and ministries across the globe for Christ and his Kingdom.
IMPACT journeys Teams spend 3 days in training together before being sent out to countries around the world to serve for 1-3 weeks. Ministry opportunities vary from country to country visit Current Trips for information on trips being offered this year.
Are you looking for training or help in sending a team to serve a missionary your church supports? IMPACT can help! Contact us for more info
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IMPACT is a registered 501c3
HISTORY
I.M.P.A.C.T. (International Missions Partnerships & Cross-cultural Training)
We can do better at serving the global church and training local missionaries. That conviction gave birth to IMPACT 30 years ago.
Today there is a greater awareness to the need for intentionality when working with global partners. Books have been written. Seminars have been offered. Still, this understanding in intentionality needs the space to be practiced. IMPACT is that space.
Every year IMPACT invites people from all-across the West Coast to join one of our teams going out into the world. IMPACT first walks side-by-side with each person through the processes of fund-raising, medical requirements, visas, and et al. IMPACT then gathers each team at a retreat center for three full days of training focusing on themes of missional living developed and refined over the past 30 years. Since teams are intergenerational and made of people from different churches, much time is given to learning how to serve together. Teams then leave for LAX directly from the training to Learn, Serve, and Share with international partners. Upon returning home each participant receives a coach who leads a process of integrating the had experience and spiritual formation.
IMPACT’s global partnerships have extended to many countries such as: Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Albania, Romania, Ukraine, Uganda, India, China, Mexico, Turkey, and Brazil.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17)
IMPACT continues to provide youth and adults opportunities to participate in cross-cultural, short-term mission. This relationally oriented ministry partners with local churches and Christian ministry groups in the countries we visit. God is doing incredible things in and through IMPACT as His body across the globe comes together to share and learn from one another.
"I learned that everybody matters. Many people think that taking one drop from an ocean won't matter but the ocean is made up of drops. Therefore, I know that the body of Christ is made up of all Christians and that everyone is a part of Gods plan." -trip participant
TEAM
Kristy LaBarge
DIRECTOR
Kristy grew up in Ventura, earned her undergraduate degree at UCSB and her M.Div at Princeton Theological Seminary. She has been married to her husband Jonathan for 15 years. Their children, Caleb (10) and Amayah (8) are wonderful blessings and sources of joy. For the past 12 years they have served River of the Valley/Rio Del Valle—a multi-cultural and multi-lingual ministry in Canoga Park, CA.
Kristy began serving as director of IMPACT in 2013.
Her life has consistently included involvement in foreign missions. In fact, her involvement with Honduras through IMPACT played a vital role in her calling into professional ministry. After seminary the two also lived in Honduras for a little more than a year starting in 2010.
Kristy believes in the great potential IMPACT has to change lives and nurture leaders for the Church. She has a deep sense of responsibility to guide this important ministry forward diligently, working alongside others in this journey and doing all together for Christ’s Kingdom.
IMPACT Board
visionary • heart-filled • dedicated
Our board is made up people from eight different churches who love the Lord and have a great heart for global missions. It is the backbone of this ministry.
Tim Black First Presbyterian Church, Burbank, CA
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Susan Byde Cambria Community Church, Cambria, CA
Jackie Holsclaw Stonebridge Community Church, Simi Valley, CA
Kristy LaBarge Director, River of the Valley/Rio Del Valle, Canoga Park, CA
Michelle Petersen Moorpark Presbyterian Church, Moorpark, CA
Ric Sletten Mission Church, Ventura, CA
Dan Stevens Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Thousand Oaks, CA
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Randy Working Cityview Church, Lompoc, CA
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