Our story.
People in Evansville struggle with financial, educational, relational, emotional, or spiritual barriers, causing adverse effects on their lives and those around them.
The Evansville Christian Life Center was formed over 30 years ago to help those struggling to get ahead and stay ahead. When a nearly 100-year-old monastery building was given to Bethel Church in 1986, our work of restoring people from need to potential in Christ began.
This work has grown to include hundreds of area churches, businesses, organizations, and thousands of individuals (like you!) who join together as volunteers, donors, clients, and staff to strengthen families with a stronger foundation.
Many who go through these services move forward and then make a difference in the lives around them.
Our mission.
The Evansville Christian Life Center is dedicated to the restoration of people.
Our mission is to make a life changing spiritual impact that will restore people to productive and independent living through Jesus Christ. By networking human and financial resources, our goal is to effectively meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of families and individuals.
Beliefs.
Everything we do is founded upon and fueled by the good news and love of Jesus Christ.
We also gratefully partner with those of varying beliefs.
As an organization, we subscribe to the following basic statement of faith as adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals.
Our Leadership
Katie Merrick Grunow Executive Director
Stephen Ralph Director of Anti-Poverty Initiatives
Sharon Taylor Director of Operations
Madison Salamanca Marketing Manager
Katie Sutton Development Associate
Gina Gibson Major Gifts Officer
Board of Directors
Julie Dingman Board President
Vice President of Ambulatory Practices and Chief Operating Officer, Deaconess Clinic
Terry Wheeler Former Board President
Senior Vice President – Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch
Ashley Green Board Vice President
Educator, Mentor, Volunteer
Joe Manzo Treasurer
Director of Finance – America Water
Holly Gillespie Board Secretary
Executive Director, First Christian Church, Newburgh
Jill Scholl
Information Security Director and Privacy Officer, Old National Bank
Brian Hancock
Senior Account Executive, EPIC Brokers
Kyle Kempf
Commercial Loan Officer, Indiana Members Credit Union
Austin Graber
Harding & Shymanski
Jody Smith
828 Properties, LLC, President
Susan Brumley
Deaconess VP of Ancillary Services
Gregg Maurer
Director of Field Operations, Centerpoint Energy
Emeritus Board Members:
E. LYNN JOHNSON, Retired: Bristol Meyers Squibb
DOUG DIEKMANN, Market President, First Financial Bank
STEVE BASS
REV. DAVID SCHWAMBACH, Pastor, Bethel Temple Church
STEVE GORMAN, Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch
C. MARK HUBBARD, President, Evansville Sheet Metal Works
JIM KECK, Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
ALI NIEMEIER, Inside Sales Representative, Berry Global
JANET HELDT BAAS, Retired Foundation President, SVP, Old National Bank
CHUCK ELLIOTT