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About Us

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Our Call To Ministry

Dealing with the next challenge...travel...working with nationals abroad...sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ...these are things that motivate Mark and Chris. The skills and abilities needed to help Mark meet the responsibilities of serving as the director/chaplain of the International Relief Missions.

The Allen's have a long history of  missions working for the kingdom of God. Mark and Chris served for nine years part-time with the Youth Builders program of the Evangelical Free Church of America. In 2006 they moved to full-time status with the CONNECT program of the EFCA. They have extensive experience in training, equipping and leading short-term adult / youth mission teams.

Sensing the Lords direction through an extraordinary ministry opportunity in May of 2007, God opened the door to a unique ministy and the founding of the International Relief Missions organization. They work to minister to the unique segment of emergency services personnel in second and third world countries. Mark's thirty years of experience in emergency services and mission evangelism make him quite qualified to present chaplaincy seminars, emergency service family ministry, and evangelizing.

Mark and Chris' Testimonies

Mark

I accepted Christ as an adult at age thirty. Prior to that I attempted to find my identity through worldly things. I was working full-time in emergency services at the time and it affected my home life with my wife and children. In 1984 my marriage to Chris began to crumble and I needed help. I began to attend a men's Bible study and through the encouragement of a local Evangelical Free Church pastor, and the Holy Spirit I realized there was an emptiness and I was a sinner that needed Jesus Christ in my life. On December 10, 1984 I began my relationship with Jesus Christ. Since that day I have walked closely with Christ and have been mentored by the members of our home church Kost Evangelical Free Church of which I now serve as an elder. God has healed our marriage and has given us great Christian friends and a deep desire to minister full time for the Lord and a love for the lost in cross cultural ministry.

Chris

I was twenty five, married with two young children, my life was good but I was not happy. One evening our pastor, his wife, and another woman came to visit me. After we chatted, I realized how lonely I was. Mark, my husband worked long hours and I had no friends. I felt very isolated. These same people came back two weeks later and told me of the love and friendship Jesus had for me. They prayed with me and I received Christ into my life. Since that moment I have felt God's presence in my life. There have been many times of trouble, but I have always felt God's love and peace. I no longer feel lonely and isolated because I have Christ to lean on.

Mark and Chris

We were married on November 5, 1977. We have four sons: Ira, Milo and his wife Kelly and their sons Peyton and Carter, Elijah and his wife Teresa and four children Grace, Emily, Milo, and Marshall and our son Zacharia. Our home church is Kost Evangelical Free Church in North Branch, Minnesota. Mark currently serves as one of five elders of the church. We've had opportunities to serve in various positions in church government, adult education and youth ministry. We have had the joy of serving the Lord leading adult and youth mission teams to: Poland, Mongolia, Thailand, Moldova, Peru and other locations. These mission ministeries have developed  our walk with Jesus Christ and have prepared us to serve in full time ministry.