From Left to Right: Sharon and Anton Ivy, Steve and Tricia Staten, Jeremy Lefler, Xin and Winston Batino

Winston and Xin Batino:  Winston and Xin Batino lead the downtown Chicago Campus Ministry. They have been married since October, 2003 and have a son, Ethan Daniel, born August, 2006. In May, 1990, Winston was baptized at the University of the Philippines in Manila and six years later on February, 1996, Xin was baptized at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Winston received his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from UIC and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Christian Ministry at Harding University. Xin received her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Beijing, China and her Master’s degree in Urban Planning from UIC. The Batinos are devoted to maintaining a spiritual atmosphere for the campus students and are passionate about their mission of planting a Bible talk at every college and university in Chicago.

Anton and Sharon Ivy:  Anton and Sharon Ivy have been in the ministry since 1986. Anton served as an Evangelist for the Chicago Ministry Center. Anton has a B.S. from the University of Illionis Champagin-Urbana where he also served as a Campus Minister before moving to Chicago in 1988. Sharon has a B.A. from Northern Illinois University were she was converted as a college student. In 1992 the Ivys were asked to moved to Los Angeles to serve in the South Central Ministry. They served as Elder/Evangelist and Women Ministry leader for 12 years. After returing to Chicago, both Anton and Sharon worked as case managers/social workers for Grand Prairie Service Mental Health Agency for 4 years. The Ivys have four daughters: Ashley is married with three children and living in St. Louis; Denae and Deja are students at Homewood/Flossmoor High School; and Antoinette is a student at Parker Junior High.

Jeremy Lefler:  Jeremy studied English at the University of Illinois and is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity. He has experience working with youth, campus, and the adult ministry. Jeremy also serves as the Worship Leader of the Ministry Center.  Jeremy and his wife Mwende live in Chicago with their two beautiful children.

Keith Mudiappa:  Keith became a disciple in our sister church in Sri Lanka as a teenager on April 9th of 2000. He moved to Chicago with his family in 2002. He was active in the teen ministry at OPRF High School and recently graduated with a degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While in the Downtown Campus Ministry, Keith has been an active part of the Campus Student Leadership group. He has a passion for helping campus students find faith and currently works with students on the campus of Northwestern University.

Curt and Patty Simmons:  Curt and Patty Simmons have recently assumed the Ministry Center Leader role for the Chicago Ministry Center.  Curt and Patty have over 20 years ministry experience, but have been out of the full-time ministry for the past six years while Curt dealt with serious medical challenges.  Their ministry experience includes working in various leadership capacities in eight different states and they led churches in Lincoln (Nebraska), St. Louis and Cincinnati.  The Simmons’ are both from the state of Washington and met while Curt was attending Western Washington University in Bellingham where he earned his degree in Journalism. Curt and Patty began their spiritual journey in 1981 in the campus ministry at Western Washington, under the leadership of Preston and Sandie Shepherd. While disabled, Curt wrote four books — The Revealer (2005); Small-Town Heroes (2006); The Brotherhood of Believers (2007); and Unsung Heroes (2008). He also wrote The Unveiling in 1995. During the time of Curt's disability, Patty worked for five years in the health-care field, serving the past three-and-a-half years as an executive assistant for the Vice-President of Quality and Operations at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago, as well as the hospital’s Senior Vice-President and General Counsel. Curt and Patty have been married 28 years and have two children: Brad (24) and Brittany (20).

Steve and Tricia Staten:  Steve and Tricia Staten have been in the ministry since 1988 when they left their professions in Computer Engineering (Steve) and Art Education (Tricia). Steve is an Evangelist for the Chicago Ministry Center and oversees staff education, having received his Master of Arts in Theology from Wheaton College, and Tricia serves as a Women's Ministry Leader. Together they have raised three daughters: Tamera, who graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu and the University of Reading and now works in England; Talia, who graduated from Wheaton College and teaches in New Jersey; and Taylor, who attends Elmhurst College.