MISSIONARY UPDATE: Thomas and Bernice Speckhardt
Thomas began attending West Side at age 15 where he was active in the youth and then young adult programs. He married Bernice (who started attending at 18) at West Side 38 years ago. In 1992, after praying with the elders, they were sent as West Side missionaries to Germany to work with international teens.
The work in Germany grew across Europe for the next nine years, and eventually Thomas founded YouthCompass in 2001 to focus solely on growing the mission to teens following their parents around the world. In 2012, YouthCompass was merged into Youth for Christ International (YFCI) as the first ministry model specifically for Cross-Cultural Youth. YouthCompass now serves volunteers and staff around the world, demonstrating and communicating the love and message of Jesus to internationally mobile youth.
Many West Siders have often volunteered on Project Compassion, a service project which was held annually in Eastern Europe for 20 years.
In 2014, Thomas was asked to serve on the YFCI World Leadership Team as the Director of Diaspora ministries, responsible for identifying and helping to develop programs for immigrants, migrants, refugees and expats. In 2023, he added to his responsibilities by taking on an additional role as YFCI Director of Global Partnerships, working with organizations such as Alpha, World Vision, the UN, and Lausanne Conference.
There are over 40 million young people who are living outside of their passport country, one of the larger unreached populations in the world. With West Side’s help, we are able to share the Gospel with teens across the world. Thank you!
The work in Germany grew across Europe for the next nine years, and eventually Thomas founded YouthCompass in 2001 to focus solely on growing the mission to teens following their parents around the world. In 2012, YouthCompass was merged into Youth for Christ International (YFCI) as the first ministry model specifically for Cross-Cultural Youth. YouthCompass now serves volunteers and staff around the world, demonstrating and communicating the love and message of Jesus to internationally mobile youth.
Many West Siders have often volunteered on Project Compassion, a service project which was held annually in Eastern Europe for 20 years.
In 2014, Thomas was asked to serve on the YFCI World Leadership Team as the Director of Diaspora ministries, responsible for identifying and helping to develop programs for immigrants, migrants, refugees and expats. In 2023, he added to his responsibilities by taking on an additional role as YFCI Director of Global Partnerships, working with organizations such as Alpha, World Vision, the UN, and Lausanne Conference.
There are over 40 million young people who are living outside of their passport country, one of the larger unreached populations in the world. With West Side’s help, we are able to share the Gospel with teens across the world. Thank you!
