Chris Hoppe-Spink

Missionary Profile

Ministry Focus

Chris will be joining with the other Campus Ambassadors staff as part of a team that desires to reach the University at Buffalo community for the Kingdom of God. This will include 1-on-1 evangelism and discipleship, group/team evangelism & discipleship as well as the development & training of student leaders to do the same. Some personal areas that Chris enjoys are hanging out & building relationships with students, playing games, learning the faith background of others, sharing his faith story, sharing God's story, and teaching at their weekly group gatherings.


Faith Story

Chris gave his life to Jesus at a church revival meeting when he was 5 years old. While going through the darkest period of his life when he was 27, God gave him a call to ministry. His wife, Joan, became a follower of Jesus after her senior year of high school and was discipled through a campus ministry at Cornell University. She, too, received a call to ministry after beginning her first career. They have been pastoring together since 2000. He became familiar with Campus Ambassadors in January 2023 and began volunteering in the Fall semester of 2023 at the University at Buffalo (UB). In early 2024, he believed that God was leading him to pursue coming on staff with Campus Ambassadors at UB.

Family

Chris and his wife Joan have 3 adult children - Michael, Anastasia & Olivia - and a dog, Leia. He enjoys biking, running & swimming (yes, he's done a few triathlons) as well as staying fit (he's also a certified fitness instructor). He's really become intrigued in the last few years about how diet, exercise, sleep and rest impact a person mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. In other words, the connectivity of loving the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. In addition, music brings him a lot of joy especially if it includes him getting to sing with it.

 

 

  • WAYS TO SUPPORT

    Chris by making a financial donation using a Credit Card or by Direct Debit (ACH). 

Learn more about where this ministry happens

In colorful communities and along scenic highways, diverse people and landscapes span coast to coast

Iconic American traditions include Thanksgiving dinner, jazz music and the Super Bowl. They meld with eclectic examples of multicultural heritage: numerous local Chinatowns, family-owned taquerias and even cowboy boots, which originated among the nomadic Huns of eastern Europe.

The nation's landscape shows just as many contrasts — sandy beaches and rocky coastlines, open plains and vast deserts, rugged mountains and winding canyons, and abundant rivers and lakes.

The ideals of life and liberty that founded the United States have made the country one of the world's most prosperous, though not without dark chapters and present troubles. Crime, discrimination and ethics violations make regular headlines, and many people live below the national poverty level.

Families view education as essential to the pursuit of happiness, if not also a path to wealth and power for the most ambitious. Yet Americans also demonstrate a charitable spirit of generosity toward neighbors and nations in need.

Freedom of religion grants opportunity for all faiths, but Christianity holds particular influence in country's history and daily life.

Your participation with Missions Door supports ministry in the United States among college students, including many international students, in collaboration local churches. It also enables social outreach, church planting and leadership development in a wide variety of communities — among Native Americans and other cultural groups, and in urban and suburban settings where growing and changing demographics create new opportunities for the Gospel.

Cultural Snapshot

Aside from the Native American, Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan populations, nearly all Americans and their ancestors immigrated to the United States.

Faith Fact

In a 2013 survey, 56% of Americans said that religion played a "very important role in their lives” — a larger number than any other wealthy nation.

Country Profile

Population: 320 million

Major Religions: 47% Protestant, 23% unaffiliated, 21% Catholic, 6% other

Languages: 82% English, 11% Spanish, various others

Literacy: 99%

Poverty: 16%

 

 

Ministry service area:
Campus Ambassadors

Ministry location:
, United States