We are Josh and Alaenna Ruckman. We have spent the last six years on staff with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries at the University of Wyoming and Yale University. We knew international missions was in our future and in June 2024, we were commissioned as Career Missionaries to Austria.

 

Due to the rise of secularism in Europe the need for Gospel access in Austria is great. Studies show that 60% of Austrians are culturally claiming Catholicism or Protestantism, but the reality is that as secularism has risen, God no longer has a place nor authority, in their hearts, homes, or society. This can be seen by only 0.4% of individuals in Austria claiming to be Evangelical, Bible-believing Christians. As we are itinerating, we hope to be a small part in meeting this need.

 

During our first term we will be assisting with a local church in Bregenz, Austria. Our primary focus will be language & cultural learning, as well as ministering to the young adults in a local church. Our time as Chi Alpha missionaries these last 6 years has shown us that college students drive the culture and engaging them with the Gospel as they enter adulthood has the potential to alter the trajectory of their lives and the nation.

 

Our hope, in future terms, is to help establish campus ministries (Students For Christ) on nearby Austrian univeristies alongside local church plants.