Program Staff

BJ Bechtel

BJ Bechtel
  • Hometown: Englewood, OH
  • College: Cedarville University
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? In 1996 when I was in college.
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? I lead our program ministry team
  • Family? My wife Shanna and I enjoy our toddler Abby and one on the way.
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: In my home
  • Favorite summertime activity: Long hours of ministry (I love it!)
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Tickets to Ohio State University game
  • Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:9 "Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment."
  • I’ve been a Christian since... 1987

Shanna Bechtel

Shanna Betchel
  • Hometown: St. Louis, MO
  • College: Bryan College, Dayton, TN
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? During my college Spring Break – March 2003
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? Volunteer and I oversee donation data entry
  • Family? My husband BJ and I have Abby (about to be 2) and one on the way
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Lazo’s & Charley Thai
  • Favorite summertime activity: swimming
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Home Depot and Lowe’s
  • Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
  • I’ve been a Christian since... I was 6, my parents and my church were influential in my accepting Christ as a child.

Edith Greaves

Edith Greaves
  • Hometown: Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • College: Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone), Calvary Bible College & Seminary, KC, MO
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? Summer 1992 when I was attending Calvary Bible College
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? Work with Kindergarten-5th grade children & I help in the office
  • Family? Husband- David, daughter- Precious & son-Daniel
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Too many to name them all.
  • Favorite summertime activity: Go window shopping
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Visa
  • Favorite Verse: Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
  • I’ve been a Christian since...1984

Ricky Diaz

BJ Bechtel
  • Hometown: Chicago, IL
  • College: Moody Bible Institute
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? In 6th grade
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? K-5th Club Coordinator
  • Family? Several family members scattered throughout Chicago
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Anywhere with mexican cuisine
  • Favorite summertime activity: Going to the beach
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Best Buy
  • Favorite Verse: Psalm 19:14
  • I’ve been a Christian since... 1999

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Ernst

BJ Bechtel
  • Hometown: Xenia, OH
  • College: Cedarville University
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact?Spring 2008 to visit and have a second interview.
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? Jr. High Youth Discipler
  • Family?Mom- Susan, Step Father- Gary, Father-John, Step Mother- Janice and 2 Sisters- Amy, Jordan
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago:Wherever the food is good and the price is reasonable.
  • Favorite summertime activity: Softball, biking… swimming!
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Sports Authority- Always good to have a new basketball or baseball glove.
  • Favorite Verse: Acts 2:42-47
  • I’ve been a Christian since...Freshman year of high school

Tisha Lee

Tisha Lee
  • Hometown: Mississippi
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? I came to ICI in 1988 to bring my daughter to club. I started working here as an intern in 1989
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? I started out working with 4-6 grade girls, today I help as the program secretary and work with the kindergarten–5th grade clubs.
  • Family? I have three children -- Lutisha, Howard, and Marquette, and three grandchildren.
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Famous Dave’s BBQ
  • Favorite summertime activity: Summer camping
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Target
  • Verse: Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you".
  • I’ve been a Christian since... 1989, ICI staff person, Sherry Hervey, was influential to my decision to accept Christ.

Kriss Marr

Tisha Lee
  • Hometown: Denver, CO
  • College: Cedarville University
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? I first visited Inner City Impact on a weekend trip my freshman year of college. A group of us came up in October to help with the fall festival and cardboard maze. It was an unforgettable experience and helped me realize my life's passion for inner-city kids.
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? I will be on the team for the new ministry in Cicero, working as high school and junior high program staff.
  • Family: I come from a small but loving family comprised of my mom, step-dad, younger brother, and father. They are all back in Colorado and they think I am crazy for choosing to put myself through Chicago winters. :)
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Chicago is full of amazing restaurants and I usually always go with great Mexican food but, since moving here, I have discovered an amazing Thai place on North Ave. that has captured my heart.
  • Favorite summertime activity: During the Summer, I love to take time out to travel. The ocean is like my sanctuary so I try to make it to a beach and a basketball court to play in the warm sun.
  • Favorite gift card to receive: I am a coffee/music/book addict so Barnes&Noble and Starbucks cards are always a blessing.
  • Verse: It's hard to pick just one so I won't... Psalm 40 is incredible....
  • I've been a Christian since... I was 8 and my grandparents and teachers were influential in my coming to saving faith.

 

 

Christopher Gregory Merrik

  • Hometown: Chicago, IL
  • College: Undecided
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? I first came to ICI when I was 5 years old.
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? I am an Intern.
  • Family: Mother-Teresa Merrik, Father-Grayor Thomas, Brothers-Quentin, DeShawn, Latese, Justin, Jeremy, Grayor, Jordan and Willie, Sisters-Shanda, Shannon, Nicole.
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: My mom and granny's house
  • Favorite summertime activity: Camping
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Walmart or Footlocker
  • Verse: Phillipians 4:13
  • I've been a Christian since...the 5th grade.

Brian Relph

Keith Rundquist
  • Hometown: Morton, IL
  • College: Moody Bible Institute
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? I joined the staff in July 2005
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? Youth Discipler, working with the Junior High students
  • Family? Married to Mary; two kids: JD and Anja
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Hot Doug's
  • Favorite summertime activity: biking
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Red Lobster
  • Verse: Hebrews 3:12-14 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."
  • I’ve been a Christian since...1995...and The Holy Spirit was influential in my coming to saving faith as He used the seeds planted by my parents.

 

 

 

Keith Rundquist

Keith Rundquist
  • Hometown: Lincoln Park, NJ
  • College: County College of Morris, NJ (’82); Moody Bible Institute (‘86)
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? 1986
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? Physical Properties Manager
  • Family? Married to Debbie (1988), four children: Renée,17; Janelle, 16; Ian, 12; Kayla, 11
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Giordanos
  • Favorite summertime activity: Wilderness canoe tripping
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Visa
  • Verse: II Corinthians 4:7-12 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."
  • I’ve been a Christian since... 1974 and high school football teammate Duane was influential in my coming to saving faith.

Debra Rundquist

Debra (Yeip) Rundquist
  • Hometown: St. Clair, MI
  • College: St. Clair County Community College, MI; Moody Bible Institute
  • When did you first come to Inner City Impact? 1982
  • What you do at Inner City Impact? I’ve had many in my 25 years at ICI…Children’s Discipler and curriculum writer; Son Club Director, launching ICI’s ministry in Logan Square, and now, home-schooling mom and volunteer
  • Family? Married to Keith (1988), four children: Renée,17; Janelle, 16; Ian, 12; Kayla, 11
  • Favorite place to eat in Chicago: Anything Asian
  • Favorite summertime activity: Camping
  • Favorite gift card to receive: Kohl’s, Target or Dress Barn
  • Verse: II Corinthians 5:13-16 "If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer."
  • I’ve been a Christian since... 1971 and my Sunday School and VBS teachers were influential in my coming to saving faith.
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Success Stories

Freddie Vasquez

Tradegy struck Freddies family. One of Freddie's brothers was almost killed by gangs. Another died at birth and another was locked up in prison for murder. However, God had other plans for Freddie. Today he is married with three children and has been attending Prairie Bible College in Canada.

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