Sharing Christ’s life-changing grace and love through encouragement, relationship, and Bible study.
In a world often marked by anxiety, despair, and a profound search for meaning, many people both inside and outside the church are searching for peace, hope, and meaning. Men and women alike carry deep burdens, fears, and questions that often go unheard.
The Challenge
We are devoted to helping people encounter the life-changing grace of Christ through authentic relationships, prayer, and personal care. Our ministry centers on listening deeply, sharing the gospel clearly, and walking alongside others as they grow in faith.
For John, this means using decades of relational and leadership experience to engage people across every sphere of life – from pastors and missionaries to civil servants, business leaders, and those on the margins. His ministry is about genuine connection and a clear, Christ-centered invitation to transformation through the gospel.
For Chris, this means offering women a safe place to talk, to be heard, and to receive encouragement grounded in Scripture and prayer. She helps women learn to bring their hopes, fears, and challenges to the Lord, discovering His peace and faithfulness in every circumstance.
Together, our ministry reflects both truth and tenderness, as we proclaim the gospel with the quiet ministry of presence, prayer, and care.
The Opportunity
Our Approach
Our ministry flows out of five decades of faithful service and is deeply relational in nature:
Personal Evangelism Rooted in Relationship: Building genuine trust and natural conversations about faith that point people directly to Christ.
Listening and Prayer: Providing safe spaces where individuals can be fully heard and prayed for in love.
Discipleship and Mentorship: Guiding new believers toward spiritual maturity – helping them understand and apply the Bible to every aspect of their lives.
Equipping and Encouragement: Supporting younger CityJoy ministry staff, especially in areas such as fundraising and personal development.
Community Presence: Ministering in everyday contexts – whether at the gym, in the local church, or through CityJoy’s network – and connecting people to the hope of the gospel.
Through these expressions of ministry, we embody a lifelong commitment to relational evangelism and prayerful discipleship in the Twin Cities and beyond.
By God’s grace, our ministry with CityJoy is sustained through the prayer and financial partnership of those who share our passion to see people encounter Christ’s transforming grace. Your partnership brings the opportunity for lasting change to the lives of people caught in hard places. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for transformation. Your investment will bear eternal fruit!
We value your prays as we minister to those in need. To receive our ministry updates, contact John at john.sather@cityjoy.org or Chris at christine.sather@cityjoy.org.
Support Our Ministry
-
About John & Chris Sather
OUTREACH MINISTERS
We have served in full-time ministry for over 50 years. John began his work with Cru, serving 25 years in high school ministry and later as the Twin Cities Director, overseeing a large staff team. He then spent 20 years with Here’s Life Inner City (now Cru Inner City), including nearly 11 years as National Director, leading ministry in over 30 cities nationally and internationally. For the past six years, John has continued his calling through CityJoy, mentoring leaders, encouraging younger missionaries, and serving as a connector across the urban church.
Chris ministered alongside John throughout their shared journey, and for the past several years has focused on caring for women through one-on-one conversations, listening, and prayer. She delights in helping women grow in their relationship with God and find comfort and direction in His Word.
We have been married for over five decades and have faithfully served together in ministry throughout that time. We have several adult children, all married, and are grandparents to twelve grandchildren. Whether in a conversation over coffee, a gym interaction, or a quiet moment of prayer, our lives are marked by the driving desire to make Christ known.