Curtis and Alissa Trulson have always had a passion for helping and ministering to others. They are both ordained ministers in the Assembly of God church. The Trulsons say they particularly enjoy working with children as well as doing missionary work. In 2020, they took a big step towards combining those passions in a significant way. Now, they are planning for a mission to Africa early next year.
Both Curtis and Alissa grew up in the local vicinity. Alissa is from Algona, while Curtis grew up just down the road in Belmond. He graduated from Belmond/Klemme in 2000. Later, Curtis moved to Clarion and worked at Hagie Manufacturing until 2014. He then moved to Algona where he and Alissa married and live still. Curtis now works as an assistant manager at Hy-Vee while Alissa is an activity aid at the local nursing home.
Both Trulsons say they have long felt a pull towards their faith and mission work in particular. Curtis grew up going to Dayspring Assembly of God in the Belmond area, where he even helped build the church. Pastor Mark Pluff of Dayspring, who was Curtis’s childhood pastor, says he could always sense a fire in him. Pluff emphasized that Curtis always loved working with children especially and helped with youth groups, kid’s clubs and vacation Bible school. The Pastor adds that he also helped serve as a mentor to Curtis as he worked his way through becoming a minister and ordination.
Alissa too felt a strong calling to the ministry and missionary work throughout her life. In the past, she has gone on several short missions including to Scotland and England where she spent time launching a children’s ministry in a local church in the Bristol area.
Curtis took part in missions with the Clarion Church of Christ in the early 2000s. One was to Mexico in 2005 for construction mission work and the other to Warsaw, Poland in 2007 where the group held Bible schools and worked at a church camp with children. Karen Weld, who also went on the Poland mission, recalls Curtis’s passion for the work. “You can tell that’s his heart and life. He is so great at working with youth.”
Fast forward to the present. The Trulsons explain that they are currently co-children’s pastors at their church, Algona Faith. They lead the children’s ministry part-time. Last year, however, a big door opened up to the couple.
Curtis explains, “In early 2020, we visited the Africa Children’s Booth at a Kids Ministry Conference and together the call to become a missionary to the Children of Africa was sparked.” The Trulsons soon began working to make their goal of becoming missionaries to Africa a reality.
Now, months after working through preliminary steps, the actual trip is in sight. The Trulsons are fully appointed Missionary Associates (or “missionaries in training” Curtis says) through the General Council of the Assembly of God out of Springfield, Missouri. Curtis laid out their plans. “We anticipate being in Gaborone, Botswana by January 2022 to begin our training with veteran missionaries Bob and Barb Vanwyk with the Assembly of God,” he said. “We will be working hand in hand with them and Africa’s Children Now ministering to a small portion of the 480 million children under 14.”
During their two years of planned mission work in Africa, the Trulsons will have plenty to do. They described the different areas that they will be working in. “We will be helping reach these kids through feeding programs, starting children’s ministry in local churches, going into schools to do assemblies and mentoring kids one on one.”
Curtis added that this is important work, especially given the status of children in that culture. “We will be trying with God’s help to show the people how much value kids have. Kids don’t have value in that culture till they are able to provide and help sustain the family. We have always loved kids, and though we don’t have any of our own, we know that there are 480 million kids there that want and need that kind of love.”
As they look forward to their mission work, they also have a great deal of preparations to accomplish. Part of this involves fundraising. They note that they have to raise around $31,000 for flights, visas, and a vehicle for when they’re there. Additionally, they anticipate a monthly budget of close to $4,100 for each of the 24 months.
They say that people, organizations or businesses interested in sponsoring them or who would like more information can contact them by emailing Curtis.trulson@ma.agmd.org or 515-200-9261. They also invite people to come listen to them share information on their mission plans on April 11 at the morning service of the Dayspring Assembly of God in Belmond.
Pastor Pluff says he is eager to learn more about the missionary trip. “I was so excited to see Curtis go into mission work. He has a heart for people, especially children, and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. What those two are going to do in the mission field will be outstanding.”
For their part, the Trulsons know that their mission work, both preparing and during it, will be a lot of effort. But they are more than happy to do it. “Seeing the light and sparkle in a child’s eye when they become fully known and fully loved is our desire,” they stressed.
As they look forward, the Trulsons assert, “Our goal is to be faithful to the call of God in our life. We both have done other types of jobs, but both of us find the most satisfaction and sparkle in our eye when we are serving Kids for Christ.”
