Hey everybody! My name is Tyler Brueckner. I’m 21 years old and I am currently a Division I FBS student-athlete & missionary studying/serving at Northern Illinois University (NIU)—as well as the whole of Chicagoland—with Global Mercy Missions!
When I was 4 years old, my parents sat me down at a picnic table right outside our church and explained to me who Jesus was and what He did for me. They then asked me if I wanted to accept Him into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. My definite “yes” to that question will forever be the best decision I ever made. I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Fast forward to 2023, after being physically unable to play my sophomore and junior seasons of college football due to an injury, I was invited to join friends of mine on evangelism outreaches all summer. After witnessing this for the first time, I was absolutely undone by the Lord. I felt a heavy burden and a fiery excitement to reach the lost and love every generation into the Kingdom of God.
Ever since that summer, my life has been completely transformed. I have witnessed so many people encounter the radical presence of God and be transformed by His overwhelming love and grace towards them. After experiencing Jesus in this way and what it is like to be His hands and feet, I cannot stay the same. I have realized that there is no greater joy than beholding Jesus and partnering with Him. He is way too much fun lol. After discovering this, I am officially stepping into my life calling to become a missionary alongside being a student-athlete!
With that being said, Global Mercy Missions (GMM) is a Christian NPO and ministry based in South Africa and the United States. From a South African base located on a garbage dump, to the streets of Chicago, they serve the people that God puts in front of them through radical love. Their team of missionaries serves the nations with their weekly outreaches and evangelism into local hospitals, ghettos, and red light districts to love and serve the people there. They have laid down their lives for one reason—to partner with their heavenly Father to establish His Kingdom on earth. And their one reward is His presence.
Furthermore, at NIU, I started a student-led campus movement called Met By Love—focused on weekly intercession, worship, and evangelism (look up MBL Worship) with the help of GMM and I served as a student-leader of the Cru campus ministry—Athletes in Action (AIA). In the span of one year alone, I saw countless people radically saved, healed, delivered, and baptized after encountering the love of Jesus.
Apart from living a lifestyle of evangelism at grocery stores and gas stations pursuing miracles, signs, and wonders (funnest thing ever), I have had the pleasure to consistently lead and organize weekly outreaches, worship nights, messages, and hangouts all over NIU’s campus alongside GMM. This has included every ministry on campus as well as multiple well-known visiting ministries I’ve had the honor of hosting such as: Circuit Riders, Contend Global, MBL Worship, Compassion to Action, and The Church has Left the Building.
There have been so many sparks of revival at NIU and in Chicago!! BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET! Along with NIU and Chicago, I will also be going on a gospel truck tour all over the country and the state of Illinois with Chris Overstreet’s Compassion to Action gospel truck as a part of GMM! We will be testifying, preaching the gospel, leading worship, and praying for people everywhere we go!
I am asking for you to please pray and intercede for me as I further this crazy, yet exciting journey with the Lord. I am in need of monthly financial partners to be able to afford all necessities while on the road going place to place throughout the country as well as when stationed back home traveling in the Chicagoland region. I desire to fulfill the dream that God has placed on my heart: to behold and reveal the Lamb of God daily—leading to a massive harvest of souls and tangible revival for this campus, region, and nation.
Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration of sowing into me. I am so grateful and I would absolutely love to partner with you to advance the Kingdom of God. NIU will be the next Asbury. History has proven time and time again that the greatest moves of God are always preceded by the greatest movements of prayer. Time to change history. Psalms 27:4.
There is nothing better than giving Jesus absolutely everything. This is gonna be so much fun. God bless you!!
~ Tyler Brueckner