Sam & Rachel Houk | Chi Alpha, Winona
Chi Alpha, an AG university campus ministry, is a powerful example of the Minnesota District strongly emphasizing local and global missions. Winona State University (WSU) Chi Alpha has been notable for its outstanding leadership and discipleship. For 16 years, Pastor Steph Peterson led WSU Chi Alpha to incredible new heights, but in July 2024, she passed the torch to young, passionate leaders Sam and Rachel Houk.
Sam grew up serving in various production roles at Emmanuel Christian Center. He recalls the Lord giving him a dream to collect as many skill sets in production as possible because God would use them for missions, and he obediently pursued a degree and career in Information Technology. Later, an old camp friend invited him to come to Winona and help with Chi Alpha. Working in various positions, Sam stayed vigilant for the next call of the Lord. “The Lord is always doing more than you think He is. Sometimes, your season of waiting is actually a season of preparation,” Sam recalled.
Rachel grew up serving in many capacities at Twin Lakes Christian Church. She felt called to missions in high school but was unsure where God wanted her to go. She later attended WSU, where she joined the Chi Alpha ministry. After graduating, Steph invited Rachel to join the Chi Alpha staff. Rachel shared: “I learned the heart of public university ministry while I was in college. It is just as much a mission field as going overseas because there are so many lost people in our public universities, and it’s so strategic that we get to send university students out worldwide. We work with international students and people going to various places in the US. This was my mission opportunity!”
In 2023, a pivotal moment arose when Steph invited the Houks to take over as co-directors of WSU Chi Alpha. Recognizing this as a clear call of the Lord, they accepted.
Now, Sam and Rachel, friends since camp at Lake Geneva, married in 2018, use their unique combined experiences to disciple students. Sam’s technical background enables him to teach production skills, while Rachel’s personal calling to the campus allows her to relate deeply with students.
Let’s continue to pray, invest, and encourage as the Houks embark on this new journey. Visit linktr.ee/thehouks to stay up to date!
