We partner with local churches in communities affected by disaster.
We train churches and volunteers to respond in their own community.
We travel the world helping missionaries serve the communities where they live.
Scott is a 2006 Rhema Bible Training College graduate and a 2012 Rhema School of World Missions graduate. He has served as a youth pastor and associate pastor. Scott is founder and co-director of Right Side Up Ministries.
Dara is a 2011 Rhema Bible Training College graduate. She is also a 2006 graduate of Elmira College in upstate New York with a bachelors degree in American Studies and Anthropology/Sociology. She is now co-director of Right Side Up Ministries.
Madeline joined the team in February 2016. She came earlier than expected, but has since grown into a vital member of our team. She is the chief entertainer and comedian, always finding the joy in every aspect of life.
Emily joined us just 14 months later in April 2017. She has a spunky little personality, bringing happiness everywhere we go and a smile for every situation. She's excited about everything and loves all things new.
I first met Scott and Dara Simons in 2011 during the tornado relief work in Joplin, MO. Our church team was immediately impressed with Scott's dedication, commitment, and organizational passion shown to the task at hand. A special relationship ensued in the coming years as we, at Abiding Word Church, had the desire to establish a Disaster Relief team to help during times of trouble.
We have worked with Right Side Up Ministries in disaster response in Shawnee, OK area in 2013, the Washington, IL area in 2013-2014, and Rochelle and Fairdale, IL in 2015. Our disaster response team was made ready to help as we participated in one of Right Side Up Ministries' initial training courses and have used the training manual to organize our team. The training and materials offered were detailed, thorough, and comprehensive.
I give my highest recommendation to Scott, Dara, and their ministry in training groups to help in time of need.
In the immediate aftermath of the [Washington, IL] tornado, our church struggled to know how to respond to the needs in our community. Scott and Dara were instrumental in helping us not only determine what we could do but how we could do it. They humbly and selflessly served alongside us at the most critical moment in our church's life.
The fruit of their ministry continues to increase. Because of their work here, our community knows that our church loves and cares for it. We would not have had the ability to communicate that love and care so clearly apart from Scott and Dara's ministry.
I am confident our church would not be where we are today apart from their ministry.
February/March Partner We have spent the last four months serving alongside a Southern Baptist church, which some might seem odd for full gospel Bible School graduates to do. I mean, we don’t really believe the Read more…
We have spent the last four months serving alongside a Southern Baptist church, which some might seem odd for full gospel Bible School graduates to do. I mean, we don’t really believe the same way Read more…
Hope can be a fickle condition. It comes as goes depending on how we feel. It seems to follow the lead of our emotional movements, showing up most prominent during moments of optimism. Hope is a very strong driving force that has been attributed to many people’s ability to overcome major obtacles in their lives.