What we believe

Learn more about our:

Doctrinal Pillars
Mission
History
Leadership
References

Doctrinal Pillars

Scripture Alone

We affirm the inerrant Scripture to be the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. We deny that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian's conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation.

Christ Alone

We affirm that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father. We deny that the gospel is preached if Christ's substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited.

Grace Alone

We affirm that in salvation we are rescued from God's wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life. We deny that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated human nature.

Faith Alone

We affirm that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. In justification Christ's righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God's perfect justice. We deny that justification rests on any merit to be found in us, or upon the grounds of an infusion of Christ's righteousness in us, or that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a legitimate church.

For God's Glory Alone

We affirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God's glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone. We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.

Taken from THE CAMBRIDGE DECLARATION of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, April 20, 1996.

Our Mission

Communicating God's Direction for Life

Our mission is to make disciples by communicating God's Word, in obedient response to the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28.

Christ's pattern for disciple-making is clear: teach truth and build relationships. Truth transforms lives and relationships serve as the universal opportunity for communicating truth. In John's Gospel, we read, "...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us". Jesus Christ, the Son of God, literally pitched His tent to live in our midst and touch our lives. We have a loving, personal God who continually reaches down to be among us.

He came as the Savior, with a model for us to follow. We desire to pattern our mission after His, to make much of God, to pursue and know people, and to always lovingly communicate God's direction for life.

Our History

Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus

True Direction Ministries began as part of a providential puzzle in 1988, known originally as Teen Direction Ministries. Founder Chuck Beckler had recently left the youth pastorate to pursue a partnership with Sonlife Ministries, developing ministry training materials steeped in the relational model of Jesus. Teen Direction operated as a 501(c)3 organization and a full board of directors was assembled to provide biblical leadership and fulfill legal requirements. The board would pray, give direction, manage and travel to speaking engagements--the primary efforts of TD's ministry to young people. Teen Direction quickly expanded to youth conferences, consulting and adult and family events, with a commitment to teach God's Word and build relationships for the purpose of discipleship training. God has been very kind. As the years have passed, God has built a TD community that has seen different board members and partners, but the focus has remained Soli Deo Gloria!

Now known as True Direction Ministries, we continue to work together to bring the gospel to a desperate world. Across youth, family, marriage and In-Home Mentoring events, TD desires to see disciples made. We all clearly understand the key to the TD puzzle is the Builder, for apart from Him we can do nothing. What an adventure it has been! Our pathos has never been stronger as we unite together for the King. Oswald Sanders said, " Human weakness provides the best backdrop for the display of Divine power." Looking back across three decades, we realize it's all been a gift from our kind LORD. The TD puzzle continues as the Builder does his work, which causes great joy about the future of our history.

Our Leadership: Board Members

Chuck Beckler

Chuck Beckler is founder of True Direction Ministries and is passionate about seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ turn our world upside down. Chuck is a seasoned communicator and has been speaking to men, women, and students for more than 30 years. Neither a lecturer nor an entertainer, Chuck communicates with sincerity to the hearts of people, not just to the heart of their problems. In addition to his ministry as a speaker and trainer, Chuck served as a youth pastor and most recently as the Senior Pastor of Valley Community Church in the suburbs of Chicago. He has maintained his credentials with the Evangelical Free Church of America since the mid-1980s. Chuck and his wife, Linda, currently reside in McHenry, IL.

Dan Cox

Dan Cox was born and raised downstate, in the Peoria, Illinois area. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He served in a variety of ministries at the North Suburban Evangelical Free Church in Deerfield, Illinois following his graduation from seminary. Since 2002, Dan has served as the Senior Pastor of Wonder Lake Bible Church in Wonder Lake, IL.

Dan serves as TD's Board President.

Jim Kohl

Jim Kohl is a native of the Midwest and has worked in marketing for more than two decades. Although not involved in ministry vocationally, Jim does see his life as given over to full-time ministry for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. With a hunger to build relationships and foster community, Jim has devoted much of his time to both youth ministry and adult small group ministry. Husband to Jackie and father to four incredible children, Jim currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jim serves as TD's Board Secretary.

Ron Kirkeeng

Ron Kirkeeng is a life-long native of Crystal Lake, IL and a disciplemaker of students, serving as a Pastor of Student Ministries with the Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake for more than 25 years. Ron has a passion for connecting with youth of all ages, as an academic tutor and little league baseball coach. He and his wife, Mystele, have two boys, Logan and Isaiah. The Kirkeengs enjoy sports, pizza, and movies as a family.

Reg Hamilton

Reg Hamilton grew up in Wichita, Kansas learning about discipleship during his time at Frontline Student Ministries at First Evangelical Free Church. He then moved to Chicago while completing college and graduate work at Trinity. Reg earned his B.A. in Youth Ministry in 1995 and a Masters of Religious Education in 1997, serving as a youth pastor for more than 25 years after moving back to Kansas.

Pete Taglia

Pete is an esteemed executive with four decades of professional experience in the financial services sector. His commitment to and enthusiasm for the spread of the gospel have been a great encouragement to TD over many years. Pete faithfully serves and stewards as Treasurer. He and his wife, Carol, reside in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Pete serves as TD's Board Treasurer.