Our History and Today

Originally we were an educational outreach. Thus we started with the name “The John 10:10 University.” John 10:10 was our biblical foundation (The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I {Jesus} came to give life, to its fullest.”) We soon became involved also in the market place community which did not know the biblical reference John 10:10. While we were educational in nature we did not have a campus.

Our second name was National Counseling Resource Center (NCRC). National Counseling Resource Center was a good stepping stone. The challenge we faced was that while NCRC did some counseling, in reality we did very little actual counseling. We indeed had evolved into a community resource organization. Switching our name to The National Community Resource Center resonated for the following reasons:

• We are a community educational (people and resource) agency .
• We do/are what our name is…the name is understandable.
• The acronym/name people know us by NCRC still accurately fits us.

Organization Pregnancy and Infancy

The pregnancy of NCRC began in 1988 with the official birth/beginning happening in January 1990.

David Brom, a sixteen year old Rochester MN sophomore axed to death his parents and younger brother and sister. David’s older brother, Joseph, had previously discussed killing his parents. Joe was reportedly involved in Satanism and occultic activity as a self professed Satanic high priest. His influence in the murders through his younger brother has been debated for some 30 plus years.

The ax murder of a prominent family with the reported influence of Satanic activity along with a nation wide concern/interest in occultism was the spark that gave birth to what would become NCRC.

Wendell Amstutz and Phil Thompson (at the time Youth Pastor of Calvary Evangelical Free Church – Rochester, MN) led a community forum in response to numerous questions about occultism/Satanism. KTTC TV covered the event using it as the lead story on a 10 PM newscast. In time Wendell would become known as an expert on the subject of confronting occultism and Satanism.

One thing led to another including a seminar on occultism attended by 300 people. The seminar was taught by the original NCRC team (then known as the John 10:10 University). Team members included Steve Lansing, Terry Hayward. Phil Gaddis and Wendell Amstutz. Rather than asking participants to take notes, a set of the notes was printed in what would become the first of six editions of Exposing Satan and Associates.

Each edition grew in size until it became recognized as a leading world wide resource on dealing with occultism. The book in time was used as a world wide resource on all seven continents.

The early team of speakers spoke in conferences, professional in-services, school assemblies, college campuses, media interviews/specials and faith-based activities. Bart Larson, Bill Ward and Holly Hector in time, joined the previously mentioned team, speaking across the country. The team eventually became primarily Wendell Amstutz and Steve Lansing. The speaking/training venues ranged from Texas to Minnesota, from Washington DC to Los Angeles and points in-between. Seminars were in the smallest of towns (Greenbush MN, Ogallalla Nebraska and yes frequent times in Peoria). There was the seminar in a former crack house in urban Detroit, numerous speaking opportunities in the nation’s leading Spiritual Warfare Conference (ICBC) and a variety of large faith based conferences in the 90’s.

A major rewrite of Exposing and Confronting Satan and Associates, (Illuminating the Darkness) was done under the authorship of Bill Ward and Wendell Amstutz. The initial edition was printed but not distributed. NCRC is interested in an update and publishing the book within the next few years.

In time the team would write major resources on gangs and youth violence (Gangs in America and The Belief Behavior Connection: Solutions to Youth Violence. The Solution book was distributed to all 435 members of Congress. Both book were distributed nation wide in the form of a handbook and used as resources to organizations and law enforcement.

The primary contribution of the youth violence section of NCRC was a concept developed by Amstutz, Lansing and Hayward known as the Belief-Behavior Connection. The essence of the Belief-Behvior Connection is that Beliefs determine Behaviors and Behaviors Reveal One’s Beliefs. To change one’s behavior (outward activities) one must first change their beliefs (internal values-their heart). Lasting transformation starts with the renewing of ones mind. True change starts from the inside out.

In the mid to latter part of the 90’s NCRC changed gears, becoming mostly localized (Rochester MN) and centered around Prayer as the BEST and PRIMARY resource to counter destructive beliefs and behavior.

The decade from 2000 to 2010 were spent writing 450 plus Daily Prayer Guides (Each prayer guide included 31 prayers – one for each day of the month) for a wide degree of people, events, businesses, organizations and professions.

The starting point was praying for students on a daily basis…the program was called Operation Intercession. Bart Larson became core to the leadership of the program which featured Wendell’s writing The Prayer Guides will be re-released on NCRC’s web site as they are being re-written.

Prayer has been our NUMBER ONE FOCUS

NCRC continued to evolve as a local faith based resource in Rochester with Prayer being at the center of the minitry. In 2003, NCRC re-ignited National Day of Prayer (NDOP) in Rochester. (NDOP had been dormant for some time in Rochester). A year later NCRC began the longstanding monthly prayer activity known as Community Day of Prayer which meets monthly to pray for community leaders and organizations.

The seventeen years of prayer initiatives led by NCRC have included prayer in various government centers (City Council Chambers, the county jail), in multiple churches with ventures to adults, teenagers and children. Due to the corona virus (2020) NCRC did a major prayer effort with the Rochester Post-Bulletin doing a Spades (3 page wrap-around) on the power of prayer. Additionally NCRC provided guests who were interviewed about Prayer on ABC 6 News (the 6:30 PM news anchored by Betsy Singer).

Community Day of Prayer meets on the first Thursday of the month 12:10 PM to 12:45 PM at Charter House (The Northview Room) 211 2nd St. NW

We pray for and with community leaders, non-profit leaders, media personnel Ministry event coordinators .

More About NCRC Coming Alongside in the 2000’s

In time NCRC definitely became the National COMMUNITY Resource Center. Listed below are partnerships/collaborations NCRC took on to make a difference in Rochester.

Carefest Rochester Mayor Ar dell Brede coined the phrase “the Million Dollar Day” to describe the influence of Carefest which was a home missions trip of numerous Rochester churches and organizations including NCRC. The mission was to work with schools, the city, Olmsted County, organizations, churches and individuals in need of clean-up, restoration and painting projects.

NCRC originally served in connecting the city, county and school districts with Carefest. Our primary contribution came in 2010-2011 following the devastating Zumbro 2010 flood. NCRC connected the communities of Pine Island, Oronoco, Zumbro Falls and Hammond (who were HARD HIT by the flood) with Carefest, the city of Rochester and other services. The team of Carefest, Lutheran Social Services, NCRC and local governmental leadership formed a special long-term collaborative team to assist the region in recovering from the flood. It was one of the best moments of Co-labor-ation we have known.

Minnesota Adult/Teen Challenge and NCRC formed a special team to see MNTC come to Rochester. Today both a Men’s and Women’s Center have served 2,700 people who have struggled with addiction, offering help and hope. Wendell was the original chairperson in bringing Adult/Teen Challenge to Rochester along with NCRC dear friend, Steve Holty. Wendell then served on the initial MNTC staff to introduce the new/current Center Director, Tom Truszinski. Tom and his team have been a remarkable resource to Minnesota’s Southeast region.

Champion Youth Basketball and NCRC have been in a twelve year partnership. Dave Hammond and Wendell co-founded the faith based league and continue their work together using their talents to reach children, their parents and grandparents. This past year 850 students (grades 1-12) participated in the winter and fall leagues. In the winter league it is common for 3000 people plus to be involved weekly as players, coaches, refs and fans.

Dave has done an exceptional job of leading the Champion. Wendell has been on the board from day one and is a key contributor/team member in multiple ways. The phrase “linked at the hip” aptly describe the Champion and NCRC partnership.

Coming Alongside aptly describes a lot of what NCRC does. We work with organization and individuals:

Connecting people in need with people who can help, setting people free, indeed

Back to Coming Alongside…More about what we do

Chaplaincy to community leadership

• Elected officials (city, county, state) business owners, non-profit leadership, law enforcement media, education and the churches
• We pray with/for, laugh, listen (lots), befriend, weep with, brainstorm, encourage and connect
• The role of chaplain/friend is neither an as paid nor appointed position.

We interpret the faith community to the marketplace and vice-versa

Coming Alongside EXPO

• Happens annually to bring faith based non-profits together, sharing their “best kept secret”
• We love our colleagues in ministry and wish to help Rochester know and use their services.
• NCRC is working on expanding our friendships with marketplace non-profits.

NCRC’s special PRAYER colleague ministry: International House of Prayer (IHOP)

• We partner with IHOP, who leads the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, the Miracle Prayer Walk
• NCRC loves serving on IHOP’s team in whatever way possible.
• A special shout out to beloved friend Ilene Blanche, the director of Rochester IHOP.