Mission & Vision

Our Mission

We are a community of artists, patrons and church leaders dedicated to supporting Christian artists of all mediums, and to care for our surrounding communities through the promotion of new and existing works that display the beauty, truth and goodness of God.

Vision Statements

  • We believe that the arts have the power to inspire, challenge and transform communities and we are committed to fostering a culture that recognizes and values the important role that Christian artists play in shaping our world.

  • We envision a community of artists who are equipped with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in their industry and make a positive impact on our society.

  • We aspire to enrich and educate the Church body about the importance of supporting the arts and its role in contributing to spiritual formation, uniting the church body, and healing our communities.

ABOUT

The Church Van is not really about that little white van parked in the back of your church. I hope you’re not too disappointed. :) Rather, it is a play on words. “Van” which is short for Vanguard, is the frontline of a battle troop. We got our name from the story of Jehoshaphat in Second Chronicles 20:21-22. After taking counsel with the people, he appoints musicians to the front of the army who were to sing and praise God. The Lord set an ambush against those who came against Judah and they were routed.

This story is just one example of the significance God places on the arts as a benefit to the body of believers and its impact on the surrounding community. Throughout scripture we see multiple times when extravagance and beauty were commended when it was done for the glory of God.

In our society, the pursuit of a career in the arts is highly competitive and fraught with many challenges. Many great musicians and other artists are crushed by a myriad of difficulties in these fields, or they are forced to entirely leave their careers. But the role of the arts in shaping and influencing culture is significant, as it reflects and contributes to the collective human experience. The world needs Christian artists to flourish. It needs their creations and performances to be a witness to the redemptive work of Christ. Historically the Church has played a significant role in its support and curation of works of art, but in the last century or so that has all but disappeared, especially in Evangelical spaces.

We seek to act as a liaison between Christian artists and the Church by providing musical and artistic experiences and education on the value of the arts, as well as support for believing artists. Whether you are an artist, a church leader or simply someone who appreciates the power of art, we hope that we can inspire and encourage you. Thank you for being a part of our community.

About Us

  • Co-Founder

    Jennifer Stucki has been involved with music her entire life. Like many christians, her first experience with music was in the church singing old fashioned church hymns like “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” as well becoming involved in children’s music ministry programs. In 2000, she moved to Chicago and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Performance on the oboe. Jennifer has spent the last 15 years earning her living as a professional musician, maintaining an active freelance career that includes soloing, orchestra and chamber ensemble work, and organizing various collaborative arts projects. She and her husband Joel started their Substack this past year called the Church Van, with the mission to create a community of artists, patrons and church leaders dedicated to supporting Christian artists of all mediums, and to care for our surrounding communities through the promotion of new and existing works that display the beauty, truth and goodness of God.

    You can learn more about her performance career here.

  • Co-founder

    Joel Stucki was an active percussionist for 30 years in the cities of Chicago and Boston. He was a tenured member of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra for 8 years. In addition, he performed with many orchestras in the Chicago area, including the Grant Park Symphony, the Elgin Symphony, the Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Sinfonietta, and many others. Joel has played under many of the world’s most noteworthy conductors, including Pierre Boulez, James Conlon, David Zinman, Robert Spano, and David Robertson. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, and his Masters Degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. In 2021, Joel also received a Graduate Certificate from the Biblical Studies department at Denver Seminary.