Mentoring. Discipleship. Speaking.
Meet Bill & Jan Strickland
The Strickland’s love Jesus and have served Him faithfully for seven decades
Bill and Jan were married at age 20 and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. Their many years of faithfulness has produced much fruitfulness.
Bill and Jan met in grade school, dated in high school, and were married in Lubbock, Texas 60 years ago. Bill and Jan were on a trajectory toward fame and fortune— Bill was a radio personality known on air as “Hoss Barnes”. In 1970 he helped announce the second annual country music awards in LA.
Instead of staying on that path, the Strickland’s chose to pursue full time ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. They decided on spiritual riches and eternal rewards rather than worldly pleasures.
In 1988 the Strickland’s started Encouragement InC with the goal of encouraging the exhausted and strengthening them though the good new of Jesus Christ.
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
Matthew 19:29 NIV
A life of adventure
Bill and Jan have lived a life full of adventures, some of which include several mission trips trips to Portugal, Hungary, Russia, China, and Cuba and they have embarked on an educational trip to Israel. The Strickland’s serve faithfully in their local community of Surprise, Arizona and across the nation and world. Some of their ministry involvement includes:
Meet Melonie Richards
Melonie Strickland Richards is thankful to have been given a strong foundation from her parents, Bill and Jan. She currently resides in Denver, Colorado, and is married to Lars who is a kind-hearted, hard-working follower of Jesus. God blessed them with two beautiful children. Their daughter, Rae is studying at Metro State University working towards an Industrial Design degree. Their son, Luke graduated to Heaven in 2020. Melonie works for Front Range Christian School as an Admissions Counselor where she has served for 10 years. Prior to being at Front Range Christian, she licensed and supervised Adoptive and Foster Homes for Bethany Christian Services, Jefferson County, and Denver County. Other work experiences include being an Alzheimer's caregiver, flight attendant, and gymnastics instructor. She has her Masters in Counseling from Colorado Christian University. Melonie is passionate about studying God's word, prayer ministry, and relational connection. She enjoys reading, going to the beach, and playing with their black lab, Piper.
Our Mission
To encourage the exhausted and strengthen them. To know God well enough to share Him with anyone who is curious and excite them to follow Him. Encourage, engage, and equip.
Truth Emphases
Identify in Christ
Walking in the Spirit
“To the feeble ‘say to those with anxious hearts, take courage, fear not. Behold your God will come with vengeance. The recommence of God will come, but He will save you.
Isaiah 35:3-4
Good news clubs
Co-mission
“I Found It” campaign
Tea ministry
Arizona women’s retreat
Cancer survivor study— Faith Walkers
Mission Outreach Summer in Denver
Singles Ministry Christ Church of the Valley
Prayer for Phoenix—A Louis Paulo Event
Couples Communication Retreats
Relationship Counseling
Writers— Bill Poetry/Jan Play
Numerous speaking engagements
Mentoring and discipleship
Northwest Community Church staff