Mending Ramshackle Roofs and Broken-Down Spirits

“Our ministry is kind of non-traditional. I guess it is not what people think of when you tell them you are a missionary,” states Dan Zitterkopf, U.S. missionary with Church Mobilization.

“We are working on construction, which is not the picture of what a missionary does,” Zitterkopf continues. “The gospel is the love of Christ and the work of Christ. God has gifted each of us with particular skills, talents, and abilities, and when we use those to help with Kingdom work — that is ministry.”

Serving as an RV Ministry field representative, Dan Zitterkopf and his wife, Libby, work with RV volunteers and church projects around Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. Their last name — Zitterkopf — is of German origin meaning “shaker head.” Although it may sound odd at first, the moniker is a perfect example of how Dan and Libby proceed in ministry and the way they live their lives.

“When God says do something, I shake my head and say, ‘Yes, Lord.’ I think, in a nutshell, that is what missions is — being willing to say ‘Yes, Lord.’ When He says ‘go’ or ‘do’ or ‘be something,’ that we just be obedient to what He asks us to do,” Dan says.

Dan grew up in a family of builders. When his family moved to Nebraska, his dad was put on a building project for an Assemblies of God church. There, Dan fell in love with construction and felt God call him into ministry. For several years, Dan and Libby pastored various small rural churches and even spent half a decade as campground directors. In 2017, they connected with RV volunteers and became fully appointed missionaries in 2019.

As part of their ministry, the Zitterkopfs support churches, campgrounds, Adult & Teen Challenge centers, and more with building projects to help with the more practical, hands-on aspects of ministry that are often neglected. They help recruit church teams and RV volunteers to work on these projects and are often able to save churches and pastors thousands of dollars in labor costs.

“Our heart is with the rural churches — the smaller churches who do not always have the funds or resources,” Libby says. “Those churches and pastors are on the front lines working hard to reach their communities. Part of our ministry is to raise their hands up so they are not exhausted and can still serve their community.” As previous rural church pastors, the Zitterkopfs know what it is like to feel isolated and discouraged.

When assigned to a building site or church project, Libby says the pastor isn’t necessarily the project’s focus, but there have been multiple times when the Zitterkopfs have been able to visit with a pastor and their family and be there for them in their discouragement or struggles.

“The Lord gives you insight into that before they have even said anything and you are able to lift up their hands,” Libby says. “You feel the Holy Spirit so much when you are able to encourage pastors and their families and dote on them for a little bit. I really believe God inspires us in our spirit to be able to reach out to pastors and their families.”

Even while working on ramshackle roofs and broken-down spirits, the Zitterkopfs are often reminded that their ministry extends far beyond the walls of their project site.

“It is just a building. We know that. That is not the Church,” Dan says. “And yet, that church is a tool that the Church uses — that the people use. If it is in working order, it is a good tool, and if it is broken down, it is not a good tool. We just want to give churches the best tool we can to work with.”

A big part of their ministry is working with RV volunteers, typically retired men and women who travel the United States in RVs to help with church projects. The Zitterkopfs’ favorite part about working with the RVers is their altruism.

“So many of our volunteers that we have become good friends with have given up everything to do this full time. I appreciate their spirit. I have learned a lot,” Libby says.

Often, construction sites are stereotyped to be negative environments. However, the flexibility, willingness, generosity, and excellent work ethic of RVers, combined with their love for the Lord and Kingdom-work mentality, creates an upbeat and positive atmosphere.

Apart from working alongside wonderful volunteers, oftentimes Dan and Libby have the opportunity to minister to non-churchgoers during a project, whether that be on a run to the lumber yard or in conversation with outside contractors or community members.

“There are times when you can just visit with another person that you are on a project with and they will open up to you about their personal life, creating an opportunity to share and pray with them,” Dan says. “I remember a plumber on one of my projects I was at. He spent several days at the site where we were able to visit, and I was able to hear his story and to encourage him. He was not part of that church or community, but I was able to encourage him and strengthen him in the challenges he was going through.”

For the Zitterkopfs’ ministry, it is not always about the grandiose stories of salvation, but the little moments in which the Holy Spirit opens the door of someone’s heart, giving Dan and Libby the opportunity to plant a seed and share what it is like to walk alongside Jesus wherever they go.

“We are praying for a harvest,” Dan says. As Matthew 9:37 (NIV) says, “The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.”

What is striking about Dan and Libby is their inspiring selflessness that shows up in their ministry.

When asked about her goals moving forward, Libby says, “to stay healthy and strong, as we look into our later years, to continue this as long as possible.”

“My desire is that we could encourage and inspire churches to invest in a ministry that is not their own,” Dan says.

And that is exactly what the Zitterkopfs do — their lives are centered around servanthood and selfless ministry. Dan and Libby pour into and invest in projects and people for the betterment of the Church and to see the gospel displayed as they serve as missionaries to other ministries.

Dan says, “It just gives you a different perspective to step into a life and heartbeat of another ministry.”

Together, the Zitterkopfs are a ministry to ministries that will reap an eternal Kingdom impact.