our mission

As the founders of the Santiago Partnership, Joel and Kim Delp felt a call placed on their lives individually and together as a couple.  They were married in May 2002 and had known for years that they wanted to be missionaries – Kim since she was 9 years old and Joel since college. God brought their lives together to serve Him in any way possible through obedience and offering.  The Holy Spirit led them to Ecuador, South America, with the hope of partnering to develop compassion, mercy, and justice ministries for vulnerable children and through medicine. 

This vision came together in a partnership that formed with the Covenant Church of Ecuador to start new ministries of a Children’s Home and a Medical Clinic, as well as multiple community-based programs, serving vulnerable families, at-risk children, and survivors of domestic violence.  Additionally, the goal has been to make the ministry self-sustainable through a rose farm.  If you know Joel and Kim, they are simple people and often feel like Moses, thinking others would be better equipped for His purpose.  However, they cling to the promises God has given them and know that if God has called them, He will also equip them for His purposes. They served locally in Ecuador as missionaries with the Evangelical Covenant Church for 14 years.

Currently, residing with their family in Romeoville, Illinois, the Delp’s continue to serve God and the Santiago Partnership. Kim works as a Nurse Practitioner at Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago, and Joel serves with the Partnership as the Executive Director and in visiting churches as a pastor. If you would like Joel and Kim to visit your church to share about the Santiago Partnership ministries in Ecuador, please reach out to schedule a visit. They would love to see your church get involved.