Mark & Lila Hutchins

Mark and Lila Hutchins serve in Bancroft, Michigan, a small, rural town between Lansing and Flint. Residents of this country community are largely of German or Irish descent, with a growing population of Hispanic families in recent years. The town used to house mostly GM workers, but many now travel to Lansing or Flint to find employment.

There are four churches in the community, which has a prominent Catholic history, but many of the residents here are still searching for the truth found in the gospel.

After seeing the need in their community, the Hutchins took over a small, Baptist church of only twelve members. Now comprised of nearly fifty attendees on a Sunday morning, the church also hosts a “ministry house,” led by InFaith missionary Dennis Sutherby.

In addition their church ministry, Mark and Lila run InFaith Bible Camp at Neyati, a Christian youth camp for under-privileged children that meets one week each summer. With a reduced cost, the camp is able to reach children who would not hear the gospel message otherwise. The junior camp (for ages 8-12) and teen camp (for ages 13-18) have separate speakers and activities during the week, but the children come together for meals and missionary hour.

Mark’s primary ministry is one-on-one discipleship throughout his community. Residents of Bancroft know him as the “InFaith Fisherman”, a nickname that came out of his love to use fishing trips with other men as a time to witness and disciple them in their faith.

The Hutchinses have served as InFaith field staff since 1988.

Mark and Lila are both graduates of Prairie Bible College, where they received Bachelors of Religious Education. They have five children, four of whom are married. Their oldest daughter and her husband serve in the church and camp that Mark and Lila minister with, and plan to take over the camp when they retire.

The Hutchinses started their ministry with InFaith in east Tennessee, where they served as executive directors of Galilee Bible Camp, before moving to Michigan to serve in camp and church ministries.