We believe this is the natural conclusion drawn from what Jesus both taught and lived. He taught us to do for others what we would want done for us...to give, without expectation of repayment, to those with no ability to repay. And instead of keeping His distance and merely ministering TO the poor and sick and sinful and forgotten---those living on the margins of society---He chose to minister FROM the margins, having Himself grown up in a poor family in a backwater town (Nazareth) in a rural region (Galilee) that also was the site of most of His own ministry. This prophetic approach to ministry, foretold by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah 750 years earlier, didn't exactly make Jesus popular with the religious leaders of His day, but He wasn't focused on popularity or prestige. He didn't need to justify His work by receiving the stamp of approval from the establishment. He simply did what was good and right, and never once was it---or was He--bad or wrong. He was the living Word of God, and He still is and forever will be. It is our aim at HOPEtown to honor Jesus by walking in His steps. We deliberately occupy the margins because we believe it is from the margins that we are best situated to (1) minister to the marginalized, (2) sound God's prophetic call to the religious establishment, and (3) remain humble enough to confess our own needs so that we may be ministered to as well. HOPEtown is not a ministry TO people in need but instead is a ministry WITH people in need, for we all are needy as we stand before the God who, glory to His name, is able to fully meet our needs in the saving grace of His Son. May all we do always be in His name and to His glory.
Executive Director
Frank grew up in Lewisburg and returned home to found HOPEtown in February 2017 after 25 years of church ministry in Michigan, Montana, Virginia, and Maryland, in addition to extensive mission work in China and Vietnam. Frank and his wife Julie, also a Lewisburg native, have five children and three grandchildren between them and are having the time of their lives ministering at home with the beautiful people of HOPEtown.