🎙️ Stories of the HopeGuest: Rob Harlamert

Title: Lead Pastor
Organization: Elevate Christian Church
Location: Lexington, Kentucky

Why We Keep Showing Up — Rob Harlamert on Generosity, Consistency, and Mission of Hope

In this episode of Stories of the Hope, host Benson Gregory is joined by Rob Harlamert, Lead Pastor of Elevate Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, to talk about what it looks like for a church to consistently show up for a school it has no direct connection to, and why that matters.

Rob shares how Elevate partnered with Mission of Hope to serve a small Appalachian school more than two hours away, participating in back-to-school distributions, Christmas deliveries, emergency needs, and annual shoe-and-sock drives. What began as one opportunity among many quickly became a defining rhythm for the church.

The conversation explores the unique challenge pastors face when countless organizations ask for partnership, and how churches must discern where their people can make the greatest impact. Rob explains why Mission of Hope stood out: the infrastructure was already in place, the school wanted the partnership, and the focus remained on relationships rather than one-off events.

Rob also reflects on how generosity shapes a young church’s identity, pushing back against the idea that churches should “hold back” in their early years. Instead, he argues that shared generosity unifies a congregation and creates lasting spiritual fruit.

One of the most sobering moments comes when Rob recounts a Christmas delivery where a young student declined a gift, fearing it would be sold for drugs. The moment reinforced for him why consistent presence matters, and why he is committed to returning year after year.

This episode is an honest look at ministry without romanticism: real kids, real need, real joy, and the conviction that if God is already at work somewhere, the right response is to join in.

• Why Elevate Church chose to partner with Mission of Hope

• How churches evaluate partnership opportunities

• Generosity as a core church value

• The difference between transactional service and relational ministry

• What consistent presence communicates to students and staff

• Why “plug-and-play” ministry enables deeper impact

“If you’re unsure what God wants you to do, go where He’s already working.”

“When the whole church rallies around one thing, you accomplish something bigger than yourself.”

“God was there before we ever got there.”

• Mission of Hope: https://missionofhope.org
  Volunteer, donate, or learn how to serve a school.

Guest: Bob Lofsted – Mission of Hope Volunteer, Knoxville TN
Host: Benson Gregory

This episode features volunteer driver and warehouse team member Bob Lofsted, who shares how retirement didn’t slow him down — it redirected him. A former educator with a love for hands-on work, Bob now spends his time driving Mission of Hope’s 26-foot box truck deep into eastern Kentucky, delivering supplies, supporting Mountain Ministry Centers, and encouraging frontline workers who serve families year-round.

He explains how he first discovered Mission of Hope, why the work clicked with him immediately, and how volunteering has become more fulfilling than his decades-long career in public education. Bob also tells the remarkable story of a woman in Jackson, Kentucky, who began a ministry simply by calling the 800-number on a water bottle and watching God grow it into something much larger.

Throughout the conversation, Bob keeps coming back to the real mission: sharing Christ, supporting those who serve their communities daily, and meeting physical needs so spiritual needs can be heard.

• How Bob found Mission of Hope after retiring

• Moving from warehouse volunteer to delivery driver

• How the Knoxville warehouse team operates

• The importance of meeting physical needs to open spiritual doors

• Mountain Ministry Centers and what daily ministry looks like in rural Appalachia

• The story of a Jackson, KY woman whose ministry started with a single phone call

• Partnerships with churches, community centers, and God’s Warehouse

• What deliveries typically include (clothing, food, water, household items, mattresses)

• Why volunteering creates purpose, community, and spiritual fulfillment

• Opportunities for people of any ability level to serve

• Events like the golf tournament and clay shoot that need extra help

• “There are no small parts. Every task carries weight when the goal is sharing Christ.”

• “If what we’re doing doesn’t represent Christ, then it’s just another benefits organization — and that’s not why we’re here.”

• “Retirement isn’t about quitting work. It’s about refocusing your work on what matters.”

• “She looked at a bottle of water, saw an 800-number, made one call, and God built a ministry from it.”

If you’d like to volunteer, donate, or find your place in Mission of Hope’s ministry:
👉 missionofhope.org
Volunteers are needed for warehouse help, deliveries, special events, Christmas programs, and more. Valerie in the Mission of Hope office can help get you placed.

• Host & Producer: Benson Gregory

• Co-Producer: Becky Mills

Thanks for listening and sharing this episode of Stories of the Hope.

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🎧 Stories of the Hope – Serving Appalachia with Henderson Settlement

Guest: John D. Newman, Executive Director of Henderson Settlement
Host: Benson Gregory
Organization: Mission of Hope

In this episode of Stories of the Hope, we welcome John D. Newman, Executive Director of Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky. Nestled deep in the mountains near the Kentucky–Tennessee border, Henderson Settlement has spent nearly a century providing not just food, clothing, and housing support — but also dignity, education, and the hope of Christ.

John shares the story of Henderson’s beginnings as a church and school in 1925, its evolution into a full-scale ministry meeting physical and spiritual needs, and the unique challenges of serving one of the most isolated regions in Appalachia. You’ll also hear how Mission of Hope steps in to bridge critical gaps — from diapers for newborns to food boxes for families and school supplies for hundreds of children.

• 📍 Remote Ministry Roots – Henderson Settlement was founded to serve families so rural they nicknamed the region “South America” because of its isolation.

• 🏫 From Schoolhouse to Full Ministry – What began as a pastor’s vision for education has grown into programs serving children, youth, and seniors alike.

• 👶 Meeting Everyday Needs – Through its “Moms and Infants” program, Henderson Settlement supports around 70 young children with diapers, baby beds, strollers, and more.

• 🥫 Feeding Families – Each month, the ministry distributes food boxes to more than 450 families and seniors, while providing 150 USDA-supported senior commodity boxes — with many more on the waiting list.

• 🛠 Volunteers at Work – Over 1,200 mission team members travel to Frakes each year, building ramps, repairing homes, and even constructing new houses for families in need.

• 🤝 Mission of Hope’s Role – MOH provides essential supplies, school support, and emergency help — ensuring Henderson Settlement never comes up short in serving the community.

• 🙏 How You Can Help – Food, clothing, school supplies, and financial gifts all make a tangible impact in this rural corner of Appalachia.

• “Food sustainability is a true issue that’s not going away.”

• “Mission of Hope has taken a tremendous burden off of us — filling the gaps when we didn’t have diapers, food, or school supplies.”

• “If you’re here, you’re very young or very mature. And those are exactly the people Mission of Hope helps us serve.”

• Henderson Settlement: www.hendersonsettlement.com | (606) 337-3613

• Mission of Hope: www.missionofhope.org

✝️ Stories of the Hope is a podcast by Mission of Hope, highlighting how God is working through partnerships and volunteers to bring hope to rural Appalachia.

Episode SummaryKey TakeawaysQuotes from John NewmanResources & Links