How We Got Here

It started in 2010, at the time, Pastor Gary was an associate pastor at a church elsewhere in Youngstown. He started serving as the president of a volunteer committee that would come to the Idora Neighborhood and  Glenwood Corridor area. These days looked like picking up trash in public areas and other various community service activities. By 2014, it was clear that the Lord wanted something more permanent than these volunteer days. He wanted boots on the ground in this struggling community, He wanted to renew this neighborhood. While Pastor Gary and many others were praying about how to establish a permanent worshipping community in Glenwood, Pastor Gary heard the Lord ask him "Why aren't you going?"  When Pastor Gary asked his wife for her thoughts on, she asked him the exact same question. They chose to go.

Not long after, Hope for Renewal was incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit organization and the work began. By April of 2016, Pastor Gary and Cindy moved to the neighborhood, starting the summer playground ministry in 2017, with work on the Outreach Center well underway. Hope For Renewal's mission statement came out of the work that was already being done. With a Biblical foundation in modeling all things off of Jesus, everything Hope for Renewal does fits into serving, sharing the love of Jesus, and building relationships. Thus allowing the work that started in 2010 to continue, with service opening doors for connections and relationships that are now established friendships with people who feel like family.

Hope For Renewal and Glenwood Grounds are entirely volunteer run. With well-trained volunteers running our Cafe kitchen throughout the week to volunteers leading worship on Sunday, we exist by serving. If not for our volunteer teams, wise leaders, and the generosity of our donors, we wouldn't be able to execute our mission here in Glenwood!

Leadership

Pastors, volunteers, and board

Gary Koerth

lead Pastor and Executive Director

Cindy Koerth

Volunteer Coordinator & Relationship Builder Extraordinaire

Glenwood Grounds Volunteer Team

If you're visiting Glenwood Grounds Cafe during the week, you'll be met by the smiling faces of our volunteer team. Our volunteers rotate throughout the month, so you'll see different faces throughout each week.

Board of Directors

Our current Board Members are: Rick Blair, Mark Roumfort, Jason Toot, Jon Howell, and Nancy Bare

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