We Came for a Tune-Up but
Experienced an Overhaul
Patrick & Jenny Shea
Our good friends went to a week long marriage intensive at Haven of Hope and came back speaking very highly of their experience. We then hosted a weekend marriage retreat at our church and became familiar with the Spin-cycle form and started practicing some of the concepts.
We had gone through premarital mentoring that was full of truth and wisdom for our marriage, but we were interested in Haven of Hope because it focused on the heart and emotions--the pain and the joy of relationship.
We attended an intensive week for a tune-up, but we got an overhaul. During our week, I realized how much I was missing my wife’s heart. Our hearts had drifted apart in the busyness of ministry life and homeschooling, and we were feeling alone in our worlds. Neither of us felt seen, heard, cared for, and understood in the burdens we carried. The stress and pressure prevented us from drawing close and caring for each other’s pain.
During our intensive, our mentor helped me to see my wife’s heart in a fresh and powerful way. I saw the little girl in her that I had been neglecting. Jesus showed me myown wounds and pain, and He brought healing to some pieces of my story that I had never expressed before to anyone.
God was so gracious and kind to bring me and my wife to HOH when He did. Within the next year, I would take a senior pastor role, and we would move to a new home and community. Without the intensive time together, the added stress and pressure could have broken our marriage even more in very serious ways. I’m so grateful that I got the overhaul I needed before all of that! We have learned to express the emotions and feelings that well up inside of us and to listen and care well for those emotions by acknowledging and validating them. We have learned to bring our pain to Jesus so that he can heal, help, encourage, and affirm. The mentoring we received continues to pay dividends in our marriage, family, and church.
Ministry Center Open House
Thank you to everyone who attended our open house celebration on August 29, 2026 . Over 500 guests, volunteers, and staff joined us for a BBQ meal, ice cream, specialty coffees, lemonade, and wonderful entertainment.
The new ministry center sits on the land once owned by Dana & Emma Kauffman. The family was honored at the dedication ceremony
Receive Training at HOH
Would you like to learn more about caring for others’ hearts? We would like to equip you! We offer personal training at our onsite facility. You will observe live sessions through video and audio feed in our private training room. Our mentors walk alongside you as you learn practical concepts that you can apply to your own walk with the wounded.
For more information on fees and availability, call 616-693-2925 or email stacia@havenofhopes.com.
We Experienced Peace that We Have Never Experienced Before
Allen Miller & Kristina Graber
Before attending premarital mentoring at Haven of Hope, we felt that our communication and emotional connection was really good. We knew we loved each other, and we thought we had this life and marriage thing all figured out. We weren’t aware that all the stuff we had been hanging onto was keeping a wedge between us. We both had bitterness and hurt from our childhood that we didn’t know how to deal with properly. We tried to stuff it down, but this ended up causing hurt in our relationship.
I (Kristina) had someone in my life that I had tried to forgive for about 7 years, but I just couldn’t quite let it go. I was drowning in bitterness, but at HOH, I felt safe. Our mentor and Allen helped me pray through it, and I could finally forgive and let it all go.
(Allen) My mom passed away when I was 7 years old. I felt like mom and all my memories of her were stolen away from me forever. I buried a big chunk of my heart with her, and I was dealing with feelings of bitterness and abandonment. With Kristina being there, my mentor helped me pray through it all. I finally let go and forgave mom, and God showed me a picture of Him picking up my buried heart and giving it back to me.
We also individually dealt with some addictions prior to dating and some while dating. Although we had worked through these addictions before we came to HOH, our mentor helped us understand each other better and find the closure we didn’t know we needed.
After our mentoring, we felt peace that we have NEVER experienced before! It was nothing short of a miracle. We were given tools to truly emotionally connect and care for each other, and our relationship has blossomed.
Before coming to HOH, we thought our relationship couldn’t get any better, but to our surprise, our relationship grew in ways we didn’t know were possible, and we have a peace like we have never experienced before! Our mentor gave us tools for connection and helped us to see what true emotional connection is and how much it helps a relationship. We don’t have the words to describe the freedom we feel now. It’s truly life changing!
We will forever be grateful that someone recommended Haven of Hope to us. We feel much more prepared for marriage and are excited to start a life together. We recommend HOH to anyone who is looking for premarital mentoring.
Women’s Ministry
As we step into fall, our women’s ministry is grateful for all God has been doing in our community. I have the opportunity to connect with women through individ-ual intensives, and we recently wrapped up a meaningful summer women’s life group. I’m thankful for the conversations, growth, and encouragement that has taken place, and I’m looking forward to all that God has in store in the months ahead. Ladies, stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to connect, grow, and walk together in faith. --Beth Foltz
“The women’s life group is about real women experiencing real life” --Women’s life group attendee
From Our Clients
