Hometown Heroes

Most of today's pro hockey stars got their start with teams such as the "Elmira Impact", which features talented young players from all around the globe in a developmental league...the players living with area host families who volunteer. On this edition of "Hometown Heroes," we hear from the Impact's Tim Kolpien about the program and its impact on both the young players and the area families who...

Providing pregnancy care and a whole lot more. In this edition of Hometown Heroes, we hear from Michael Arrinton, director of Care Net Penn Yan, a ministry providing numerous services for pregnant women, mothers and fathers in the Finger Lakes. Services include free pregnancy testing, referrals for no-cost limited ultrasounds, material assistance such as clothing and baby supplies, peer counseling...

Bringing God's Word into public schools...and kids' hearts. On this edition of “Hometown Heroes,” we hear from Stacy Novak and Katie Green from the 'Bible 2 Schools' program in the Johnstown, Pennsylvania area...providing free elective Bible classes to elementary schiool children during their public school day.  

An annual Western New York celebration returns. Created at the end of the pandemic to bring hope, The Way Church in Sanborn, New York hosts an annual summertime celebration called "Ignite the Waterfront" - bringing a combination of family fun and the hope of the gospel to believers and non-believers alike. We speak with organizer Maria Whitman about this popular gathering along the Niagara River i...

Independence Day is less than three weeks away, and a Pennsylvania church is taking advantage of the popular holiday to connect people with the Gospel. On this edition of “Hometown Heroes,” we hear from Pastor Brandt Fuller with New Beginnings Church of Christ in Meadville' about their upcoming tenth annual "Ultimate Freedom" event.

Making a difference with music. That's the goal of Bridge Studios in Titusville, Pennsylvania - a nonprofit that offers affordable music instruction and much more to the community. On this edition of "Hometown Heroes", we hear from co-founder David Southwick, who wasn't looking to form a nonprofit. However, God had other plans...  

Combining the Gospel and living in God's creation to reach troubled young men. That's the goal of Bald Eagle Camp near Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...a structured wilderness therapy camp helping boys overcome life challenges and build resilience. Our guest on this edition of "Hometown Heroes" is Camp Director Laverne Beachy.  

May is Foster Care Month, and most every day of the year is about foster care for Cheryl Flick. The Western New York woman has not only fostered 15 children, but,since 2018, has also been working with other foster parents to operate the Western New York Foster Closet, distributing donated clothing and other necessities for foster families.

Called to serve victims of Hurricane Helene. Youth and adults at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania's Watermarke Church are hoping for support as they team with other local churches for a missions trip Our guest on this edition of Hometown Heroes is Watermarke Assistant Pastor Brad Heltman, who's helping to lead that trip.

Using the universal love of a friendly therapy dog to break down barriers to the Gospel. That's the premise behind a national ministry known as "Canines 4 Christ." Jessica Vamos is with the Keystone Chapter, serving Cambria, Huntingdon and Blair counties in Pennsylvania. Learn more at k9forchrist.org.

Tackling the painful topic of sex abuse and human trafficking is something Abba Ministries Counseling Center in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania has been doing for over 40 years, led by pastor and counselor Mike Bruno. His front line stories aren't easy listening, but are crucial to truly understanding the depth and seriousness of the problem.

In this episode of "Hometown Heroes," Lisa Lyon - Executive Director of "The Relief Zone" tells us about the faith-based, multi-faceted childcare program in the Chautaqua County community of Frewsburg. known locally as "TRZ", which has been going strong for over 20 years.

In this episode of "Hometown Heroes," Bath, NY Ccentral School District Superintendent Kelly Houck discusses Haverling High School's successful collaboration with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier to operate an in-school grocery store known as 'Ram-Mart.'

On this "Best of" edition of Hometown Heroes, we revisit our interview with Pennsylvania missionary Todd Gallagher, who recounts his experiences in Ukraine at the start of the Russian invasion over three years ago.

Mike Hennessey with "Youth for Christ" in Rochester, NY uses basketball to address an epidemic of fatherlessness in the "Flower City"

Farmers Helping Farmers   (Part 2) Helping with Hay for Hurricane Helene's victims   Brittany Eisenman organized fellow northwest Pennsylvania farm families to ship hay to North Carolina and Tennessee farmers devastated flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. That effort that has produced countless faith stories for those involved.  This is Part Two of Mark Webster's conversation...

Helping with Hay for Hurricane Helene's victims Farmers Helping Farmers  It's the "Hometown Heroes" podcast from Family Life News   The devastation of Hurricane Helene in mid-2024 will be felt for years in the Carolinas, Tennessee and other states. But, a group of farmers in northwestern Pennsylvania provided a helpful response that many of us might not have even realized was needed. In...

Kingdom Builders of Central New York The Hometown Heroes podcast from Family Life News Today’s guest on “Hometown Heroes” is Bill Sears with Kingdom Builders of Central New York – a ministry that provides free home repairs for those who can’t afford them … and shares the Christian Gospel along the way. Their mission statement is "Serving God by Serving People"....

Hometown Heroes: Victory Sports Part 2 of our interview with Doug Rifenburg Victory Sports founder Doug Rifenburg takes us inside this ministry which distributes sports equipment to children and teens to give them positive activities as an alternative to other troublesome options. There is a Gospel emphasis too. Included in this segment of Mark Webster's interview, Rifenburg tells about a partners...

Hometown Heroes The Family Life News Tuesday Podcast Victory Sports in western New York spreads the Christian gospel by distributing sports gear to young people in need. Founder Doug Rifenburg takes us inside this ministry -- and out to the neighborhoods they influence -- with this "Hometown Heroes" interview with Family Life's Mark Webster. This Family Life "Hometown Heroes" interview continues i...

The Hope Center in Western New York Family Life's Hometown Heroes  podcast The Hope Center of Leroy , New York, is a community focused organization which provides a variety of services to the people of Genesee County. Diane Sia is the director there, and she gives Family Life News Anchor Mark Webster an overview of their many community ministries, including: coordinating a Good News Club for...

Hometown Heroes a Family Life Tuesday news feature and podcast Co-founder Ray Oberst tells us of the value he sees in Christian weekday education as a New York State Christian school continues to grow   Today's edition of "Hometown Heroes" features the co-founder of the  Parker-Jordan Christian Academy in Allegany County, New York. Pastor Ray Oberst tells our Mark Wester about the vision...

Hometown Heroes A Family Life podcast Sandy Lenehan from Shamokin, Pennsylvania, has produced a series of YouTube videos called “Wee Steps with God”.  Her goal is to get the word of God into the hearts of young children. These videos are online at  youtube.com/@WeeStepsMinistries/videos . Bob Price has this week's "Hometown Heroes" interview.

Life Matters The Hometown Heroes podcast from Family Life News The Life Matters Training Center in Canastota, New York, is a pro-life ministry which prepares fellow Christians to effectively carry on the pro-life cause. Hear their success stories from  Joanna Myers , the center's director of program development and expansion.    For more about this ministry, their website is www. Li...

Wreaths Across America The "Hometown Heroes" podcast from Family Life News Perhaps you can feel like a Hometown Hero this weekend (Saturday, December 14). A nationwide project is seeking volunteers for " Wreaths Across America ", where Christmas wreaths are placed on the graves of America's war dead. Veterans will be honored this way at 4.600 cemeteries in this nation, at sea and abroad. This incl...