Hometown Heroes

Tyanne and Peter Jurka provide you the inside story of a Christ-based mission school, as the next generation of the Jurka family unexpectedly step up to serve nearly two dozen children -- even as they had an infant of their own. In Part Three of Mark Webster's "Hometown Heroes" interview with these international mission workers with roots in the Family Life listening area, Peter and Tyanne tell ab...

Hometown Heroes - Thanksgiving on the Streets   Pastor Alex and Eric Johns - Buffalo's Dream Center - a 25-year tradition

Peter and Tyanne Jurka are Mark Webster’s guests on this week’s “Hometown Heroes” feature. The Jurkas are longtime Christian mission workers, serving in Central America. They talk about signs of God's provision and blessing as these two natives of the Family Life listening area chose to serve in international ministry. A video highlighting the results of their life-enhancin...

Peter and Tyanne Jurka are Mark Webster’s guests on this week’s “Hometown Heroes” feature. The Jurkas are longtime Christian mission workers, serving in Central America. She is from western Pennsylvania, and he grew up in western New York. Their children and grandchildren are also part of their ongoing ministry. Their story — in their personal lives and the ways they...

This week’s guest on Family Life’s “Hometown Heroes” feature is Jenn Boyd of the “Hope Walks” ministry. It works from Pennsylvania, but provides international medical work to help relieve the physical limitations — and, just as important, the social and personal stigma — faced by many children who are born with Club Foot syndrome. Their … Read...

In My Father’s Kitchen “Hometown Heroes” on Family Life You have been at an intersection, where a homeless person is standing at that street corner, holding a cardboard sign asking for help. Many people drive by, which makes sense, because a cash handout might be diverted toward furthering an addiction. Yet, one of those episodes … Read More Read More

“Hometown Heroes” on Family Life A hockey team which is making an impact in Elmira is seeking host families for its players. Hear about the mission of the Elmira Impact teams from Tim Kolpien. Family Life’s Bob Price asks him about the types of players who use the Impact as a path toward higher callings … Read More Read More

“Hometown Heroes” on Family Life Our weekly “Hometown Heroes” feature introduces you to people who find ways to live out their faith by helping their community.  For this edition,  Paul Marshall tells you his first person story of leading the Willow Network of Pregnancy Care Centers in Central New York. He has done so for … Read More Read More

Shannon Eaton Family Life News   8/13/2024   Shannon Eaton grew up as a “PK” — a pastor’s kid. As an adult, she has served on the mission field in Latin America. Her latest chapter of ministry including helping other international mission workers to recognize signs of burnout and to deal with the stresses of living … Read More Read More

  A Buffalo-area pastor is back home, after a cross-country adventure. A 3,000-mile bike trip. His second!     These two adventurous challenges happened for two differing reasons.  Pastor Pat Hilkey eight years ago was among many pastors facing incredible stresses and pressures of church leadership. He decided at the time to use the physical … Read More Read More

It’s “Hometown Heroes” from Family Life News Keystone State Outreach offers an annual Summer Service Camp for middle school and high school youth groups in West Milton, Pennsylvania. Dozens of students converge on the Susquehanna River Valley to offer people yard work, painting and home repairs. Participants and their adult leaders also join in energetic … Read More Read Mo...

It’s “Hometown Heroes” on Family Life This week’s guest on “Hometown Heroes” is Julie Palmer of PATH — a faith-based organization which fights against human trafficking in western New York. P.A.T.H. is People Against Trafficking Humans and is headquartered at Depew NY. Their programs offer prevention, education and restoration. The Enrichment Center in Buf...

Hometown Heroes – Mary Jo Major @ Lily House Lily House helps women who are escaping human trafficking in the Dominican Republic. Mary Jo Major tells us about this problem, the solutions that active people are bringing about, and a few of the stories of how important and life-changing this ministry is.    

Remembering the Heroes from Hometowns in the Family Life region As we approach Memorial Day, this Family Life News Feature takes you to the Veterans Administration National Cemetery at Bath, New York. You will hear the stories of the war dead who were laid to rest there, many dating back to America’s Civil War. Our … Read More Read More

Bringing Jesus to Europe’s war zone:  Family Life’s “Hometown Heroes” A Pennsylvania-based Christian evangelist is back in Ukraine, sharing food and hope in and near that war zone. Family Life’s Mark Webster reconnected with Jeff Seigworth on his way to a return trip with the A-1-8 mission organization. He talks about the relative dangers for … Read More Read Mo...

A Tonawanda Church invites the surrounding communities to experience first-hand what Jesus experienced on the original Good Friday. Their interactive Good Friday experience takes place on Good Friday, March 29. Guests can drop in for as long or as little as they like, anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. First Trinity Lutheran Church is … Read More Read More

Hannah Farley is the Community Outreach Manager for the University of Rochester Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes Region. For more information on available services, visit their website. Family Life’s “Hometown Heroes” interviews intriguing people from throughout Pennsylvania and New York who carry out inspirational, life-changing work. Tap the Hometown Heroes icon for...

“Hometown Heroes” from Family Life Hannah Farley does outreach to encourage people who are 45 and older to get checked for early signs of cancer. In this Family Life News interview, she says some residents of rural areas have a bias which prevents them from wanting to get cancer screening.  Farley finds though that it … Read More Read More

Syracuse-based missionary Dan Sorber just left for Cuba. Before his departure, he talked with Family Life News about faith, Christian freedom, and today’s realities in a Communist nation. Sorber sees the changes that have opened up across his 15 previous visits to Cuba. When government officials and the general population face desperation and economic disaster, … Read More Read More

Family Life’s “Hometown Heroes” Feature COPE is “Children of Opioid Parents and Empowerment”. The program in Chautauqua County, New York, offers of full year of services to children and teens who lost a parent to an opioid overdose. Bill Matteson is the executive director of the COPE Foundation 19. He knows this tragedy personally. One … Read More Read More

  It’s Family Life’s “Hometown Heroes” Celebrate the congregations and volunteers in our listening area who created a magical, memorable evening for hundreds of special guests   The Night to Shine has become a global movement across the past decade, and numerous local churches are plugged in — many of them since the early days … Read More Read More

Preston Atkinson is pastor of the Sunbury Bible Church in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. Hear more about the Night to Shine events in New York and Pennsylvania on the Family Life “Hometown Heroes” news feature.

Chad Mitchell is a member of the Auburn Alliance Church in Auburn, New York. Hear more about the Night to Shine events in Pennsylvania and New York on the Family Life “Hometown Heroes” news feature.

“We want them to know from the second they walk in that this is a place where they will receive healing and acceptance and value.” It’s “Hometown Heroes” on Family Life The House of Hope in Williamsport PA exists to help women overcome dependency, barriers, and challenges — so they will move from a state … Read More Read More

  After attending a great women’s conference, the founders of “Women of Hope” asked themselves why there wasn’t a local expression of such an outpouring of outreach and encouragement. So, they created one. Women of Hope, in northern Pennsylvania, sponsors events to meet the needs of many women in their community. Tara Freeman says, unfortunately, … Read More Read...