Richard S. Phelps
Founder of Hope Ministries
APRIL 1994  

As the Founder and former President of Hope Ministries, I have been asked to write a partial history of the ministry.

It is a pleasure to offer the following history and to recognize and give honor to the wonderful leadership that has been provided by President Joe Pellizze since 2007.  Every person who begins a ministry dream of a capable person to carry it on after his service and leadership is completed; to this end I am eternally grateful to Joe and his wife, Sheila for grabbing the torch from me and carrying it on.

My wife, Judy, and I moved to Florida from Rhode Island in 1988. I had a strong desire to begin a ministry of Christian pastoral counseling.  At the end of 1988, the opportunity to begin a ministry of spiritual encouragement was offered at the Tabernacle Church in Melbourne where I served as a pastoral counselor for four years.

While at the Tabernacle, I began to have a vision for a Christian Counseling Center.  It would be located in a commercial plaza and would offer Christian pastoral counseling in support of struggling Christians of all denominations.  With the encouragement and support of both the Tabernacle Church and New Covenant Church (now called Church On The Rock), I witnessed God bringing this vision to fruition. In April 1994 Hope Ministries, which was originally called “Hope Recovery Ministries”, a pastoral counseling center, opened in a commercial plaza located in Palm Bay, Florida.

The ministry started with myself as the only counselor and Lucy Mundy as the only volunteer. By November of 1994, Howard Mundy agreed to serve full time as a staff support.  He and his wife, Lucy, told me that they felt led by God to hold up my arms for this formation. They became the heart and soul of the ministry and would both offer service of great value for many years. In 1995 Lew Gervais came on staff as a part-time addiction’s counselor. He was also on staff for His Mansion Ministries as well as serving as the recovery pastor at Zion Christian Church.

Within a short period, other valuable people joined as staff and volunteers.  The ministry had been founded on the principle that there would be “no charge” for our counseling services, and “no salaries” would be paid to staff members or volunteers.  Stan Farmer of His Mansion Ministries in New Hampshire had encouraged me that God could and would provide for the financial needs of the ministry and staff if we would but trust Him for that provision.

The demand for counseling and the teaching classes was strong almost from the beginning and we had difficulty serving all who were coming for assistance.  The most remarkable work of the Lord with our growth was how our needs for staff and volunteers were provided almost exactly as the demand increased.  Another dramatic work of the Lord, in regards to the counseling staff, was that a natural specialization developed among our counselors that met the needs of those coming for assistance. 

The staff struggled financially as did Hope Ministries. Often it was uncertain how the bills would get paid.  At least five times the financial struggle was serious enough to contemplate the closing of Hope Ministries doors.  However, this financial uncertainty often turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  This situation continues to keep us humble and dependent upon the provisions of the Lord.

 I began to experience serious health issues during 2007.  In spite of a severe shoulder injury and cardiac symptoms I attempted to continue leading the ministry. God supplied the strength in spite of major limitations.  However, the Lord was leading me to step down as President.   Accordingly, Joe Pellizze was asked if he would assume the Presidency. In January of 2007 the transfer of leadership had begun.

 From the early days there were remarkable situations where individuals and couples were assisted through serious problems to go on to a victorious Christian life. All were encouraged that God was using us in a powerful way and bringing spiritual encouragement to many who would benefit and take a strong place in the church and community. All this was done without financially burdening the hurting people who came to Hope for help. The future of the ministry remains in the hands of the Lord. Hope remains here to serve the hurting and the brokenhearted, which allows us to help hearts heal.