Who's Behind This
Justin Franich
I never really set out to start this, but truthfully, it's been a dream of ours for more than fifteen years. God kept leading us into recovery ministry seasons long before we ever imagined we'd circle back to doing something like this again.
Ministry has been most of my adult life. Today I direct Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge in Mount Jackson, where we've seen countless lives restored through Christ. Before that, I pastored a church in Middletown. Along the way, I started the Rebuilding Life After Addiction podcast to share stories of hope and second chances.
My walk with Jesus began in 2005, when He met me in the darkest part of my life and refused to leave me there. From that moment, everything changed.
The building we're in now has been a miracle since the day we received it. It's more than just a structure. It's become a place where God moves, prayers are answered, and lives are renewed. Every corner carries the story of transformation.
Over time, I've noticed a pattern everywhere I go: so many people believe but don't feel like they belong anywhere. That tension is real. Even after twenty years of preaching, I still get that awkward feeling walking into a new church. I'm an introvert at heart, but I've always longed to walk into a room and know I'm surrounded by people who aren't shocked when life gets messy and who love me just the same.
Ashley and I have four daughters, a home that's always loud, and an espresso habit that's long since gotten out of control. We also have a habit of saying yes to things before we know how we'll pull them off, and this is definitely one of those things.
Ashley Franich
I graduated from Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, married Justin in 2008, and jumped straight into building the women's program at SVTC. Since then, I've homeschooled our four girls through every season of ministry life. I now co-lead a Foster the Family support group and serve on the board of our local homeschool co-op.
This building has always carried a special presence. It's where freedom happens, where true worship and genuine discipleship take root. From the very beginning, that's been our heartbeat. We're not trying to create something new; we're just making space for what God's already doing.
Justin is the big-picture dreamer, and I'm more of the detail person. I see the kids who need discipleship just as much as their parents. I notice the person who walks through the door for the first time and want them to feel comfortable, seen, and welcomed. Not like a visitor and not like a project. Just honest community.
Over the years, we've walked with a lot of people through tough seasons. Through rebuilding, through the in-between spaces that never make it into a church bulletin. We understand what that looks like, and it's why we're so passionate about creating a space where we can all walk it out together.