Our Story

God used this conversation to open her eyes to the desperate relational and spiritual needs of the homeless community. 

Ashleigh had the opportunity to ask Luke how was doing, and he responded through tears, explaining that his girlfriend of 10 years had recently overdosed and died, his dad had also recently passed, and the rest of his family told him that he was worthless junkie and didn’t want anything to do with him. 

He told her that he felt alone, like his life didn’t matter, and he wished it would all just end. 

Before this conversation began, Ashleigh had been praying for the Lord to give her an opportunity to connect with someone who needed to know that they were loved. There was no doubt in her mind that unknown to Luke at the time, he truly was seen, heard, and loved, by Jesus Christ. Ashleigh got to share with him the gospel truth that Christ loves him and died for us in spite of our sin. Luke was created on purpose and for a purpose! In that conversation, the Lord placed a desire in Ashleigh’s heart, to see those in the homeless community who feel unloved and forgotten, come to personally experience the love of Christ. 

Throughout the next five years (18-22), from friendships formed at tent city and other tent encampments in Akron, Ashleigh heard many more stories like Luke’s filled with isolation, shame, and hopelessness. In these 5 years, He was steadily forming and developing the vision for Hope Landing, a ministry that exists to see homeless men and women experience true hope and lasting healing through relationship with Jesus Christ and His Family. 

Quickly, it became evident that this was not just a call God had for Ashleigh, but His Church…