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Mission
To create a community of support for all adoptive and foster children and families, and inspire and empower the Church to do the same.
Vision
To have more foster families than children in need of foster care.​
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MEET OUR TEAM
THERESE + JIM
Gruba
CO-FOUNDER & BOARD PRESIDENT
BOARD MEMBER& SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
Jim, a native Duluthian, serves New Hope as a Spiritual Advisor. Therese was born in St. Cloud is UMD alumni with a BFA in theater and serves as Director of New Hope. They have eight children, four daughters-in-love, five granddaughters, and through foster care have added many more to their family as the Lord
blesses them to do so.
Jim and Therese's marriage/life verse is:
"Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
Jeremiah 33:3
Joe
Fischer
CO-FOUNDER & BOARD
VICE PRESIDENT
Together with Jim and Therese Gruba, Joe and Briar Fischer co-founded New Hope for Families in 2019.
Through Joe's work as an Assistant County Attorney focusing on child protection, Joe and Briar have developed a heart for serving foster families and children in need. Through the love and grace of Jesus Christ, Joe and Briar have been married since 1989, they have four children, and two grandchildren.
DEAN
Matvey
BOARD MEMBER & TREASURER
God's Spirit has captured the hearts of Dean's family and led them to participate in children's ministries in Mexico. With wife Alejandra and two daughters, Faith & Grace, they have acted as relief house parents for a children's house in Mexico which has had a profound impact on their lives. Dean looks forward to supporting the mission of New Hope for Families by bringing the board over 20 years of business system experience and private business operation knowledge.
JR & MELISSA
Rugg
BOARD MEMBERS
MEDIA COORDINATOR
Melissa has been with New Hope since 2021 as our Media Coordinator. She and her husband, Pastor JR Rugg, are foster and adoptive parents, and both work in ministry.
Wrap Around Services
Malayna Levanen & Barb High
KID'S CLOSET COORDINATORS
If you would like to donate or need anything from the Kid's Closet, contact Malayna at
malayna.levanen@newhopeforfamilies.com.
Connie Carlson
FREEZER MEAL MINISTRY
Thank you to the many individuals and organizations that help fill our freezers.
If you would like to participate in this ministry, contact Connie at 218-391-3747.
Melissa Bell
HOME CLEANING MINISTRY
We are blessed with an amazing group of dedicated home cleaners. If you would like to help
with this or receive services, reach out to Melissa at melissa.bell@newhopeforfamilies.com.
TOM
Schaer
NEW HOPE FOSTER DAD
Parent of three. After 13.5 years of serving as a pastor in a small rural church, God began stirring our family into transition mode. At the end of September, Tom stepped into the director position at ProLife Ministries of Duluth. This has its own beautiful story of coming full circle with Tom’s heart for the preborn growing in passion. The Schaers have aligned themselves with New Hope for Families and have cared for over 300 foster kiddos.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
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Our standard is the Bible- we believe it is the complete, inspired Word of God and sufficient to guide all decisions with unity around the the gospel of grace as the basis for our ministry.
gospel:
Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Ephesians 2:8-9 John 3:16 Romans 5:8
We Believe:
The inerrancy of the scriptures
The Deity of Jesus Christ
The need of every person for Spiritual life having been born dead in sin
The life, ministry, and death of the Lord Jesus Christ on man’s behalf
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
Justification before God by faith alone in Christ alone
The permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit
The eternal security of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior
The imminent return of Jesus Christ
A literal hell
A literal heaven
The sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman
The sanctity of life for the unborn
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our key verses:
James 1:27 Jeremiah 33:3 John 3:16-17 I John 5:13 Romans 1:16 Ephesians 2:8-9
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