Hometown Hope Ministries

Brent Madaris was saved at the age of 14 and started preaching that same year. Since the year 2000 he has pastored 3 churches, all of which were churches most people would have considered badly struggling, and declining. It was during these years that Hometown Hope was born. It is my desire to give the rest of my life to the biblical work of strengthening ("confirming") believers and churches.

Pastor George Cripe had a long and varied ministry of over 60 years (He passed away on 08/17/2022). He served as a Chaplain's assistant in the U.S. Army from 1959-1960. Prior to that he was in artillery. In 1966, he graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College with a BA degree. In 1973, he graduated from Central Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Sacred Theology. He had the privilege of pastoring 4  churches located  in Crosby Minnesota, Havre Montana, Orem Utah, and Casnovia Michigan. He continued to be an active preacher, even after his retirement from pastoring, helping churches with his wealth of knowledge and experience. He was, and even continues to be, a tremendous source of inspiration to the work of Hometown Hope!

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He married Janice Cripe in 1961 and she graduated from Southeastern Bible College in 1961. She has a lifetime of ministry experience as a pastor's wife, and we value her continued contributions!

This board member has been such a friend to Hometown Hope and to the founder of Hometown Hope. He is a true "Barnabas" and has encouraged many pastors and churches.

Pastor Morrison has pastored his North Carolina church for many years. He has been used by the Lord to see them grow from a small handful of members to a vibrant, healthy church today. His current experience of allowing the Lord to use him (and his family) in the recovery of this church is a wonderful example of what can be done. Hometown Hope appreciates Pastor Morrison's willingness to join Hometown hope as an advisor.

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In 2026 brother Morrison agreed to be on our board of directors. We are grateful for his, participation and contribution to the work

Marc Monte serves as senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Avon, Indiana. Under his leadership, the church transitioned from a struggling congregation on the brink of closure to a thriving, vibrant community of believers. With a commitment to faithful biblical preaching, discipleship, and intentional community engagement, Pastor Monte has guided the church through a revitalization process that models sustainable growth and spiritual health. His leadership demonstrates how dedicated pastoral vision, coupled with practical strategies for renewal, can transform a faltering church into a flourishing ministry.

The Wilmores have worked as laymen serving in children’s ministry, bus ministry, teen ministry, senior adult ministry, ladies ministry, deaf ministry, mentally handicapped ministry as well as college & career.  Greg is a graduate of Heritage Baptist University in Greenwood, Indiana. He also has a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Lincoln Technical Institute.

The Wilmores accepted the call to Pastor First Baptist Church of Matlacha (Cape Coral, Florida) in July of 2007. This struggling church grew from ten people to over sixty-five in eighteen months. In July of 2010, God directed the Wilmores to Dothan, Alabama, to Pastor a hurting Church of twenty-five people. Within one year, God allowed this church to merge with another independent Baptist Church. This church grew and developed a strong mission emphasis supporting forty missionaries worldwide.

In 2016, the Lord opened the door for ministry as Pastor at New Life Baptist Church in Leesburg, Florida. The church has seen growth spiritually and numerically. Greg has written a book entitled “Knowing Your Place in the Ministry,” which tackles the topic of serving as an assistant pastor, focusing on the children’s ministry and senior adult ministry. His wife Renee, has been an asset to the ministry, and she speaks on occasion for ladies’ meetings.

I was saved at the age of twelve and surrendered to preach as a teenager. Since 1981, the Lord has allowed me to serve in various areas of ministry, and since 1998 I have had the privilege of pastoring Life Gate Baptist Church in Arab, Alabama.

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Patriot Bible University and a Master of Ministry from Crown Seminary in Powell, Tennessee.

My wife, Clara, and I are thankful for God’s abundant blessings on our family—eight children and eighteen grandchildren (and one on the way!) who bring us continual joy.