BY THERON & MIZPAH GLENNY
The following article is from our column published today in the Tyrone Daily Herald.
We are very excited to start this new column focused on helping our youth find
purpose. Whether you are a Mom or Dad, Uncle or Aunt, a grandparent, teacher or
coach, if you work with youth, this bi-weekly column is designed to encourage you and
equip you to impact the next generation. In this first installment, we are going to share
a bit of our story so you can get to know us and identify with who we are, where we
came from and our hearts to help youth find purpose, in Tyrone and beyond.
When we first met and fell in love back in our college days at Messiah College, we
didn’t know how our future would unfold. Mizpah wanted to be a medical missionary
and live in a hut in Africa serving the world’s poorest of humans. Mizpah’s Dad is a
surgeon in North Carolina but growing up, she would go with her parents on medical
mission trips all over the world and on those trips, she fell in love with other cultures
and people groups and saw first-hand the desperate needs of people that don’t have the
quality of medical care we have here in the United States. On the contrary, Theron’s
heart was set on moving back to Central Pennsylvania to either start another Joshua
House in Huntingdon or help Jim Kilmartin with Joshua House in Tyrone. Theron grew
up in Juniata Valley and when he was around 12 years old, he met Jim at a youth group
event when Kilmartin was still in high school. Jim’s life and testimony had a major
impact on Theron and as Theron puts it, “I wanted to be like him.” After college, Jim
started Joshua House because he saw so many teenagers who were aimless, wandering
through life and without purpose. Theron knew in his heart that he too wanted to help
youth find purpose and dedicated the rest of his life doing so.
So, I guess you could say our paths didn’t necessarily line up - a hut in Africa or Central
PA? We both wanted to serve people and help them become all that God created them
to be, but ‘where' was the question. Most people when deciding where to live decide
based on where they get a job. Theron was reading a book at the time by Bob Beckett.
Bob was a pastor out in Hemet, California and God challenged Bob to be committed to
the people of his city in a radical way so that he could see lasting, and generational
impact. One of the lessons that Theron learned from this book was that making this
important life decision on where to live was less about where he and Mizpah got a job
and more about who they were to be connected to and do life with. He knew in his heart
they were to be connected to Jim and Jessica Kilmartin and come serve the town of
Tyrone and learn from them. After getting married in 2005, we moved to Tyrone and
have been here ever since. When we made the decision to come here, all the other stuff
fell into place - job for Theron, physician assistant school for Mizpah, place to live, etc.
Mizpah is a physician assistant by trade and works part time with UPMC Huntingdon
while also directing the programs at Joshua House on a volunteer basis. Theron works
in software sales for Outreach Corporation based out of Seattle and works with business
leaders throughout the country helping their sales teams generate more revenue. He
also serves on the board at Joshua House and alongside Mizpah, lead a team of amazing
volunteer leaders who put so much time and energy into investing into our
community’s youth through the various programs Joshua House does. We’ve got two
sweet kiddos (& one on the way!). Our son Elah Roar is 9 and our daughter Sarah is 7.
When we are not hanging out with our family and friends or doing Joshua House stuff,
we do have some hobbies. We are both outdoorsy. Mizpah loves to go on hikes and
runs. She also loves to play volleyball. Theron loves to play hockey. So much so that
he does a backyard ice rink each year during winter. He also enjoys bow hunting and fly
fishing.
We both have been blessed with amazing parents and great mentors over the years.
Two of those mentors, who have led Joshua House for the last 19 years, are Jim and
Jessica Kilmartin. Their hearts to serve our area and see our youth impacted is
contagious. Their efforts, valiant. This past April, the Kilmartins started a church in
Altoona called Center City Church which exists to see people awakened to God, revived
in His presence, and empowered to see lives, families and communities
transformed. The church is thriving and has grown quickly in just six short months.
They have a large vision for the church and for Joshua House. This vision includes
starting other Joshua Houses in multiple towns and cities. Jim, Jess and their family are
moving to Altoona this Fall, but will continue to provide oversight for Joshua House for
years to come. The mission to help youth find purpose was birthed in them here in
Tyrone, and what was started here will give life and purpose to youth all over
Pennsylvania, and beyond.
We will be sharing more with you over the coming months on various topics. If you are
one who has a heart to see our youth become all that God has created them to be, you
won’t want to miss this column. Our schools, churches, and other community
organizations can put on amazing programs, but kids still have to go home and it’s in
the home where the most influence happens. Through this column, we want to
encourage you and equip you to impact the next generation in your homes. It truly
takes a village to raise a child and help them find their God-given purpose.
If you have an interest in joining our mission to help youth find purpose, we would love
to hear from you! It truly is a blessing and honor to be able to serve the youth and
families of our community, and we would love to have more people join us. The armory will be undergoing a few renovations this Fall, but later this Fall (likely November), we
plan to open up After-School hours, which provides homework help for students, open
gym time, and free meals. Details for this program will be available soon, but if you are
interested in helping out, contact Mizpah at mizpah@joshuahouse.com. For more
information on other Joshua House programs, check out our website:
www.joshuahouse.com.