Our Staff

J Mark Horst, President

J. Mark Horst joined the Heralds Team in 1994 and served for six years as Administrative Assistant to Dr. J. Otis Yoder, founder and first president of Heralds of Hope, Inc. His wife, Joyce, and their eight children join him in this radio and literature ministry.

J. Mark and his family are committed, under the guidance of the Board of Directors, to fulfilling the original ministry vision of proclaiming the Bible as the Word of God. While realizing God's Word is timeless and relevant in any age, they are committed to using advances in communication technology to expand Gospel outreach.

As an ordained minister, J. Mark has committed himself to "preach the Word" and to declare "the whole counsel of God." He is gradually working into the weekly radio sermon schedule with the goal of eventually assuming full responsibility.

Your prayers and financial support will be greatly appreciated by J. Mark and his family as they build on the foundation so faithfully laid down by Dr. J. Otis Yoder and his wife, Isabelle.

Mark Atkinson:

May 1st 1978 I came to the ministry of Heralds of Hope to work in the in house print shop. With no previous printing experience, I spent six weeks with my brother in Ohio, a commercial printer learning the basics of the printing process. In my early years with the ministry I recall printing 9,000 copies of the Hope Herald, our annual Bible Study booklet. The colating was done manually, then they stopped and trimmed in the paper cutter. Now we have a machine to colate, stitch, and trim. We then got a press to print on both sides of the paper in one pass. Later a machine to make paperback books was added. My wife, Grace and I have seven children and 12 grandchildren. I came to serve with this ministry in response to God's calling. It has been a blessing to have a part in the ministry and see the work grow.

Donna Newell:

November 1, 1995 I was privileged to start work at Heralds of Hope, Inc. and what a blessing it has been for me. I work only1/2 days since 1998. I work in the donor office and also prepare Board Reports for J. Mark. What a joy to work here at this ministry and to work with the other staff members.

Audrey Van Pelt:

Working at the Ministry since 1996 has been very rewarding for me. It has helped me to have a closer walk with the Lord and to know the role that the Lord has for me at this time in my life. I have learned much about the computer and how to make it work for sharing the gospel. I work with International mail, the newsletter, and updating our literature and the Web site. My husband, Paul, and I have two grown children and two grandsons. Our special gifts from the Lord. My job here at the Ministry and my family are a great blessing to me. I thank God for what He has allowed me to have. I serve a true and living God and you can know HIM too!!!

Bob Kauffman

Donna and I were so awed and blessed by the way God opened the door for us to join the ministry team at Heralds of Hope. On November 2, 2007 we finally moved into Coda Cottage, the former Yoder house, which is at the top of the hill across the road from the office.
Please pray for us as we serve the Lord by assisting Brother J. Mark with the bookkeeping, donor contacts, and administration.
As we continue to learn more of the HOH radio and literature ministry, we are very inspired by the dedicated staff and the listener response letters. Many letters express how much they depend on the expository Bible teaching broadcasts for answers to their hearts cry, spiritual nourishment, and encouragement. Many live in very poor and difficult settings and don't even have a church-fellowship. Others use the teaching for their ministry, since they have very little other Bible training.
We bless you for partnering with us by your prayers and gifts to make this ministry possible!

For God's Glory,
Bob and Donna

Mark Atkinson: May 1st 1978 I came to the ministry of Heralds of Hope to work in the in house print shop. With no previous printing experience, I spent six weeks with my brother in Ohio, a commercial printer learning the basics of the printing process. In my early years with the ministry I recall printing 9,000 copies of the Hope Herald, our annual Bible Study booklet. The colating was done manually, then they stopped and trimmed in the paper cutter. Now we have a machine to colate, stitch, and trim. We then got a press to print on both sides of the paper in one pass. Later a machine to make paperback books was added. My wife, Grace and I have seven children and 12 grandchildren. I came to serve with this ministry in response to God's calling. It has been a blessing to have a part in the ministry and see the work grow.

Donna Newell: November 1, 1995 I was privileged to start work at Heralds of Hope, Inc. and what a blessing it has been for me. I work only1/2 days since 1998. I work in the donor office and also prepare Board Reports for J. Mark. What a joy to work here at this ministry and to work with the other staff members.


Audrey Van Pelt: Working at the Ministry since 1996 has been very rewarding for me. It has helped me to have a closer walk with the Lord and to know the role that the Lord has for me at this time in my life. I have learned much about the computer and how to make it work for sharing the gospel. I work with International mail, the newsletter, and updating our literature and the Web site. My husband, Paul, and I have two grown children and two grandsons. Our special gifts from the Lord. My job here at the Ministry and my family are a great blessing to me. I thank God for what He has allowed me to have. I serve a true and living God and you can know HIM too!!!

Bob Kauffman Donna and I were so awed and blessed by the way God opened the door for us to join the ministry team at Heralds of Hope. On November 2, 2007 we finally moved into Coda Cottage, the former Yoder house, which is at the top of the hill across the road from the office. Please pray for us as we serve the Lord by assisting Brother J. Mark with the bookkeeping, donor contacts, and administration. As we continue to learn more of the HOH radio and literature ministry, we are very inspired by the dedicated staff and the listener response letters. Many letters express how much they depend on the expository Bible teaching broadcasts for answers to their hearts cry, spiritual nourishment, and encouragement. Many live in very poor and difficult settings and don't even have a church-fellowship. Others use the teaching for their ministry, since they have very little other Bible training. We bless you for partnering with us by your prayers and gifts to make this ministry possible! For God's Glory, Bob and Donna