Nathan Merrill, a former medical doctor and businessman from Taylorsville, NC, is the founder and president of Finding Hope Ministries. After spending time in Romania helping the impoverished, Nathan and his wife, Anca Merrill, decided to establish Finding Hope Ministries in 2014 to support children in need in Romania. Nathan's experience as a medical doctor and his business acumen have helped him lead the organization with great success. He currently resides in Romania, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and develops ambitious expansion plans to reach out to people in need worldwide.

Kevin Powell is a businessman from Taylorville, North Carolina. He works in many roles within the organization. He is the Chairman of the Board of the organization, and he has been involved for nearly seven years. Throughout this time, he has traveled back and forth to Romania to facilitate expansion as well as managed projects involved in the growth and development of the organization in different countries. Kevin continues to help with the expansion of the organization by working on expansion within the United States.

Dr. Stephen Merrill is a retired medical doctor from Taylorsville, NC. He served as a medical practitioner for forty-five years and has completed numerous medical aid trips around the world, including the United States, Russia, Romania, the jungles of South America, and Africa. He is a prolific writer, having authored several books. Dr. Merrill continues to work with people globally, helping to improve their well-being and promote their personal development.

Logan Walker, a researcher and analyst in international relations and security studies, holds a B.S.B.A. in Management Information Systems from UNC Charlotte (2016) and an M.A. in Asian Studies from FIU (2021), currently pursuing a Ph.D. at FIU. He devoted significant time to humanitarian work at Finding Hope, Romania, playing a key role establishing Finding Hope in there. With experience as a Technology and Data Systems Specialist at Samaritan’s Purse, Logan now leads security research at FIU, influencing discussions on Sino-Russian relations, the South China Sea, and Japanese-Korean relations.

Mike Harrison is a retired law enforcement captain. He first volunteered at Finding Hope delivering humanitarian aid into Ukraine and fell in love with the children and people of the Gypsy villages in Romania. He is now actively involved in fundraising and representing Finding Hope in our partnership programs as well as working on the newsletters for Finding Hope. Mike also founded the children's charity Santa Cops and authored a children's book, Cop's Night Before Christmas. He and his wife, Ginny, live on a small farm in North Carolina with their pets. In his spare time, he enjoys restoring old tractors and providing aid to people in need locally and around the world.

Maurivam Junior is a Brazilian missionary working with us as the General Manager of our children homes in Romania. He first met us in 2018, when he came for a short visit of only four days. In January 2020 he came back as a volunteer and felt the Lord calling him to stay with us for a longer time. So he's been with us since then! Besides being the host parent for our boys at Peace Home and the general manager, he's also responsible for our music projects as Finding Hope Worship and our volunteer program.

Ally plays a crucial role in the success of Finding Hope. She joined Finding Hope when she was fifteen years old. Ally studied in America, where she completed her high school education. She returned to Romania after graduating from high school and will graduate in May 2024 from a university in Romania. Over the years, Ally has achieved a lot and remains an essential member of our team. She takes care of the children in a house parenting role in Romania as well as being the Director of Education for Finding Hope Children in Romania. Her responsibilities include teaching and tutoring the children in our houses in Romania, as well as taking care of their daily needs. Ally performs multiple roles within the organization and excels at everything she does. She is a true inspiration.

Anca Merrill is an essential member of our team as she is the driving force behind the establishment of this organization. Anca grew up in a state-run orphanage in communist-era Romania. Some Americans who were working to provide aid in Romania invested in her and rescued her from her dire situation. Anca started working for a children's home in Romania, which closed down in the early 2000s. Anca and Nathan, a medical doctor from the US, came alongside orphan girls who were at risk of being sexually exploited. Nathan and Anca helped these girls find suitable living arrangements and employment while also guiding them towards a better future. Nathan and Anca eventually got married and returned to Romania to dedicate their time to helping orphans in Romania. Anca is the CEO of Finding Hope Romania, and she also serves as a house parent. She ensures that administrative and management functions are carried out efficiently.

Vinicius and Clarissa are a Brazilian couple. They are missionaries that answered the Lord's calling and gave up everything they had in Brazil to come and serve the Lord with us. They came with their beautiful children, Ana Clara and Caleb - and have been a blessing to us ever since. They have been working as host parents and also mentoring our kids in spiritual matters. Clarissa has also taken on the role as the cook for Peace and Anchor Homes, as our boys love her food! 

Gabriel's story with Finding Hope Ministries began as a resident in one of our Romanian children's homes at the age of 16. Having spent most of his life in the state-run orphanage system, Finding Hope provided a nurturing environment where he could flourish.

Following his high school graduation and a year of university studies, Gabriel's dedication and compassion led Finding Hope to offer him a staff position. In his current role, he plays a vital role in supporting the children's education and overall well-being.
 

While dedicated to his work at Finding Hope, Gabriel is also ambitious for his own future. He is currently saving towards furthering his education at university, though he has yet to decide on a specific course of study. This dedication to both his own growth and the well-being of the younger residents exemplifies Gabriel's character.

Lisa Powell, a resident of Taylorsville, is adept in her management skills. She aids and supports in a management role as well as utilizes her administrative skills to promote efficiency within projects in which she is involved.  Lisa strives to help the children within the organization by guiding and empowering them.  She has been involved with Finding Hope for about seven years, and her and her husband hosted an exchange student from Romania for her senior year of high school. Finally, Lisa is a vocal advocate for the organization, promoting its work and encouraging more people to participate in its mission. She serves on the Board of Directors and continues to facilitate the growth and development of the organization. 

Isabella Hamby is an advocate from North Carolina. She works to complete tasks related to marketing and social media. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Administration and is set to graduate in May 2024. Isabella first visited Finding Hope in Romania in 2021 and was deeply moved by the organization's work. She is committed to continuing her advocacy and support for Finding Hope by taking on tasks that can aid in the process of expanding the organization's reach.