Meet Charity Freeland – Founder/President 
Charity Freeland was seventeen when she received 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 75% percent of her body in a fiery car accident. After the car accident, Charity spent two and a half months in the hospital. These initial medical interventions were only the beginning of the healing process. The next seven years were filled with over 25 reconstructive surgeries while learning to accept herself and the new physical limitations resulting from her accident. In her recovery season, she learned that the manner in which one adjusts to a new body directly affects that person’s overall success in future relationships and life. Charity realized that there is more to becoming whole than physically overcoming. She had to receive the gift of God’s grace and strength in order to make choices to live.
A year after the accident Charity joined her father on trip to Colorado, where he was going for a job interview. Through the diverse beauty of Colorado she began to envision a place that would be restful, fun, and therapeutic for those recovering from disabling injuries. This led to the dream of starting a recuperation facility that would help them overcome their circumstances, know their value, and be all that they were created to be.
Charity has worked with Solid Rock Foundation Ministries (SRFM) since October of 2002. SRFM is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization that has a focus on family and youth ministries. As a staff member of SRFM, Charity has done administration and bookkeeping along with leading, teaching, and counseling in their youth programs locally and internationally. In 2001 and 2002, Charity worked with Dreamcatcher’s Riding School, a therapeutic riding school for mentally disabled children. Working with these organizations has given her the opportunity to input into people from different cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, and circumstances.
Meet Chris Gray – Executive Director
Chris recently moved to from New York to Montrose with her husband Jon. She has not only spent time managing farms and working with animals, but many of her professional years were spent in the corporate world. She has a heart to see Hope’s Journey become a reality. Chris is currently offering her time and her personal and business experience to help build the foundations of Hope’s Journey.
Meet our Board of Directors:
David Tabor:
Rick & Kathy Weaver:
Rick and Kathy Weaver were raised in Southern California, met in college, and have now been married 33 years. For the last 21 years, they have lived in Montrose, CO where they raised and home-schooled their three daughters, now married with children of their own.
Rick and Kathy have served on several church and non-profit organization boards. Rick is a civil engineer and president of a 20-person consulting firm. Since their children left the home, Kathy has served on staff with Solid Rock Foundation Ministries locally, and on several outreaches internationally. Rick is also a pilot and flies mercy flights locally and to Mexico for two local ministries.
They became acquainted with Charity Freeland in the 1990’s and were impressed at the work the Lord has done in her life following her accident. Her overcoming spirit and freedom from bitterness is a powerful testimony of a real God. By serving on the Board for Hope’s Journey Intl., the Weavers desire to help facilitate Charity’s vision to bring God’s healing and restoration to those who have experienced similar life-altering events.
