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James Hill is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. James moved to Baltimore in 1993. In 2004, he entered HUM’s Spiritual Recovery Program and re-committed his life to Christ. He graduated from the Spiritual Recovery Program in 2005 and became a Helping Up Mission Employee in 2007. In 2017, James was promoted to his present position as the Assistant Director of Program Administration. 

Martin Lightner, Director of IT, has been engaged in Information Technology for over 40 years during his career in research and development, manufacturing, service, and training. A 2014 graduate of HUM’s Spiritual Recovery Program, he then joined the staff working with IT and program data systems. Martin embraces the daily opportunity to help the men and women of Helping Up Mission experience the same kind of life transformation he found here.

Tom loves his role at the HUM where he is able to focus his gifts, talents and experience to serve the men of the mission; aiding him in his job requirements are many years of experience of commercial construction, renovation and facilities management. Part of Tom’s job involves training of men in various fields of facilities management where they get first hand experience in serving others by helping to maintain the facility. He often includes the men in service projects and ministries outside of the Mission so they can have the experience of blessing others in need. Tom has been married to his wife Heidi for 25 years and has 3 kids, Emily, Daniel and James who also share his enthusiasm to serve others.

As Director of Philanthropy, Kris Sharrar joyfully connects HUM to Greater Baltimore and beyond by sharing the compelling stories of redemption, renewal, and restoration. And helping lead the Philanthropy team in serving all who are led to connect to HUM in giving, volunteering, advocacy, and other activities to share and celebrate the Mission story. Kris’ personal connection began when he hit his “rock bottom” in March 2006 and entered HUM as a client in the Spiritual Recovery Program, graduating in April 2007 and joined the staff in the long (and growing) line of graduate staff members. He saw GOD moving, and joined in! You can too!!

Mike Rallo, Director of Spiritual Life, has been in the ministry for over 25 years and can say he loves the work he does at Helping Up Mission as much as, or more than, anything else he has ever done. To be able to teach, counsel, train, etc., and use the gifts that God has given him through life giving on a daily basis… he learns about life, fallenness and the need for God’s abundant Grace moment by moment, and to realize that love wins.

Robert Gehman is President Emeritus of Helping Up Mission. During his 27 years at Helping Up Mission, the long-term residential programs have grown from 50 beds to 500 beds for men and 40 beds for women*. In addition to the Spiritual Recovery Program beds, there are 50 beds allocated for emergency overnight guests. Every night there are approximately 500 men and women in residence. He has a master’s degree in religious education from Liberty University and has completed his graduate certification in non-profit studies at Johns Hopkins University. He also has his CFRE fundraising designation.

He has developed a team of Senior Directors and managers along with notable strategic partners who collaboratively work together to refine the Spiritual Recovery Programs which are believed by many to be the best in the state of Maryland. Many of the present team members are graduates of the program giving constant credence to its effectiveness.

He believes and lives the idea that the city that is recognized around the country for its inordinate drug problem should also be home to the most cutting-edge Spiritual Recovery Program in the country offering leadership to other similar organizations.

*Coming in January 2022, a total of 200 beds for women and 50 beds for children.

Chief Financial Officer, Mike Burns, arrived at Helping Up Mission from the for-profit world. While Mike enjoyed his 25-year career in the investment world, he was sold on investing in men’s lives through the Mission’s programs because it could bring permanent transformation and healing through the power of Jesus Christ. Mike is a firm believer in the notion that every person is created in the image of God, that there are no “throw-away” people, and that lost and broken people can experience new life through the programs here.