“We live in an area with a lot of affluent neighborhoods around, but just a few minutes away, there are people who are struggling and suffering.”
For Brandon Yarnell, he’s seen this firsthand through his time on Home Repairs’ board.
Brandon first connected with Home Repairs Ministries through Bill Isaak, former board chair, while they were volunteering together at 12Stone Church.
“He asked me to be on the golf [tournament] committee initially, which I did for a couple of years. Then I officially joined the board in 2021 and have been on the board ever since,” Brandon explained.
This year, Brandon has taken over as the board’s president. As he reflects on his time with Home Repairs Ministries, the organization’s incredible growth stands out.
“We went from a one-person ministry to three [staff members], and we’re on our way to more,” he shared. “When you do that, you continue to grow impact in the community, but it certainly took a leap of faith. If we hire these people, will God provide the funding to do that?”
Throughout 2025, Brandon saw God’s faithfulness in a big way as the organization landed new grants and built new community partnerships. This additional support has helped Home Repairs Ministries take its outreach to new heights.
In the early days of Home Repairs Ministries, it provided critical home repairs on a smaller scale than it does today.
“Historically, we did a lot of grab bar projects and ramp projects. We still do that, and it’s impactful. But we’re starting to make a whole-home impact,” he explained.
“There are certain projects where a sink isn’t working, and as we dive in and uncover things, we see all kinds of things that need to be addressed. Addressing the sink problem would be a band-aid on a bigger problem.”
Even with the growth Home Repairs has seen, the heart of the mission still remains the same: giving hope to vulnerable homeowners through critical home repairs.
When Brandon was a volunteer alongside Bill Isaak, he remembers working on one particular project that’s stuck with him.
“We were building a ramp to the front door for a gentleman who had recently become disabled. He had lost his wife, and he had children who had disabilities,” he said. “We were one ray of light in an otherwise really dark situation, and he was really thankful for that.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that if some of these repairs aren’t completed, people are at risk of losing their homes or not being able to live in their homes anymore.”
On the outside looking in, adding a ramp or fixing broken siding doesn’t seem like a big impact. But it might be the fix that determines whether homeowners remain in their homes or are forced out.
“Some municipalities [have told homeowners], ‘Have this fixed by this date, or we’re starting the process to evict you.’ We keep people in their homes and help them age in place,” he shared.
“It seems like we just put in a ramp or fixed some siding, but the alternative is somebody will be fined and eventually get made to move from their home because they’re not following codes. Even a small repair can be a huge impact.”
For any business or organization, reaching 20 years of service is a big milestone. But for Home Repairs Ministries, an organization that relies on volunteer labor and donations, the 20-year milestone is an even bigger success.
“When this ministry was founded, it was just a bunch of people at a church that had a heart for this ministry. For it to be 20 years old is incredible,” he said.
In 2025, Home Repairs Ministries served 100 homeowners and completed over 400 projects, thanks to partnerships and volunteers who contributed almost 1,400 hours.
“These numbers are a testament to the people who had the vision for this ministry, and [to the ones] who brought it to this point of growth,” Brandon shared.
“In 2025, we were blessed in a big way, and feel strongly that in 2026, we’ll be blessed again. With every leap and chance we take, God has opened doors, and that allows us to provide in bigger ways.”