ABOUT US
House of Hope Kansas City is a Christian-based nonprofit organization providing a two-fold mission that includes
1) a comprehensive residential treatment program for hurting teens, and
2) a Family Counseling Center that serves teenage boys and girls and their families.
Affiliated with the National House of Hope, our licensed residential group home for teens aged 13
through 17 includes an onsite school, accredited through Kansas Connections Academy, and intentional parent support from trained social workers.
Throughout the program, our residents experience the transforming power of love and are equipped with tools to overcome negative influences and past trauma as they rebuild relationships with their parents.
We serve families all over the Kansas City area and the Midwest region through our residential program.
Our Counseling Center is equipped with Clinically-trained, Biblically-informed licensed counselors who provide services to teenage boys, teenage girls, and their families in the Kansas City area.
House of Hope Kansas City is unique, because we work with teens and their parents to find solutions, and ultimately, restoration of healthy family relationships.
We believe all teens are God's beloved masterpiece created for a purpose.
Our Core Values
Gospel-Saturated
We seek to saturate everything with the gospel of Jesus Christ, understanding that if God doesn’t show up, we are unable to heal or transform anyone in our own strength.
Compassionate +
Consistent
HOPEFUL
Excellence
Our Campus
Our residential campus is located in Overland Park, Kansas. House of Hope KC is a 24 hour staffed, family-style environment within a residential area. We have capacity for 23 residents and are committed to individual, customized care.
Virtual Tour
Marilyn Thomas, Founder
Marilyn Thomas founded House of Hope Kansas City in 2003. As a young girl, God planted a seed in Marilyn’s heart- a lifelong desire to help hurting children. She always had a dream of starting an orphanage. She went to college and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a profession she cherished until she became a homemaker. She was married 33 years before her husband passed of cancer. through those years together, they raised four children, and she is now blessed with thirteen grandchildren.
When her husband passed away, the seeds that were rooted as a little girl to start an orphanage began to blossom into reality.
In recent years, Marilyn has retired, but remains an active and intrical part of the organization. She has entrusted the ministry to the new executive director, Tim Overby
Through his leadership and dedication, House of Hope continues to serve the Kansas City area “by restoring teenagers back to their families and parents back to their children.”
House of Hope Kansas City has reached thousands of parents and teenagers, helping many girls returning home happier, healthier, and transformed through the love of Christ.
Marilyn reported that many girls come in hating themselves, as well as their parents. She commented, “it is a joy when you see a life changed and the disrespect and rebellion against the family disappear… When you see their life turn around and they start to walk with the Lord, they are literally changed and know they have a purpose in the future.”
Marilyn Thomas
Founder, House of Hope Kansas City
Tim Overby, Executive Director
Tim was born and raised in central Arkansas. An only child of a single parent household, Tim came into a relationship with Jesus at 11 years old and grew in his faith until surrendering to a call to full-time ministry at age 21. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, Tim has spent the last 15 years serving two of the largest congregations in the Kansas City Metro Area as discipleship and executive pastor roles.
Tim’s life mission is to help people grow in their knowledge of God, so that they live out the life God has called them to in the gospel of Christ. He is passionate about advancing God’s mission in Kansas City through transformed lives, and sees incredible potential in the House of Hope KC to bring healing and restoration to families in KC and the surrounding Midwest region. Tim has a track record of bringing organizational health and increased collaboration among churches toward a common mission.
Please welcome Tim and his family as he seeks to shepherd the House of Hope KC in this next season of “healing teens, restoring families, and transforming communities.”
Heather Reitz, Business Adminstrator
Amy Burgess, Executive Assistant
Before moving to Kansas City in 2017 Amy spent nearly 20 years in healthcare. Understanding that teen girls need to feel heard, seen, and understood she sees every day as an opportunity to point the girls she works with to Jesus. Amy has been with House of Hope since June of 2020. She has three grown children and two granddaughters. In her time off, she enjoys hiking, camping in her home state of Oregon, and hanging out with friends and family.
Monica believes in the power of staying engaged and active, both professionally and personally. Maintaining a busy schedule allows her to stay focused, energized, and connected to the communities she serves. Engaging in meaningful activities provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which boosts her mood and overall well-being. This proactive approach not only enhances her professional effectiveness but also enriches her personal life, fostering resilience and a positive outlook.
Cheryl Johnson-Lee, Residential Care Manager
Cheryl spent 30 years in Corporate America and was blessed to take early retirement. Cheryl then became a Correction officer at the Adult Residential Center in Gardner Kansas but decided that her passion was driven towards working with teens. Her vision is to help young teens learn how to have a healthy connection within themselves and with others. Cheryl has been with House of Hope since October 2018. She has two grown children, and three granddaughters. In her time off she also manages a clothing brand with her youngest son, she enjoys touring with her oldest son, and travelling to her hometown of New York City to spend time with her family.
Sam Phipps, Academic Coordinator
Sam was born in Florida and spent his childhood moving around the southeast as a pastor’s kid before establishing his home in Kansas City. He graduated from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and returned to KC to begin his career in psychology.
After a few years of working in an office, he realized he wanted more out of his work. After a period of prayer and waiting, Sam found House of Hope in February of 2026. With House of Hope, Sam is able to utilize his academic background and engage with his passion for helping young people find their identity in Christ through their hardest battles.
In his free time, Sam enjoys traveling the midwest with Kansas City’s ultimate frisbee team, playing live music with his friends, and spending time with his wife, Madison, and their dog, Dempsey.
Dante Lee, Activities Coordinator
Dante is a former college basketball player (McPherson college) who serves as the head varsity assistant boys basketball coach at Park Hill South High School. Dante is also the proprietor of a clothing line called Triumph Victory Limitsnone. He has two daughters, Julianna, 12, and Chaiselynn, 8. In addition, Dante is the co-director of a non-profit youth basketball organization called Prep Hoops Academy, which caters to girls, and he coaches both of his daughters’ teams. Dante has been with House of Hope for two years and currently holds the position of activities coordinator. His interests include fashion, sneaker collecting, art, tattoos, and traveling to his hometown of New York City to spend time with his family.
Andy Rash, Lead Residential Care Coordinator
Andy was born and raised in Kansas and worked in the corporate world for years. Andy decided to take a break from sitting behind a desk all day and discover his real passion, helping autistic teens at a group home in KCMO. Andy came to the House of Hope December 2024 to pursue his passion for helping teens. In Andy’s free time he has coached his 3 children and other kids in sports. He is also a DJ that goes by the name Samson. Andy’s great grandfather who was a minister gave him this nickname after seeing how strong he was at an early age.
Shelby Tomasevic
Our Counseling Staff
Vicki Bartholomew, LSCSW
Vicki graduated with her Bachelor and Masters degrees in social work from The University of Kansas in 2017 and 2018 respectively. At House of Hope KC, Vicki works with in the girls residential program as well as sees clients through the Family Counseling Center. She is trained in EMDR and enjoys working with residents and their families navigate through dysfunctional family dynamics such as blended families and divorced families. Vicki is also our Admissions Counselor and helps families navigate placing their child in our residential program.
When Vicki is not at work, she is spending time with her 3 children and husband. She loves spending time with her family and supporting her kids in all of their activities.
Anthony Dummermuth holds a Master’s degree in counseling from MidAmerica Nazarene University and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. For many years, he served in a local church and other Christian ministry settings, where individuals entrusted him with both the most painful and most joyful moments of their lives. It has been a privilege for Anthony to walk alongside many through the ups and downs of life.
Married since 2002, Anthony and his spouse have six children—four biological and two adopted from Rwanda and Burundi. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading literature, running, playing cards and board games, and indulging in plenty of ice cream.
Board of Directors
Matthew Severns, Board Chairman
Martha Comment
Martha Comment has served on the House of Hope KC Board for a cumulative 10 years off and on. Her passion for serving teenagers began when she became one of the first staff therapists to work with Marilyn Thomas in getting House of Hope KC established. Martha, along with her late husband Jeff, have long supported youth outreach programs in the Kansas City area, and she has generated support for HOHKC specifically from many parts of the Kansas City business community.
Sally Doane,
Sally Doane has served on the House of Hope Board for 2 years. As a former nurse, she cultivated a profound passion for patient health and well being, a commitment she extends in her current role as a Congregational Care Minister at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood. In this role, she provides vital support to individuals navigating life’s challenges. Sally’s unwavering compassion and dedication are key to advancing House of Hope’s vital work of fostering hope and restoration to each individual and their families.
Connie Horosz,
Connie Horosz is the Care and Counseling Director at Westside Family Church. She holds a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She is a clinically licensed counselor in Kansas and Missouri and is a board-approved clinical supervisor. In addition, she is EMDR trained, a Trauma Free World trainer, and a SYMBIS facilitator. Connie is passionate about integrating God’s truth with clinical approaches to care.
Connie has been married to her husband, Damien, for over 30 years. They have 3 adult children and two sons-in-law. She enjoys hiking with her three dogs, reading, and spending time with family.
Tim Overby,
Tim was born and raised in central Arkansas. An only child of a single parent household, Tim came into a relationship with Jesus at 11 years old and grew in his faith until surrendering to a call to full-time ministry at age 21. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, Tim has spent the last 15 years serving two of the largest congregations in the Kansas City Metro Area as discipleship and executive pastor roles.
Tim’s life mission is to help people grow in their knowledge of God, so that they live out the life God has called them to in the gospel of Christ. He is passionate about advancing God’s mission in Kansas City through transformed lives, and sees incredible potential in the House of Hope KC to bring healing and restoration to families in KC and the surrounding Midwest region. Tim has a track record of bringing organizational health and increased collaboration among churches toward a common mission.
Please welcome Tim and his family as he seeks to shepherd the House of Hope KC in this next season of “healing teens, restoring families, and transforming communities.”
Paul Brandes
Paul serves as the Campus Pastor at Christ Community Shawnee, bringing a deep passion for pastoral care and spiritual formation to the House of Hope board. Paul earned his M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Throughout his years in ministry, Paul has remained deeply rooted in working with middle school and high school students, a background that drew him to the life-changing work of House of Hope. He is inspired by the organization’s unique commitment to providing a Christ-centered environment where hurting teenagers can find healing and restoration. Paul is honored to support a mission that mirrors his own calling: seeing lives transformed by the hope of the Gospel. He resides in the Kansas City area with his wife, Ashley, and their three sons, Bevyn, Owen, and Ethan.
Aaron Jackson
Aaron Jackson is a real estate and finance attorney with the Polsinelli law firm, where he serves as the Vice Chair of the Financial Services Litigation practice group. Aaron received a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University in 2001, and a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2006. Aaron served in the United States Army from 2001 to 2007 and was deployed for the Iraq War in 2004. Aaron lives in Kansas City with his wife Tammy and has four children and two grandchildren.
Brandon Moeller,
Brandon’s family is Kansas City based and lives approximately 20 minutes from the House of Hope Campus in Parkville, MO. Brandon and his wife, Whitney, have been married for 15 years and have four children ranging between 5 and 16 years old. He works as a Commercial Lender for Security Bank of Kansas City and has been fortunate to be with the bank for 11 years. Through his role, he has worked alongside businesses of all shapes and sizes, including non-profit organizations, in learning day-to-day needs, challenges, and opportunities for success. House of Hope is special to the Moeller family since they are an alumni family and have experienced firsthand the mission, vision, and values of House of Hope. Brandon is grateful to share their story of hope and recovery and look forward to partnering with the HOHKC team.
Marilyn Thomas,
Marilyn Thomas founded House of Hope Kansas City in 2003. As a young girl, God planted a seed in Marilyn’s heart- a lifelong desire to help hurting children. She always had a dream of starting an orphanage. She went to college and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a profession she cherished until she became a homemaker. She was married 33 years before her husband passed of cancer. through those years together, they raised four children, and she is now blessed with thirteen grandchildren.
When her husband passed away, the seeds that were rooted as a little girl to start an orphanage began to blossom into reality.
In recent years, Marilyn has retired, but remains an active and intrical part of the organization. She has entrusted the ministry to the new executive director, Tim Overby
Through his leadership and dedication, House of Hope continues to serve the Kansas City area “by restoring teenagers back to their families and parents back to their children.”
House of Hope Kansas City has reached thousands of parents and teenagers, helping many girls returning home happier, healthier, and transformed through the love of Christ.
Marilyn reported that many girls come in hating themselves, as well as their parents. She commented, “it is a joy when you see a life changed and the disrespect and rebellion against the family disappear… When you see their life turn around and they start to walk with the Lord, they are literally changed and know they have a purpose in the future.”
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STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe…
1. There is one God and He exists eternally in three persons as Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. Each member of the Trinity is co-equal, yet have different functions
in the redemptive plan of God.
2. The Bible is God’s authoritative revelation of Himself to humanity and is not
mixed with any error in its origin.
3. Jesus Christ, as God the Son, is the final revelation of God. Jesus was born of a
virgin, led a sinless life, performed miracles, and become God’s final atoning
sacrifice through His substitutionary death on the Cross. He conquered death
and the grave through His bodily resurrection, ascended to Heaven where He
dwells in Lordship, and will return to Earth to resurrect His followers to eternal
fellowship and judge the World.
4. Humanity is born and naturally exists in a fallen state since Adam and Eve’s sin
in the Garden of Eden and remains separated from God, spiritually. This
fallenness impacts every area of a person’s life and is only transformed by the
regenerating work of the Holy Spirit on the basis of God’s grace alone. Salvation
comes to an individual as they repent and believe by faith in the finished work of
Jesus Christ on their behalf.
5. God designed His people to dwell with Him in spiritual relationship in the Lord
Jesus Christ, expressed most fully within a local church setting alongside other
Believers. We are called as followers of Christ to live a life of obedience to God’s
Word and shares His Good news with others.
At House of Hope Kansas City, we will be sharing the above teachings to all of our
residents, either through daily devotions, Bible studies, and chapel messages. However,
we will NOT force any religion and/or set of beliefs to our residents, but rather present
them with the opportunity of knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.