Awakening Hope Partners
Meet the Missions Leaders from our partner organizations, the dedicated men and women who lead mission efforts in each of their partnered villages in Guatemala
First Baptist Church—Meridianville, Alabama
In addition to their staff roles at Awakening Hope partner, First Baptist Meridianville, David Hutto serves as Guatemala missions leader and Kim Hutto serves as the sponsorship administrator. They have been ministering in the Guatemalan village of San Antonio since 2010. Their work began with a deep desire to serve the community after witnessing the challenges related to hunger, health, clean water, housing, education, and isolation. In 2013, they launched the child sponsorship program for San Antonio, which continues to provide vital support. The Huttos regularly lead mission trips to San Antonio, manage sponsorships, and raise funds for projects that improve education, food security, housing, infrastructure, and medical care. Their ministry is centered on building relationships and sharing the love of Christ. "Our prayer is to see lives in San Antonio transformed both physically and spiritually," they share. David and Kim have two children and four grandchildren.
Locust Grove Baptist Church—New Market, Alabama
Tim Tripp serves as Missions Leader for Locust Grove, an Awakening Hope partner, and is the Lead Network Engineer for the Missile Defense Agency. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland. Tim and his wife, Sarah, relocated to the Huntsville area in 2016 after his retirement from the Army and have been members of Locust Grove since 2018.
Tim's initial exposure to mission work came during multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he participated in his group’s sponsorship of a local school. With supplies provided by family and friends, Tim's group supported the school in this war-torn region, sharing the love of Christ with children living in desperate poverty. This experience awakened a calling, and Tim and Sarah realized their deep desire to be involved in international missions. While living in Dothan, Alabama, they attended a church led by a couple who had served as missionaries in the Philippines. Tim and Sarah supported their work and met one of their missionaries, Josie, during a U.S. visit. Though they regret never visiting the Philippines, Tim and Sarah remain deeply committed to this mission and continue to support Josie's Angels, a ministry that rescues and holistically supports girls sold into prostitution.
Upon joining Locust Grove, they discovered an opportunity to answer their calling through the recurring mission trips to the village of Chuluc, Guatemala. They quickly became involved and have been consistent trip participants since 2018, with Tim leading the mission for Locust Grove since 2024. Sarah organizes and leads children's activities on each trip, including VBS programs and crafts, engaging various groups within the church. Sarah's passion is for the children, and she desires to see them grow stronger in Christ and have the opportunity to realize their dreams.
Tim shares, “One of the best things about serving in Guatemala is the Mayan people. Despite impoverished living conditions and often lacking basic necessities, they are a loving, Christ-centered people who invite you into their homes without hesitation. I've witnessed, on many occasions, several different people in Chuluc give gifts to missionaries and money to those less fortunate in the village. They minister to you as much as you minister to them. I've also witnessed several missionaries whose lives have been significantly changed as a result of the people in Chuluc.”
Tim and Sarah have been married for 29 years and have one son, Daniel, who is married to Jessica.
Wilson Lumber Company-Huntsville, Alabama
Jackie Crutcher serves as the Mission Leader for Awakening Hope partner, Wilson Lumber Company, a role that grew from a deep personal connection with the Guatemalan village of El Potrerillo. A Middle Tennessee native, Jackie serves as Director of Truss Operations for Wilson, leveraging his degree in Civil and Construction Engineering. While always drawn to missions, it was the stories shared by co-workers returning from Guatemala—stories of helping the village and playing with the children—that truly ignited his passion. Jackie and his wife, Kaycie, who were unable to have children of their own, found a special place in their hearts for the children of El Potrerillo. "I first thought that maybe I could be a part of adopting this village," Jackie shares, "but they adopted me. The children’s pure love is indescribable. Being able to share the love of Jesus with them is immeasurable." Married for 13 years, Jackie and Kaycie attend World Outreach Church and have a passion for sharing Christ's love with the children of El Potrerillo.
Parkview Baptist Church—Decatur, Alabama
Kevin Lovell serves as Mission Director for Parkview Baptist Church, an Awakening Hope partner. A Manufacturing Engineer with a B.S. in Engineering Technology, Kevin has been a member of Parkview for 11 years, where he also serves as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. While Kevin served on a mission trip to Mexico as a teenager and has participated in and led domestic mission trips, his service in the Guatemalan village of San Lorenzo marks his first responsibility as an international missions leader. Missions have long held a special place in Kevin's heart, a passion shared by his wife, Andrea Watson Lovell. Drawing on Andrea's extensive experience serving in orphan and women's ministries and leading mission trips in Ecuador, Kevin is excited to engage his family in the mission. Andrea visited Guatemala in 2023, and Kevin hopes to involve her and their three children—Watson (6), Lottie (3), and Paul (1)—more fully as they grow. Married for 10 years, Kevin and Andrea are deeply committed to serving the people of San Lorenzo.
Kevin shares, "It is an honor and a privilege to know and serve the kind and welcoming people of San Lorenzo. Spending time in the village and sharing the love of Christ with the Mayan community is one of my greatest joys. Leading teams and introducing American Christians to the rewards of international mission work is incredibly fulfilling, and leading others in the experience of serving others as Christ served the church is my deepest calling."