Overcoming the Insurmountable

Everyone has a story, and not all of them are happy. But at Northwestern, God equipped Scott Schnyders ’04 to help people change their story of struggle to one filled with hope.

As the recently appointed chief executive officer and former longtime shelter director of Refuge of Hope Ministries in Canton, Ohio, Schnyders is passionate about helping people face obstacles that seem insurmountable.

“The most transformative gift in my work is the ability to be present with those who are struggling,” he says.

Schnyders shares that seeing his residence director, Marlon Haverdink ’97, foster an environment of belonging in his dorm provided a model for how to love and care for people in powerful ways. Equally important are the skills he learned in Dr. Scott Monsma’s classes, which taught him how to look for the underlying causes of a person’s trials.

“As we address issues of poverty, we see the need to address the structural problems contributing to people’s situations so that we can contribute to lasting change,” says Schnyders.

Sharing God’s love as they care for people’s needs, Schnyders and his team regularly see people who battle addiction, mental health and family trauma be made alive again through the hope found in Jesus.