In 1988, a group of local churches through the Marion Area Ministerial Association started an outreach program to address housing needs in Marion, Virginia. It was developed under the direction of Reverend Harry Howe, a local United Methodist pastor. By the end of 1988, the need for a full-time program to coordinate available resources and church volunteers was obvious. In 1989, the program began working with local agencies; by coordinating activities with local churches across denominations, the program was able to do far more to meet the community's needs.

In the fall of 1989, the process began to develop a full-time ministry. At this time, the ministry was known as “Helping Hands Ministry” and served only Smyth County. The program continued to grow and develop over the next three years to include neighboring communities in two additional counties. Those counties are Washington and Wythe, which border Smyth County. During this time, a Board of Directors was formed, and churches outside of the service area began to participate in the ministry. A portion of our volunteer base includes churches that have traveled from out of state to serve.

In October of 1991, this new ministry was incorporated as an ecumenical mission under the name of Project Crossroads. In July 1993, Project Crossroads became a full-time mission under the umbrella of the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) of the United Methodist Church as a Church and Community Project. This relationship shifted from the GBGM to the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2013 and remains affiliated with the Holston Conference today through disaster response programs and staff.

Through the years, Project Crossroads continues to grow and adapt in outreach and ministry to meet the needs of those in our communities. Churches across all Christian traditions, civic organizations and businesses, as well as individuals and families, have partnered with us to be the hands and feet of Christ in Southwest Virginia.

The name, Project Crossroads, was selected to reflect our ministry as an outreach of the church because it emphasizes the spiritual nature of our calling to missions and represents: where the presence of Christ meets human need. We strive to make God’s presence known in the crossing paths of our service to those with earthly needs and our own faith journey.

In 2026, we dedicated our “Project House” and a new sign in honor of Reverend Harry Howe and in memory of Tom Becker. We have operated out of this headquarters at 136 Snider Branch Road since 2010. The sign dedication recognizes Harry’s legacy as the founding Executive Director of Project Crossroads and Tom Becker’s dedication to a life of humble service that embodied the love of Christ through countless acts of compassion. Reverend Howe retired from Project Crossroads in 2024. Prior to Tom’s death, he was a faithful volunteer group leader from Beaver Ridge UMC in Knoxville, TN. Project Crossroads continues to receive annual support from the Tom Becker Foundation. Press coverage of the dedication is here.

Rev. Harry Howe

Harry is the founder of Project Crossroads. He served in pastoral appointments of the United Methodist Church in the North Alabama Conference (1976-1982) and in Holston Conference (1982-1993). In June of 1993 he was appointed to the General Board of Global Ministries as a Church and Community Worker with Project Crossroads. In 2013, he was appointed as a Church and Community Worker of the Holston Conference until his retirement at the end of 2024.

Harry is an Ordained Elder of Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church; a commissioned Missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of UMC; a Physician Assistant licensed in Virginia; and a Certified Master Electrician, Plumber and Mechanical HVAC in Virginia.

In retirement, Harry continues to serve as a volunteer practioner with the Mel Leaman Free Clinic and the Chair of Board of Commissioners for Marion Redevelopment & Housing Authority.

Mark and Linda Stransky

In 2007, Mark and Linda were assigned to Project Crossroads as Church and Community workers. Mark helped direct the housing rehab and firewood ministries. Linda worked in the community to identify new needs. She founded the Sprouting Hope community garden which operated for more than 15 years providing fresh produce to those experience food insecurities. While Mark continued to serve Project Crossroads until his retirement 2018, Linda became the director of Jubilee Project in Sneedville, TN. Jubilee serves a variety of needs in its local community.