Who We Are
Christ's Hands, Inc. is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization located in Harlan, Kentucky.
Following welfare reform in the mid to late 90s under the Clinton administration, many low-income families in Harlan County faced new hardships as federal assistance programs were reduced or capped.
With mounting fears for families who could not find consistent employment to fulfill the new requirements, a group of concerned Christians came together and formed Christ's Hands.
In December of 1998 Christ’s Hands was formed and stepped into the gap, serving as a crucial support system during a time of major national transition.
About Harlan County
Situated in the midst of the beautiful Appalachian mountains, Harlan County is statistically one of the poorest regions in the entire United States with very few economic opportunities.
Among the lowest median household incomes in the nation, the poverty rates are around 30-40% depending on the dataset.
Statistics:
Population 26,831
White (non-Hispanic) 94.2%
African American 2.24%
Median household income $30,210
Poverty rate 27.2%
Unemployment 7.9%
HS or higher (25y+) 77%
BA or higher (25y+) 10.5%
Disability 21.9%
Employment 39.6%
Board and Staff
Board of Directors
Leadership is fundamental to the success of any team or organization and at Christ’s Hands the Board of Directors provides that leadership. God has blessed this ministry year after year to meet the various needs of the families we serve. The board addresses each matter with prayer, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit which has been critical as Christ’s Hands continues to grow. As much as the churches' prayers are sought after for the clients and communities we minister to, prayer for the leadership is also greatly appreciated.
Dr. Robert Atkins is the founder of Christ’s Hands and serves as Chairman of the Board. He currently resides in Hazard, Kentucky where he practices family medicine at the Kentucky Community and Family Medicine Center for Ural Heath. He and his wife Julie attend Summit Church.
Tim Howard serves as the Secretary of the Board. He is the owner and president of Howard Engineering and attends Harlan Christian Church. Tim volunteers Wednesday evenings serving and delivering meals.
Steve Miracle, a licensed electrician, offers insights on building projects. He is the owner and operator of Total Electric. He and his wife Mattie attend Immanual Baptist Church. Steve volunteers in assisting with the various operating systems within the building.
Matt Nunez serves as the Treasurer on the board. He provides a valued connection to local community resources. He operates the Harlan Dental Clinic where he serves the community as a dentist. He and his wife Brandee and their four children attend Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Scott Pace offers his expertise in technology support. He is a teacher at Harlan County High School and attends Sunshine Baptist Church. Scott volunteers on Monday evenings serving meals.
J.D. Smith is our newest board member, offering insights on matters requiring board action. He is an attorney at law and the sole practitioner in his firm. He and his wife Peggy attend Harlan Baptist Church.
Staff Members
Director - J. Bryan Toll
Bryan came to the director position in September of 2015, after serving as the Youth Minister of the Harlan Christian Church for 13 years. Bryan had served on the board for 10 years previously and began volunteering washing dishes at Christ's Hands as a teen with his parents. He and his wife Ashley have 5 children. Their family has a heart for sharing God's Love through service. In their free time they enjoy camping and spending time together.
Volunteer Coordinator - Natasha Duff
Natasha joined our team in 2018. She worked in the clothing ministry prior to that for several months. She attends the Riverside Church of God in Cawood. She and her husband Kenneth have a son, Kyle. Their family enjoys riding in the mountains and spending time together.
Kitchen Manager - Melissa Middleton
Melissa has been working in the New Covenant kitchen since she joined us in 2022. She enjoys fishing and hunting with her husband Mike.
Volunteers
Since the doors first opened, Christ’s Hands has been upheld not by budgets or staffing, but by the faithfulness of God and the people He sends.
Volunteers have always been the lifeblood of this ministry, men and women who quietly say, "Here I am, Lord."
Their love, their strength, and their willingness to serve have carried Christ’s Hands through every season.
There is no “us and them” here, we are one body, one family, one purpose.
We honor every volunteer who has poured out time, energy, compassion, and prayer into this work. If God is stirring your heart to serve, all of us here warmly welcome you.
Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister."
