Our Mission

M28 is a faith-based, community conscious movement comprised of people who help others who want to help themselves. We come alongside those who are finding their way in life, with the goal of moving them from poverty to stability to community.

Poverty Stability Community

The M28 Story

Some things are birthed out of hardship, other things are birthed out of a keen sense of God-given awareness that flashes in on us out of nowhere (or so it seems). When it is done, it burns inwardly leaving us burdened with a deeply impassioned heart and a helpless sense of wonder. The work of M28 was inspired by the fusion of these ingredients. When God clears out the debris of a cluttered heart, the eyes and ears are opened and one sees what has been lost, a treasure that has been misplaced and time that has been wasted. One cannot recover lost time but one can find what was misplaced. And so we are recalibrating in light of Christ’s forgotten ways and God’s missional purposes. M28 participants have a strong desire to see our communities transformed and made whole again. We are eager to inspire a movement of churches, non-profits, and local agencies who do life with those struggling to find their way. We are a missionally-minded, growing movement of ordinary people who are passionate about equipping those in our community to see the marginalized and disenfranchised find hope and offer them a taste of grace. We believe that everyone should risk more than others think is safe, care more than others think is wise, dream more than others think is practical and expect more than others think is possible.

We are eager to inspire a movement of churches, non-profits, and local agencies who do life with those struggling to find their way.

Practices

How M28 helps those finding their way in life.

RELATIONAL BASE

We value transformational relationships over transactional ones. We invest in people, not programs.

COMMUNITY FOCUS

We partner with other non-profits, churches, and agencies working with those in poverty.

OUTCOME DRIVEN

By doing life with others we see real results of people moving from poverty to stability to community.

Leadership

Jim Schambach founded M28 Ministry in 2011 after he left his position as Executive Pastor at a megachurch in central Pennsylvania. He started M28 to inspire a movement of churches, non-profits, and local agencies to help those struggling to find their way in life. Since its inception, M28 has improved the lives of more than 1,000 individuals and families.

Jim has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Bethel Theological Seminary and has published extensively on ministering to single adults. In addition to his work with M28, he sits on the board of Daystar Center for Recovery. He was nominated as one of the “101 Most Vital People in South Central Pennsylvania” by Apprise Magazine and nominated for a Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service by Channel 8, both for his work with single adults in the region. He and his wife, Brenda, live just outside Harrisburg and enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Jimmy Schambach has worked with M28 Ministry since 2013. He has always enjoyed working with people, helping them find a better life and a better understanding of themselves. He also takes his faith in God very seriously. Working with M28 has been a chance for him to combine these passions and provide him with a wonderful opportunity to see lives transformed in our community and our world.

Jimmy graduated from Evangel University with a degree in Bible and Theology in 2010, and a Master of Divinity from Regent University in 2013. He has been an ordained Pastor since 2014. In addition to working with M28, Jimmy has been teaching logic for a classical school called Scholé Academy for the past four years. He and his wife, Tristin, live near Harrisburg.

Dan Kovlak has devoted his life to accounting and helping to steer and support organizations he believes in. Dan is a retired certified public accountant and partner at KPMG, where he served for 37 years. He is a member of the Harrisburg Lions Club and active participant with Christian Business Men’s Connection, Christian Schools of Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Family Institute, Finish the Mission 2030 (Nepal), Ambassadors, and China Outreach Ministries.

A graduate of the University of New Haven who earned his MBA at University of Bridgeport, Dan has used his education and experience to assist others in his industry. He received the Champion's Award from the Greater Washington Society of CPAs for his volunteer efforts with the Government Relations Committee. Dan's work was instrumental in securing passage of CPA mobility legislation in the district, allowing CPAs to practice across jurisdictional lines. Dan is married and has five daughters and 18 grandchildren.

Douglas Yohe believes deeply in the mission of M28 to help move participants from poverty to stability to community. As the current Chair of M28’s Board of Directors, Douglas has participated in and led many of our events, bringing his passion for helping people to every effort.

For nearly a decade, Douglas has served as the General Counsel for Vibra Healthcare, LLC. Prior to joining Vibra Healthcare, he was a partner in the law firm of Latsha Davis Yohe & McKenna, P.C., for more than 15 years. A longtime resident of the Central PA area, Douglas began his career as an associate at Shumaker Williams. He is a graduate of Juniata College and Wake Forest University School of Law.

Jonathan Freeman is a Financial Advisor who enjoys devoting time to his community. He embraces the opportunity for fellowship and meeting new people that he receives while giving back. Jonathan is a Director at Stonebridge Financial Group.

Jonathan’s prior board experience includes Jewish Family Service, Downtown Daily Bread, the Helen O. Krause Animal Foundation, and M28 Ministry. The 1996 graduate of Bucknell University is also very active with Big Brothers Big Sisters, where he has mentored his little brother for over four years. Jonathan has a passion for fundraising and has coordinated successful events for many charitable organizations. He also chairs the Development Committee for the Feel Your Boobies® Foundation board of directors. Jonathan and his wife, Andrea, live in Camp Hill with their daughters, Sophie and Rachel.

As president of Crescent Strategy, Susan Ewing immerses herself in the world of digital marketing and advertising to deliver effective campaigns that impact clients' bottom lines. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in corporate communications from Central Pennsylvania College, Ewing has spent the past 15 years on the cutting edge of the evolving and powerful digital marketing landscape. She knows how to create a rich and rewarding online presence for her clients while achieving their digital marketing and public relations goals, such as garnering more clients, increasing sales and leads, or becoming a trusted resource and thought leader in their industry.

An innovator who devotes her full attention to every project, Ewing has pioneered the use of unique social media techniques to promote her clients. She has led Central PA in adopting what are now standard practices for the industry, combining her abilities to analyze results and focus campaigns to deliver optimal results.

In recognition of her talent, she was named one of the region’s Women of Influence and 40 Under Forty Outstanding business persons by the Central Penn Business Journal.

Ewing loves using her skills to uplift worthy causes and nonprofit charities such as serving on the Programs Committee for the Feel Your Boobies Foundation board of directors.

Josh Maatman supports the spiritual and financial growth of people in need through his unique pastoral practice. He enjoys seeing how the right assistance can make a difference in people’s lives, putting his unique skillset to work. Josh graduated from Northern Michigan University with a business degree and studied pastoral ministries at Indiana Wesleyan University. He previously served in ministry in central Pennsylvania as a youth pastor and speaker.

Josh resides in East Lansing, Michigan, with his two dogs. Scout is a border collie/lab mix, and Sadie is a golden retriever. Josh is a bivocational pastor and financial advisor spending time serving the local church and building financial plans for people in his community.

Bob has used his skill with numbers to experience the world, working abroad and serving a variety of industries. He has been a financial professional (CPA) for over 30 years, serving in the food, chemical, auto, and publishing industries. For six years, he worked internationally for a UK-based publishing company before joining Rowman & Littlefield as its current COO.

Bob earned a BA in accounting from Washington & Jefferson College and an Executive MBA from Salisbury State University. Bob has served on several for-profit and not-for-profit boards, including The United Way and Christian Life church in Camp Hill, PA. Bob is married with three grown children, rides a hybrid bike, jogs, and enjoys spending time at the beach reading his various books. He currently resides in Mechanicsburg.

Doug Byers has spent more than two decades focusing on the development of personalized customer service for the banking industry in south-central Pennsylvania. In his current role as Chief Banking Officer at Presence Bank, Doug is responsible for overseeing and nurturing customer relationships and helping guide the strategic growth of the bank and its people.

Doug believes in giving back to his community. That is why, in addition to serving on M28 Ministry’s board, he sits on the boards of the PA Community Bankers Association, Bible2School, and 2^nd Century Alliance. This graduate of Millersville University and Lebanon Valley College was named one of the region’s 40 Under Forty Outstanding Business Persons by the Central Penn Business Journal. Doug currently resides in Colebrook, Lebanon County, with his wife Tammy and two daughters, Madelyn and Abigail.

Jarek Shank has been a Registered Nurse for more than 10 years, developing a depth of experience that includes critical care, procedural, and leadership. He had the luxury of experiencing six years of travel nursing before accepting his current position as the Unit Director for UPMC Central PA Neuro Intervention Lab and the Cardiac and Vascular Unit. Jarek earned an associate degree in Registered Nursing from Mount Aloysius College, a Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing from Penn State University, and will soon finish his MBA from Youngstown State University.

Jarek and his wife Kaycee became involved with M28 Ministry two years ago, helping with Open Tables as part of the Assisi Program, and attending Sunday services. The organization’s unique mission and devotion to the community it serves is what really attracted them to M28. Jarek and Kaycee live in central Pennsylvania with their daughter Laurel. They look forward to future work advancing M28’s life changing mission.

You Can Join The Cause

We are a growing movement of ordinary people who are passionate about equipping those desperate to find the good news of Christ’s transforming power.

GET INVOLVED

Our Mission

Poverty Stability Community

The M28 Story

Practices

RELATIONAL BASE

COMMUNITY FOCUS

OUTCOME DRIVEN

Leadership

Jim Schambach, Director Emeritus

Jimmy Schambach, Executive Director

Dan Kovlak, Board Member

Douglas Yohe, Board Member

Jon Freeman, Board Member

Susan Ewing, Board Member

Josh Maatman, Board Member

Bob Marsh, Board Member

Doug Byers, Board Member

Jarek Shank, Board Member

You Can Join The Cause