Hugh Hollowell

Preferred Stage Introduction: Hugh Hollowell is a writer, speaker and bootleg preacher based in Raleigh, NC. He is the founder and director of Love Wins Ministries, where they tackle the problems of homelessness by focusing on relationships, not outcomes.

The Back Story:

He grew up in rural Mississippi, just 20 yards from the house where his Dad grew up. He ran off and joined the Marines, went to college in a piecemeal sort of way, got married way too young, worked as a firefighter, cable guy, alarm salesman, freelance writer, insurance salesman, carpet cleaner, janitorial salesman, cargo handler and financial adviser.

In 2003 he bought a used bookstore in Memphis, which he says is “a great way to go broke slowly”. Over the next four years he would get divorced, open a coffee shop, close a coffee shop, evade creditors, deliver pizza, write some more, read tons of books, drink way too much coffee and wonder what would happen next.

In 2007 Hugh closed the bookstore (or what was left of it) and moved to Raleigh, NC to work with the poor in a relational way. Along the way, he started Love Wins Ministries, made lots of friends (many who live outside and a few who live in houses) and married his best friend.

Today, Hugh ministers to the urban poor and homeless and works with congregations to help them live out the words of Jesus, who said “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.”

In addition to his work as Director of Love Wins Ministries, he is a busy writer and speaker and husband to Renee and owner/servant (depends on whom you ask) of a domestic short-hair tabby named Felix the Cat.