About

Our mission

  • Our mission is to motivate people to improve their lives and the lives of others through Servant Living and Leadership.

    We are a group of like-minded people trying to do good in our community. The good we do is in the name of Jesus because we believe that having God, specifically Jesus, ultimately makes our lives productive. For further details on our beliefs read our statement of faith or learn more about the story.

  • We train, coach and mentor people in Servant Living and Leadership. We are a training organization that motivates people to improve their lives and the lives of others through servant living and leadership. We believe in experiential learning, that is we learn best by doing. We believe that happens doing service projects.

    In Philadelphia will have opportunities for rehabbing homes food distribution to those in need and outreaches to the neighborhood. Our hope is to bring in teams that would like to serve people in need. We’re started in our community and we also go beyond our borders.

    We have service projects in the Dominican Republic and a sports outreach in Montenegro in Europe.

    We’re started in Philadelphia where Frank Hinson and Joe Darrow started Productive Lives. This is also where two of our board members, Joe and Andy have been pastors for over 30 years. The sections of the city that we’re serving are Kensington, South Philly and Northeast.

  • There are so many ways to get involved with Productive Lives. We have lots of opportunities for individuals or groups to volunteer their time and efforts. You can also donate to our projects and trips. But what we need most of all is your prayer. Would you consider helping in one of these areas?

    • Pray for us

    • Lead a group project

    • Tell your personal story to a group

    • Offer your expertise at our Center: Construction, painting walls, murals, etc.

    • Serve weekly at Cornerstone Church with their Kids or Teen Clubs

    • Work at Cornerstone Church food distribution each Thursday 9:00-11:30

    • Mentor a Willard School elementary student or a high School student at International Christian High School.

    • Serve with Snyder Avenue Church in South Philly with refugees at their food distribution Saturdays 9:00-12:00

    • Teach a bible study

    • Teach ESL English as a second language to immigrants

    Want to get involved in one of these areas? Or have another idea of how you can help? Contact Productive Lives and we can get you connected with our partners.

Dr. Cameron Garven

President

Cam is currently the president of Productive Lives. He was previously a campus pastor at Princeton University and has served as a pastor and in Christian leadership positions for over 30 years. He attends Living Hope Church in Langhorne, PA. He has been on over 40 short-term missions trips on 5 continents. He holds a Bachelors degree in biblical studies, a Masters in Christian education and a Doctorate in leadership and spiritual formation. Cam wants people to have a passion for God and compassion for others. More importantly he is a husband and father of four grown children and lives with his wife, Mary in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Recently spoke at Riverstone Church on Living the Unexpected Life and open to speaking opportunities.

Tom Hurst

Board Member

Tom is a business owner and married to his high school sweetheart Robin. They live in Yardley and have 3 girls and a boy. Tom graduated from the university of Maryland in 1991 and attends Riverstone Church in Yardley. He had been on over 16 short term mission trips in places like Honduras, Guatemala the Dominican Republic he loves to work with his hands and spend time with his kids.

Joe Darrow

Board Member

Joe is a missionary with InFaith and pastor at Cornerstone Community Church who has been working in Kensington since 1988. Joe has five children Joy, Jared, Zach, Eliza and Joey. He has worked in all phases of the ministry here from children and teens to preaching and teaching. Joe is currently focused on discipleship. He oversees small group studies and classes at the Church. Discipleship includes all aspects of the Christian life. He has been on multiple missions trips. He believes in teaching and also coming along side people helping put faith into action. Joe and Janie were married on August 27, 2022. Janie is a nurse and has been serving the Lord her entire adult life. At Cornerstone she continues to serve in many different ways.

Andy Schultz

Board Member

Andy first volunteered as Kids Club leaders while attending Philadelphia College of Bible. Several years later, after planning to serve as a missionary overseas, he returned to Kensington in 1994 for a two year internship and has felt lead of the Lord to remain here ever since. Andy is one of the pastors at Cornerstone Community Church and oversees much of the ministry to youth including Teen Club, Preteen Club, God Squad, and Extreme Team.