Founder, Shenandoah Valley Teen Challenge
Rev. John Franich
1947 – 2025
A Legacy of Hope That Still Speaks
A Life Poured Out for Families
John Franich never set out to build a ministry. He just wanted to help a few people get their lives back together.
Born in New Jersey in 1947, John spent nearly 17 years in the automobile business as a sales manager. Sundays were for sleeping in while his wife Novella took the kids to church. But one Mother's Day, something was different about her when she came home. She'd been changed.
When John finally visited the church, the pastor made an altar call. John jumped up and accepted the Lord that day. After almost 25 years away from faith, everything shifted.
Feeling called to ministry but unsure what it would look like, John and Novella packed up the family and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma for Bible school. A serious infection nearly took his life there, forcing them back to Virginia. At 43, facing a forced retirement from sales work, John found himself asking: What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?
The answer didn't come all at once. While attending church, John noticed the pastor was always busy counseling people through marriage problems, addictions, broken lives. When a Teen Challenge team visited and shared testimonies, someone got a word of knowledge that God was calling someone in the audience to be part of this work.
John responded immediately.
He didn't wait for everything to be perfect. He started making referrals, sending people where they needed to go, learning everything he could. He went back to school. He took courses at Liberty University. And in 2003, John and Novella founded Shenandoah Valley Adult & Teen Challenge.
"I made a promise," John once said. "I told God: now I know what I would do in my retirement years."
What started as a simple calling to help a few people grew into over two decades of ministry. Men's and women's residential programs. Hundreds of families walking through their darkest hours. A legacy that continues today.
John was relaxed, never panicked, always cracking jokes when everyone else was serious. He saw people not as addicts, but as lost souls.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, John deflected. "I never thought of myself in any of it," he said. "I know it was God doing it, not me. I'm just the vessel."
His vision was simple: help a few people get their lives back together. Not a mega ministry. Just faithful presence in a small community, doing what God asked, one life at a time.
That vision touched hundreds of lives across the Shenandoah Valley. And it continues today.
Timeline
Milestones of faith and ministry
1947
Born in New Jersey
1970s-1990s
Worked in automobile sales for nearly 17 years
~1993
Accepted the Lord at a church altar call after nearly 25 years away from faith
~1994
Moved family to Tulsa, Oklahoma for Bible school; serious infection nearly took his life
~1995
Returned to Virginia; began taking courses at local college and Liberty University
2000
Received approval to become a Teen Challenge ministry (October)
2003
Founded Shenandoah Valley Adult & Teen Challenge with Novella
2007
Launched men's residential program
2013
Expanded to women's residential program
2025
Passed into glory, Christmas Day
Photo Gallery
Moments from the ministry
Tributes
Words from those he loved and led
"Pastor John was relaxed. I never really saw him get excited or in a panic. He was always chill and down to earth. He was an incredible man of God who had a great positive influence in my life. But he didn't see himself like that."
"When I came to Teen Challenge in 2007, he didn't see just another drug addict. He saw a lost soul. He was seeing people through the eyes of God."
"He drove six hours to go to my court hearing, only having known me for six months. He went on my behalf because he saw a lost soul. And while I was a wreck, Pastor John was so chill, joking with the judge. I believe it was because he had God on his side. He was walking in his calling. He had that peace that passes all understanding."
"When I first met John, he made a joke. And I said to him, 'Where are you from?' Because I was a Jersey girl who moved to Virginia, and John was the first person who didn't say, 'You're not from around here, are you?' Instantly there was a connection."
"One Sunday at church, Teen Challenge came and shared testimonies. Somebody got a word of knowledge that God was calling someone to be part of this. John responded immediately and came forward. When God gave a word, he said 'Yes, Lord' and stepped right up."
"He didn't hesitate. He found out information. He talked to people. He kept developing, developing, developing. And I learned so much about what God can do with a humble, willing heart."
"John raised up young leaders. He taught everybody around him by living example how to walk in tune with God. Not running ahead, not pushing aside. In a way that's humble and life-lasting."
In His Own Words
A vision that still guides SVTC
"I just want to help a few people get their lives back together."
"I hope the people that come after me catch the vision. That they can just help a few people get their life back together. Not some kind of mega ministry. We're a small community. Let the people in the community know what we do, what we've done, and what we're going to continue to do."
"Nonresidential ministry. Some of the things that need to be done in the communities. People don't want to come to a center for six months, to give up six months of their life. Support groups. Helping people after the fact. That's a big thing. Continuum of ministry. The aftercare support that people need. There's a lack of that in this area. People need help."
"I know it was God doing it, not me. I'm just the vessel."
— Rev. John Franich
Video Tribute
Memorial Video
Honor John's Legacy
Continue the Mission John Started
Continue the mission John started by supporting families walking through addiction today.