Meet Cliff

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cliff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cliff below.

Hi Cliff , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

“He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that looses his life for my sake shall find it.”
— Matthew 10:39

This paradoxical statement is about surrender—letting go of self-centered pursuits to discover true life in Christ. For me, this was the doorway to finding my purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My story is one of survival, grit, and grace. I was born to a single mother in her 40s who, despite the odds, went back to college to create a better future for us. While she pursued her education, I learned to navigate life largely on my own. That independence built resilience but also left wounds that eventually led me into addiction in my early teens and twenties.

By God’s grace, I found freedom—and out of that healing came a calling. In 2014, I founded Springs of Life Foundation, a nonprofit in East Tennessee that cultivates Christ-centered spaces—through businesses, justice ministries, and more—that usher in renewal and foster transformation.

What began as a heart for rescuing children eventually turned into a focused mission to help men—specifically marginalized fathers—restore families and rebuild communities. Over time, that vision has grown into a broader community revitalization effort and heart for Appalachia as a whole.

What began as a small residential home for men has since grown into a Recovery Connection Center, where we serve both men and women with trauma-informed support, case management, meals, laundry, and space to rest and recover.

Alongside that, I founded and lead Solid Grounds, a community coffee shop focused on cultivating servant leadership among the local university student population.

What excites me most is the next step: planting a missional gathering —a Christ-centered, missional community. This gathering will focus on building up the body of believers to join God on mission in their local context and beyond.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Faith is the foundation. Everything I’ve done—from recovery to launching a nonprofit to running a business—has been built on trust in God’s guidance and provision. I’ve had to walk through seasons where nothing made sense on paper, but faith kept me grounded and moving forward. For anyone starting out, don’t underestimate the power of prayer, Scripture, and staying connected to the presence of God. That’s your anchor.

Resilience was forged early in life. Growing up without much stability taught me how to endure. That kind of grit became essential in building something from scratch, especially in a rural community with limited resources. If you’re in the early stages, know that setbacks are part of the story. Don’t give up. Keep showing up.

Vision has carried me. I’ve always been able to see beyond the moment—to imagine what could be, even when I didn’t have the resources or experience. That’s what kept me moving when others thought the dream was too big or too risky. My advice: dream boldly, start small, and stay committed to the long game.

If you can root yourself in faith, build resilience through trials, and hold tightly to your vision, you’ll be amazed at what God can do through your life.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely—we are always looking for people to join us on mission. God is moving mountains here in Appalachia, and we believe He’s calling a diverse group of people to take part in it.

We’re looking for men and women with a heart for the poor and oppressed, people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and love well in hard places. We need entrepreneurs who can build, innovate, and help us create sustainable solutions to generational issues. We need biblical teachers who can rightly divide the Word of God and disciple others with humility and conviction. And we need visionaries—those who can see what could be and are bold enough to help bring it to life.

If you feel stirred to be part of something that’s more than a job or a ministry title—something that’s rooted in Christ love and built on the belief that even the most sun-scorched places can become well-watered gardens—we’d love to talk.

You can connect with us through our website at springsoflifeinc.org or call us at 423-784-6622 or reach out on social media. Whether you’re looking to serve, partner, or simply explore what God might be doing in this corner of the world, we’d be honored to walk with you.

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