For Rex (’78) and Tricia Hoffman (’79), reflecting on their time at Montreat College means returning to the beginning of a beautifully woven story of God’s faithfulness.
After growing up in Charlotte, Rex initially had his heart set on attending the University of North Carolina. However, after a few interactions and a tour of Montreat College, it became clear that God intended for him to attend Montreat. From the moment he arrived on campus, he “finally found home,” surrounded by fellow believers, welcoming professors, and a newly discovered deep love for the woods.
Like Rex, Tricia was immediately drawn to Montreat College after visiting campus from her home in Tampa, Florida. After a memorable snow-skiing trip for prospective students, where she met many Christian friends, Tricia felt like “a kid in a candy shop.”
During their time at Montreat College, the Hoffmans were both Leadership Scholars, now known as Wilson Scholars. The opportunity helped them stay at Montreat and influenced their desire to give back to Montreat in various ways over the years.
They also both participated in the Discovery Program’s backcountry backpacking trip. For Tricia, the experience was empowering, showing her that she was capable of more than she imagined. They still cherish a photo taken one night around the campfire, laughing together long before they were anything more than friends. Their mutual love for camping later became a defining family hobby. Rex described camping as something that “pulled their family together” through memorable trips across the country and even to Hawaii.
Due to their deep love for the outdoors, Rex and Tricia married and planted their roots on a small farm in Swannanoa where they raised their four children along with goats and chickens. The meaningful ministry they received from Montreat College and Christ Community Church inspired them to invest in future students in a similar way. For 12 years, Rex served on Montreat’s Board of Trustees. He faithfully served alongside board members who viewed their role as ministry and had an unwavering faith that helped lead Montreat through a crisis in the mid-1990s and early 2000s.
“Serving in the midst of a storm, every board member was praying fervently for a miracle, and God provided not only in saving the school, but also in providing a leader who continued to guide the school forward,” he said, grateful that Montreat has remained steadfast through many storms. “God is faithful. It is exciting to pray and then watch God pull it off. Having been on the edge many times with the school, you develop a dependence on God instead of anything else.”
Recently, Rex began serving on the board of Ministry of Hope, an organization that provides food and schooling for orphans in Malawi, a small country in southeastern Africa. The Hoffmans first learned about the ministry through Mike Sonnenberg, a former professor at Montreat College who had a son who played football with their son. After hearing Mike’s powerful stories from his trip to Malawi, they both sensed that they were in a season where they could take on greater responsibility and felt led to step into the role of Chairman.
Working with Ministry of Hope has opened a new avenue for the Hoffmans to witness God’s faithfulness and miraculous works throughout their journey
“In America, we often see the miracles as coming from earthly sources, but in Africa, things do not just happen nor do they often work,” explained Rex. “When God moves in Malawi, you cannot deny that it was Him.”
“God has always provided for their needs,” Tricia added. “It would seem like something was not going to happen, and God would always come through. It has been fun for our whole family to witness God’s provision.”
Today, Rex and Tricia have seen their own calling multiplied through the next generation. Their commitment to global ministry has shaped their family. Their oldest daughter, Brooke, now serves as a missionary in Russia, and their son, Forrest, spent many years as a missionary in Asia. They credit Montreat College and the Christ-centered community they found there with laying the groundwork for a lifetime of faithful service, and they are abundantly grateful for the way He has moved in and through them.