Our Founder

Before starting Runners Refuge, John Stout served for 16 years as a children and student ministries pastor at four churches and as executive pastor of Shepherd's Valley Cowboy Church.

Pastor John is an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God and a Career Appointed Urban Missionary with Assemblies of God US Missions Intercultural Ministries.

Pastor John is also a Certified Executive Chef and Master Certified Food Service Executive with over 25 years experience in food service. Prior to founding Runners Refuge, John was the Managing Chef for Mercy Chefs, a faith-based disaster relief feeding program from 2009-2017.

In 2017, John founded Runners Refuge to meet the needs of impoverished and homeless communities, and he continues to work every day to improve Runners Refuge and increase the impact made by the organization.

John is a retired US Army Combat Veteran having served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is an advocate for homeless veterans.

John holds a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management and a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition from Johnson and Wales University, a Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.