Our Background
Serving Those Who Serve - In His Name
Kelli Hephner is the Founder and President of Camp Braveheart.
For nearly two decades, Kelli immersed herself in the worlds of EMS, chaplaincy, and peer support. Now, as the loving wife of a dedicated Firefighter/EMT, Kelli has experienced the full spectrum of this intense, high-stakes lifestyle. She's lived the exhilarating rush of saving lives on emergency scenes, the quiet, steady strength it takes to provide spiritual guidance and emotional support as a chaplain, and the profound honor of being a peer who truly understands the unseen battles first responders face every day.
Midway through her EMS career, the cumulative weight became overwhelming: post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, chronic physical symptoms from unrelenting stress, and a profound loss of purpose. Her first marriage was shattered by divorce, forcing her to return to her aging parents’ home with her children while facing real poverty. In her darkest hour, suicide seemed like the only escape. But by the grace of God, a turning point arrived. A fellow law enforcement officer recognized the signs, reached out with genuine care, and gathered peers at the station. In that circle of brothers and sisters—who truly understood the job’s unspoken struggles—judgment-free support was presented as a glimmer of hope. In that single, compassionate moment, the trajectory of Kelli's life changed forever.
From that moment, Kelli sought and received the help she needed, beginning her journey of healing and renewal. During the 2020 shutdown, she trained online through the College of Certified Psychophysiologists, earning certifications as a Police Wellness Officer (CPWO) and in chaplaincy. She later became ordained through the Upper Room Fellowship in Columbiana. With these credentials, she stepped into her role as Coordinator of the Columbiana County First Responder Wellness Program through the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (CCMHRSB).
Launched in 2022, the program emphasizes post-critical incident recovery, prevention of critical incident stress and cumulative trauma, and building readiness through education, support, and training. She has completed specialized training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Peer Support Certification (IAFF), Suicide Prevention, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) studies, first responder culture, National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA), Psychological First Aid, and other topics related to first responder wellness. She is an active participant in the county Crisis Development Team, Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), LOSS Team Responder, and the Faith Based Collaborative. Kelli founded the Guardian Angels Support Group in 2003, working with families of individuals with special needs, and developed a Nonprofit organization, Heroes and Halos, in 2012, where she is currently president.
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A Vision Turned Into A Mission: For decades, God whispered a promise into Kelli's heart: one day, she would open a camp — a sacred place of rest, restoration, and renewal for weary souls. She carried that divine calling quietly through the storms of her life: the adrenaline-charged nights as a battle-tested first responder, the sacred moments of chaplaincy, the unseen scars of cumulative trauma, and the profound grace that pulled her from the brink of despair. Through it all, her deep love for Jesus Christ remained her anchor — a love that compelled her to serve, to heal, and to extend compassion without limit.
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Then, in 2022, the whisper became a clear, unmistakable calling. God revealed that this long-awaited camp was not for just anyone — it was specifically for the first responder and veteran communities. These brave warriors, who run toward danger so others can run to safety, often return home carrying invisible wounds. Kelli, having walked their path, felt the burden become a burning mission. With unwavering faith, the compassion of a survivor who knows the depths of pain, and the courage born of God's redemption, she filed the paperwork. Camp Braveheart was born — named for the brave hearts that continue to beat even after the battles seem endless. Since that pivotal moment, Camp Braveheart has grown steadily, its impact spreading like wildfire through grateful communities. In the last year especially, the ministry has become contagious and powerfully transformative — touching first responders with hope and now extending its embrace to veterans who need the same healing.
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In 2025, God opened an extraordinary door: the opportunity to occupy more than 90 acres of primitive, secluded land in East Palestine, Ohio. This untouched parcel of rolling woods, quiet trails, and serene solitude is rapidly becoming sacred ground — a place where the noise of the world fades, where peers gather around campfires, where prayer rises under open skies, and where broken hearts begin to mend in the presence of God and one another.
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What began as a decades-old promise in Kelli's spirit has become a living testimony: that God redeems suffering, turns ashes into beauty, and calls ordinary people to create extraordinary places of refuge. Camp Braveheart stands as proof that even the most wounded can find bravery again — through faith, community, and the healing power of nature.
At the very heart of Kelli's life and work is her unwavering faith in God. Her husband, children, and their spouses are her greatest treasures — the most precious chapters in her story. She is passionately dedicated to reminding every person she encounters that they are deeply loved, truly valued, and worthy of genuine respect — often affirming God's unwavering love as a powerful catalyst for healing and resolution of unresolved pain.
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This is the story of Camp Braveheart: a divine dream fulfilled, a ministry of hope rising, and sacred ground where brave hearts are being restored — one step, one prayer, one healing moment at a time.
