(This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of The ECHO Magazine.)

At the heart of Millersville University’s campus, around the back of the impressive A-frame building on George Street, is the unassuming entrance to The HUB, marked by a banner and an electronic screen.

Founded in 2014 by Lancaster Bible College alumnus Ed Weber (’91), The HUB began as a small gathering place for college students in the church basement. “Ed’s idea was to have a space for mind, body, heart and soul,” explained Vicki (Landis ’89) Weber, Ed’s wife and The HUB’s co-founder. “For students to connect to Jesus in an organic and conversational way. Ed was a catalyst for gospel movement, developing student leaders to be on mission for Jesus in everyday life.”

The Webers renovated the church basement into The HUB’s home, where 10 years later the organization operates with a mission of loving students, meeting needs and building community. The independent nonprofit developed a close partnership with Millersville University (MU) and offers several services, many of which cater to the physical needs of students.

Nearly one-third of MU students are food insecure. The Campus Cupboard, located within The HUB, exists to ensure that MU students have enough food to eat, distributing over 400 pounds of food to students each week. The shelves are stocked with canned goods, frozen meals, fresh produce and hygiene products, which are available to students at no cost.

Jacob Marino & Vicki Weber lead The HUB at Millersville University.

“We have a very good relationship with [MU],” said HUB Director and LBC grad Jacob Marino (’12 & ’14), “which is very unique because we’re an unapologetically Christian organization and Millersville University is an unapologetically secular organization.”

HUB volunteers serve free meals in the café three times a week, including Taco Tuesday and Thursday Lunch. A beloved LBC tradition—Late Night Breakfast—was the model for The HUB’s French Toast Fridays, where students can enjoy breakfast food and live music from 9 p.m. to midnight. The introduction of game nights in The HUB’s living room began from a student’s passion to reach gamers for Jesus.

“Everything that happened in this space was because someone had a heartbeat for reaching people in a certain area,” said Vicki, adding that at the heart of every offering at The HUB is the desire to start conversations with people, focusing on gospel, community and mission.

“You look at what we do here, it’s not rocket science,” stated Jacob. “But, for us, it’s a really organic and effective way to make disciples of people who are hostile toward the gospel or don’t know Jesus. It’s a very secular university. The only way you’re going to have a gospel-centered conversation is if you build the relationship first. So what we do is set the table. We do what Jesus did, and we invite them to eat with us.”

In the summer of 2021, Ed passed away unexpectedly following a heart attack. Then-widowed with five children to care for, Vicki questioned how they would continue at The HUB without Ed. However, she had a realization that helped set the course for a way forward. “As unique as Ed was, we all have the same spirit,” she expressed. “So whatever God was up to before, God is still doing what God set out to do.”

It looks different than what they originally planned, but God was still moving. When Ed passed, the church that owned the building at the time—First United Methodist—was readying to sell, and Ed had received approval from The HUB board to purchase it, granted it received nonprofit status and raised $750,000.

After Ed’s death, Jacob—who had been hired shortly after Ed—asked Vicki for her blessing to step into Ed’s role as HUB Director and usher forward a new era of the organization, which meant tackling a massive undertaking. Jacob recalls one person coming up to him and saying, “Hey, this was impossible to begin with, but I thought with Ed, it might have been possible—and you’re not Ed.”

“I wasn’t even mad,” Jacob said with a chuckle. “I was like, ‘You are right.’”

A food pantry is an integral part of The HUB’s services.

But with the help of The HUB team and board, community, local churches, organizations and donors, Jacob and Vicki accomplished the next steps. Partnering with Millersville Bible Church to purchase the building jointly, they made it happen, officially launching The HUB as a nonprofit and giving it a permanent home.

“I desire for people to know we are unapologetically mission-oriented,” Jacob said. “We exist as a mission, not in just providing people with physical needs—that’s an important part of hospitality—but hospitality is our missional strategy. A lot of where we are is because of what God brought to us.”

The HUB is true to its name, bringing together students from all backgrounds and walks of life—many of whom would never voluntarily walk through the doors of a church. There have been believers and nonbelievers, Muslims, Hindus and members of the LGBTQ+ community, among others.

“They keep coming back,” Jacob said. “I don’t know if it’s because of the free food or the spiritual meeting, but either way, they’re there. God has brought us through so much that we have no excuse not to demonstrate faith in how we walk and live as a ministry.”

Either way, The HUB continues to welcome all students while wielding hospitality as its “primary weapon for the gospel,” as Jacob says.

“It’s the melting pot of campus,” said Vicki. “Students drop their labels at the door and are just human beings.”

LBC Students at All Levels Get Involved at The HUB

Vicki & Carley Weber

While two LBC alumni run The HUB, four current students are also involved with the ministry. James “Dryver” Henderson (’27) volunteers with The HUB while pursuing his Master of Divinity at LBC. Tyriq Clark (’26) is working toward his Doctor of Ministry while serving as The HUB’s Director of Discipleship.

Weber’s daughter, Carley Weber (’26), a Media Arts Production major, has been leading the French Toast Friday nights for years, making the French Toast with her dad, Ed, since she was in eighth grade.

Brayde Erb serves The HUB in a business role.

Brayde Erb (’25), a Business Administration major, grew up in the church that used to operate the building The HUB now occupies. Over the years, he became friends with Jacob, who offered him the opportunity to work as the bookkeeper for the nonprofit. As The HUB’s Financial Admin, Brayde tracks costs and income, manages the budget and provides reports to increase visibility to grant writers.

“As a current business student at LBC, my finance professors equipped me with a great grasp on the financial and accounting principles needed for every aspect of generating reports for The HUB,” Brayde explained. “Some notable courses like Finance and Financial Modeling have taught me how to understand profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flows, which have been essential to the financial process at The HUB.”