John A. Hopkins – A Life of Work, Faith, and Accountability
I’m John A. Hopkins, a 48-year-old builder, minister, and father. My life has been shaped by hard work, quiet faith, and service to others—even in the face of hardship and failure.
I was raised in poverty by a father who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. But the Church of Christ offered me structure and mentorship. I began preaching at 19 and served as a full-time minister for 23 years, primarily at a small country church. I always preferred older congregations—places where I could grow under the wisdom of others. Over time, I buried nearly every original member and remained committed until the church was reduced to just four people.
To support the ministry and my family, I worked in construction. I was known as a hands-on general contractor, typically managing 5 to 10 subcontractors. Eventually, I built BluRock LLC, a 5-star company on Angi and HomeAdvisor with several divisions: luxury remodeling, roofing, masonry, HVAC (eBlu Heating & Air), and a cabinet supply franchise serving the Lexington region. At its peak, BluRock supported over 175 workers, contractors, and vendors. After a car accident in 2015 left me with stage 2 spondylosis and numbness in my legs, I knew I wouldn’t be able to perform physical labor forever. BluRock was meant to become my long-term management and retirement plan.
But I came to realize—too late—that I was in over my head. The business grew too fast for my knowledge and ability to keep up. I’ve since learned to stay within my understanding and not press beyond what I can responsibly manage.
Then came COVID.
My marriage ended. The church shrank further. BluRock became overwhelmed. We lost our accountant and staff. I was left with four loyal workers, no credit, and over $750,000 in obligations. Still, we finished the jobs we had taken money for, sold assets to pay suppliers, and tried to keep our word. By June 2022, we had no choice but to shut down. I turned to gig work and side jobs just to survive.
At the same time, I was battling serious medical challenges. In May 2019, I had fundoplication surgery due to anemia caused by unexplained internal bleeding. Doctors believed the cause to be autoimmune, but no specific condition could be diagnosed despite testing at the arthritis center in Lexington. I received quarterly Ferahene infusions to maintain hemoglobin levels and manage the effects. Later, I had rhinoplasty for a persistent sinus infection and surgery to remove my tonsils and adenoids due to severe sleep apnea. Each of these procedures cost me weeks or months of recovery and made work even more difficult.
In 2023, I filed bankruptcy in good faith, trying to start fresh. I also began rebuilding. I joined a high-end remodeling company, formed JAH Services to meet independent contractor requirements, and returned to job sites. My son—who has worked alongside me since he was eight—came back to help as we began reestablishing a simple operation together.
By January 2025, we had achieved a small but steady income again.
Then in February 2025, federal investigators contacted me. It was the first time I learned that financial decisions made during the collapse years were being criminally investigated. Until that point, I had disclosed everything in bankruptcy and tried to restart legally and transparently.
I accept responsibility for the decisions I made under pressure. But I never ran. I never stopped working. I never stopped trying to make things right.
Today, I support my son, who experienced a delusional episode in May 2025 and remains under my care. I also support my wife Grace, who lives in Kenya and is expecting our child. I work full-time doing door and window installations. It’s just the two of us—my son and me—working within our means.
Recently, I had the opportunity to assist with Prison Professors Charitable Corporation by helping develop content for their national reentry curriculum. I contributed to educational programs like The Straight-A Guide, Triumph: Building Bridges to Success, and the MasterClass Series. These courses are now used by over one million incarcerated people across the U.S., helping them build verbal skills, critical thinking, and a self-directed work ethic. I look forward to working with Prison Professors again and helping others find a new beginning grounded in peace, accountability, and hope.
I continue to help where I can—offering labor at reduced or no cost for people in need. While I no longer lead a church, my ministry now lives in service. My goal is not to build another large business—but to live a peaceful, steady life built on family and purpose-driven work. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve also shown up. And even when I fall short, I can say I gave it my best.
