hope church memphis staff

document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. We just have to be faithful to that vision and the hard work of preserving it in a culture that works to separate us according to human divisions of age, gender, race, and class. We are so thankful to have you with us online! That thoughtI think I can do this, but well have to seecame to me probably 20 times throughout the transition. Rufus Smith, IV is the Senior Pastor of Hope Church (EPC) in Memphis. Un-churchedare not only those who have never been to church, but also those who may have grown cold to the idea of church. He was born in Houston, TX and for 12 years served as the Senior Pastor of The City of Refuge (COR) Presbyterian Church (also a Mosaic, inter-generational congregation). During his time at Montreat, Daniel was a part of starting the Student Ministry program at Valley Hope along with a great team of volunteers and parents. Government policies have gone as far as they can go; only when spiritual reconciliation is practiced can we perfect our churches, cities, or our countrys union. Talk to us about the reconciliation aspect of this kind of ministry. He leads the worship team at Valley Hope along with three other leaders. They learned a ton about youth ministry, church work, nonprofits, fundraising and the importance of community. My hope and prayer for Valley Hope is that we never forget all that God has done and how He continues to provide for His people. Soundproof "cry rooms" are also available in the back of the Sanctuary for families with newborns (well babies onlyplease). If shes not working at her job, shes probably at home building something else to make their lives better. The very city, remember, is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. He is a history professor at Montreat College where he specializes in the history of human dignity in the 20th century. Un-churched are not only those who have never been to church, but also those who may have grown cold to the idea of church. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Montreat College. He called back and stayed in touch, at one point asking, Rufus, why is it that we only consider the call of God when were either failing or burnt out? So load up the family and come experience Hope with us. Hannah graduated from Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, with a Master of Divinity in April of 2022, where she earned the James Massey Student Preaching Award. Our Church Staff | Hope Church | Memphis, TN - Hope Presbyterian Church Since I didnt plan on seriously considering the opportunity, I asked the hard heart questions with complete freedomdidnt try to soften or talk around anything. So we did it, sending thousands of pieces of mail, ending in an invite to our launch. His current role at Hope as the Senior Associate & LocalMinistry Pastor finds him each and every day engaging with and ministering to those who live with the challenges of poverty. A remarkable succession from founding pastor Craig Strickland, who is white, to Rufus Smith, an African-American, brought on as senior pastor in 2010. But racial reconciliation, I believe, is the responsibility of the local church. And that is a remarkable victory. Hope is the place if you are curious about this thing called "church." . View the full directory of Hope Church of Memphis staff members, including our leadership team, music ministry team, creative team, facilities team, ministry leaders, and more. For senior pastors, that will always be the most important factor for success or failure in a succession. Samuel has a passion for worship music that is grounded in scripture as well as working to bring out the worship gifts and talents of the members of Valley Hope Church. Ben lives in Black Mountain with his wife, Tiffany, and two daughters. Even if wed ended in the same ultimate strategy, there would have been greater consensus and a sense of unity. I took my first senior pastor role in 1990. I didnt even tell my wife about the invitation until a few months after Craigs first callI wasnt going anywhere, right? Barna, I said, I am leading a church that wants to become multiethnic. Staff 11 Staff Senior Pastor Native Memphian Over 45 years in ministry Served at churches in Tennessee and Texas B.S. We know it's all about teamwork. Leslie enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, eating good food and the beach! Jen is forever grateful for the many, many volunteers and teachers who told her about God's love and care for her when she was a child. He graduated in 2015 from Montreat College with a Bachelors in Music Business. Contact Us . Its related to the core of the faith. That symbolized to all the staff that I wasnt in charge anymore. Employment Bulletin Weddings News + Stories Wesleyan Fellowship. But well just have to see. So we found a great little space for me, and I moved out. We had to remind ourselves that this was not going to be an easy overnight change. hope church. In partnership with Hope Church Memphis, this position reaches out to serve students at Southwest Tennessee Community College and The University of Memphis. BusinessYab is not a booking agent, and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. We think the biblical approach starts with spiritual reconciliation rather than racial reconciliation. But if you go to our new members classes to see what our future is going to look like, they are at least 50 percent African-American. Your one-time or continuing contribution goes directly to helping children and young adults get the chance they deserve. But they simmer. Rufus Smith, IV is the Senior Pastor of Hope Church (EPC) in Memphis. Preaching & Teaching Team; S.H.A.P.E. We maintain our distinctions and celebrate them. In his role as an elder, Ben hopes to encourage others to take scripture, prayer, conversation, reconciliation, and the whole life of faith seriously, with confidence that the faith, hope, love, and grace of Jesus Christ can and will transform everything. Samuel led on the Worship team for around 4 years before he stepped into the role of Director of Worship in 2023. Privacy Policy . This work includes an on-site recording studio, high-end worship center and education building. Now something was going on in me between 92 and 98. That doesnt mean that youre stuck if you dontbut that openness helped our process to multiethnic ministry. Please contact Danielif you needaccess to the Church Body directory. Mila grew up on a small farm in Old Fort, NC and spent her formative years in the Blue Ridge Mountains. So from the beginning, Elis work in the city helped connect our white, suburban church to people and needs different than what we encountered on a daily basis out in the community we had planted Hope in. You can encourage a culture of service, compassion, and acceptance, or a culture of rigidity and all sorts of things that are negative. But that did not translate into any of those people we were serving coming to our church. In the past, we have had to count key volunteersHow many elders or deacons are white? Save job Save this job with your existing LinkedIn profile, or create a new one. Deacons oversee and carry out ministries of service and compassion. There would never be a better time. But at Hope, I saw much of what I was doing in a secular context of a high school with Young Life playing out in a local church. Amy Berry has served as the Director of Discipleship for Valley Hope Church since the Fall of 2020. One by one, I quietly stepped down from leading various committees and he stepped up. By September 2010, I was here in Memphis. We dont leave all our cultural differences behind to become homogenous. Then the group does three spiritual adventures together, which takes them outside. You cant assume that a church, even if theyre open to becoming a mosaic congregation, is going to automatically accept anything. Were struggling to be a third waynot white, not black, but something bigger than both. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Gas Price Tracker Cheapest gas around Memphis, Beautify Your School 2023 contest winners, Amazon Prime Day laptop deals you can still shop, These robot vacuum deals are still good even though, All the best extended Prime Day deals on Apple products, Woman accused of illegally connecting power to home, Liquor stores in East Memphis, Downtown hit days, Man must pay $1M+ in Masonic lodge embezzlement case, Former Memphis, LSU basketball player hit, killed, Police responded to two previous clinic complaints, Putin says he offered Wagner mercenaries the option, Man drowns in home in Vermonts 1st recorded flooding, Hundreds of thousands face disruption at Londons, Blinken meets Wang Yi in Indonesia. Eli:Church leaders have a remarkable opportunity to impact culture, dont they? If you have those values from the beginning, youll have a much easier transition. Over the past 8 years, Hope EPC has transitioned from a pre-dominantly Caucasian to a multi-ethnic church in the deep south, with 30% of members being people of color. Wed be idiots not to do this. Anthony married his best friend, Erin, in 2006, following his graduation from Montreat. We don't shoot our wounded. Our pastors not only challenge us week-to-week to live more like Christ, they also walk us through Scripture with modern-day language and easy application for our everyday life. Reaching the un-churched has been our focus from day one. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I simply had to become comfortable walking across demographic divides. From Fall of 2007-Fall of 2020, Amy served on the Young Life staff of Asheville/Buncombe County in various roles until God asked her to do something new and serve at Valley Hope. you might ask. Hope Church Memphis - Live Streaming | Welcome to Hope Church! We are But its the biblical example presented carefully that breaks down walls. 8500 walnut grove road, memphis, tn 38018. From eighth grade on, I was back in an all-black school in a poorer district of Houston, so I had both of those experiences to help shape me. joined the Valley Hope family in August of 2018. My wife, Kim, and I have two children, Caden and Lindley. Our Staff Christ Church Memphis We saw the spirit of reconciliation at work in them, without ever overtly connecting it to our setting. I love to testify to God's sustaining Grace and Provision over many years and seasons of my life. Christian Church in Memphis, TN | Hope Church, Our Church Staff | Hope Church | Memphis, TN - Hope Presbyterian Church, Hope Church Memphis in Cordova, TN - (901) 755-7721, Hope Church Memphis in Cordova, TN 38018 - (901) 755-7721, hope-church-memphis- - Yahoo Local Search Results, Hope Church (Memphis) | EPC Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest, Community Locations - Oasis of Hope Memphis, US Interstate & Rail Long Distance Movers. What I should have done sooner was simply get everyone in the room and talk about it. Amy is passionate about people learning how to follow Jesus every day of their lives while always having eyes to see others that do not yet know him. Early in 2013, God brought them to iSight/Valley Hope. One interesting dynamic is that moving to be more multiethnic has side benefitsfor example, we are more multigenerational now. Prior to that, Hannah served as a church planter and womens ministry leader in New York State for nine years. Youll feel that during the musical worshipsometimes you will even feel tension in the room as we sing, because there is nearly always someone in the room who is encountering something culturally unfamiliar in a given song. It was during this time that she began exploring more traditional venues of artistic expression. I now work as a part time bookkeeper for my son's insurance agency. Ethnic divisions in the church are not a new problem. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time. Hope Church pastor tests positive for coronavirus, 12 staffers under This is your decision. Why would you, the largest Presbyterian church in the country, want to take this risk? I asked. Michael Gill Children's Minister (Elementary) Eric Maddux Student Minister Andrew Meier High School Student Minister Chase Wall Video Director Leslie Ireland Office Administrator Barbee McVay Elementary Assistant Gina Richardson Early Childhood + Women's Assistant "What exactly is 'un-churched?'" you might ask. He loves playing piano and helping produce the musicals at ACAl! I wont be a baby about it. Benjamin and Toni enjoy living in downtown Black Mountain with their adventurous children Evangeline, Emmerich, Escher, and Elias. Samuel attended Belmont University in 2012 as a Songwriting Major, and then transferred to Montreat College in 2013. At the end, I went up to George Barna with a question. Our church would survive for a while out of its current health, but it could not survive long-term as the demographics changed in the neighborhood. Get people together. Click the link in the email we sent to to verify your email address and activate your job alert. In my previous church leadership, I see now that I did not give people time to digest the principles that we needed to live out. After a year serving in Cape Town, South Africa, Anthony entered studies full-time at . Spiritual reconciliation, while encompassing all that racial reconciliation does, is motivated by love and sincerity of heart. Our process is simple: To the extent a person is involved in Worship, Community, Service and Generosity is to the extent they will experience the peace , purpose and power of Jesus Christ. We were known for it in the city. Its not even a blip on our radar. That was just over 20 years ago. I am retired from IBM, and CEO of a small business. Eli:Today, our neighborhood is about one-third African-American. There was a sharp divide between kids with strong biblical knowledge and those without. We have been residents of Swannanoa since 2017. Here in the South, Id noticed a trend: Christians bounced between churches frequently, but it seemed the unchurched simply werent being reached. PDF Hope Church Memphis | CCO Ministry Description 2022 After growing up overseas as the son of Missionaries he decided to make Black Mountain his home in the states. YOAKUM, Texas A small plane crashed Tuesday while approaching a Texas airport, killing four members of a Tennessee church and leaving the lead pastor injured, authorities and the church said.. You say that Hope is at the appreciation phase. CCO Campus Ministry Staff are employees of the CCO. Create spaces for civil, candid, Christ-centered conversations. 2022 Valley Hope Church, all rights reserved. While the years since Smiths hiring havent necessarily been easy, Hopes transition has been one of remarkable beauty and success, into a multiethnic congregation that Hope calls a mosaic, reminiscent of art made from many small and colorful individual pieces. It took incredible trust on Rufus part, and it took incredible trust on my part. Jen and Brock have been married since 1995 and have two VERY spoiled cats. We had said that we were a church for our community. The other two live in Albuquerque, NM. Maybe we ought to pray about it, she said. We have a number ofministries to help you deepen your relationship with God, as well as get support for struggles you may be having in your life. You can get more information from their website. At Hope Church, our mission is clear: We want to engage our unchurched neighbors of every age and ethnicity to experience Jesus. Those people have become the grassroots culture of diverse friendships. Racism in Memphis never went away, it just went underground. They thought that this was a brilliant idea. It is one complicated thing. Sign up for regular updates on our national programs, ways to get involved and more at Youth Villages. Samuels wife, Emily, also attended Montreat college and graduated with him in 2015. But every step along the way would prove to be important in my ministry. Over time, the church grew to about 400, and we were very active in the community, including through a Christian school for low-income kids and a community development center. We use the 20 percent model that sociologists point to as a tipping point for a group: Get past 20 percent and you wont just have African-Americans coming to Hope and acculturating to the existing culture, but you have real assimilation, which is much more reciprocal. Do you want to feel more confident about living in Memphis? Throughout high school and college, he led on multiple worship teams. Now retired from other jobs, she enjoys running, hiking, landscape photography, photography adventure travel and doing encaustic art. Rufus:Houston, Texas. In 2016, he Founded the Memphis Christian Pastors Network (MCPN) an ethnically & denominationally diverse clergy-only network that bridges the trust-gap between pastors via candid conversation, supplication, and social interactionoutside of church walls. But they want to sustain it. I have preached that here for 40 years. We all knew that we werent just talking about a building at that point. Congregations moving toward integration go through three stages: toleration appreciation celebration. When people really hear what Paul taughtthat there is neither Jew nor Greek (race), bond nor free (class), male or female (gender)when they really see that and how the Spirit of God led the church in the Bible 2,000 years agoits different than them feeling accused. Samuel serves as the Director of Worship here at Valley Hope Church. This transition, in terms of the work and care involved, is about as difficult as church plantingmore so, in some ways. Heand his wife, Larren, have two daughters; Renee and Elizabeth. You can be a positive force in the lives of young people being treated through Youth Villages at our residential campuses and beyond. This account is independent from the church budget and administered by the Deacons after collaborative evaluation of proposals including follow-up assessments, as needed, to determine the most appropriate method(s) for helping to meet needs (e.g., financial, counsel, service). Hope Church Memphis - Apps on Google Play On Friday, March 3rd, 2023, Bend Dxnt Break will host a Young Athletes Mental Health Summit at Hope Church - 8500 Walnut Grove Rd, Cordova, TN 38018. Contact. After a year serving in Cape Town, South Africa, Anthony entered studies full-time at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte. We targeted only those responders who werent already members of a local church. If you have any questions for our staff members, please feel free to call or email them for more information. www.HOPECHURCHMEMPHIS.COM/BXB Few new fish were being added to the bowl. So anything less than a strategic transition was just stalling an eventual decision to either move or close the church. He joined Hope's Staff in September 2010, and became senior pastor in 2013. Amy is passionate about our schools and helping people in our Valley that may not have resources that they need. Invitation to Salvation; Choosing a New Church; Our Elders; Our History; Our Campus; Restoration Hope; Staff. I decided to teach Scripture on this point, without making any explicit reference to the brown/white racial tensions of our day. We provide a safe, welcoming place for new guests checking us out, but also a gathering place for friends and small groups that want to dive deeper into God's Word. He was licensed to ministry by Pastor Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson and later ordained by his father Dr. Charles Joplin, Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church. By the time I met them in 1998, the church was on life supportabout 40 people, 39 of them white. Rufus:[Laughs]Exactly. In addition, my pastor and mentor would frequently preach cross-culturally. Virginia: Centerville Presbyterian Church, Centerville (ECO) Director of Children and Family Ministries Posted November . Be polite - give feedback in a constructive way. Ironically, the church Id had that painful separation from extended me a call to return as pastor at the same time City of Refuge invited me. Rev. Elders are responsible for the spiritual care of people in our church in addition to providing oversight and direction for Valley Hope. In addition, he was a Founding Board Member of Yellowstone Academy, a private school for under-resourced elementary students & for three years the Lead Chaplain for the NBA Houston Rockets. Please reach out to us if you are needing help. Birds of a feather, right? Events. Wherever you are, you're welcome & wanted in our Hope family as we connect, worship and grow together! 815 N. McLean Memphis, TN 38107 Contact: EMAIL lauriegraves.multinational@gmail.com; TEXT 901.832.9061 Thank you! Organizations he was employed with were Breath of Life Evangelistic Ministry (KS), Christian Aid Mission (VA), PEF Ministries as Director of children's ministries (GA.)Currently he is employed at the Billy Graham Training Center as their Building Maintenance Supervisor since 1990, where his passion and motto has been "preparing this place for people to meet with God". No matter where you find yourself, you can always count on Chad for an encouraging word, a listening ear and a funny story to help paint a clearer picture of Gods love for us. We do this through a program called Ethnos, which is our multigenerational, multiethnic small group ministry. Make it about the Bible, not just cultural or political views. Subscribe My plan was to bring someone on gradually to replace me, allowing me to ease them in, and then for me to remain as a member of the church once they were the senior pastor. Ill live with it. Believing that their only hope to live the gospel in a changing neighborhood was to change with it, Hopes story is one of honesty, collaboration, patience, and vision. So we phased everything to Rufusslowly. Its also a joy. Here are the Apple items still discounted today after Amazons official Prime Day event ended. We are at the stage of genuine appreciation. We did suffer a total membership loss of about 700 people, and a financial loss of about a $1 million. Mark Luttrell Support and Recovery Ministry Director at Hope Church Memphis Metropolitan Area 260 followers 261 connections Join to view profile Hope Church Western Kentucky University. I think I can yield to Rufus authority when we have a disagreement. Doors open at 5 pm and Summit begins at 6 pm. They have two boys, Ezekiel and Cooper, who are both full of life and energy and keep Emily and Samuel very busy. Garrett Prewett. After working in the car dealership industry he is currently working as a consultant for credit unions. I was a charter member of Swannanoa Valley Presbyterian Church. You get people together to converse, centered on the Word of God. Leslie started her career working in non-profit accounting with a school foundation until asked to come work at a historic church in downtown Asheville; she never looked back. Daniel Lancaster serves as both our Director of Church Operations and Director of Student Ministries. Memphis, TN, Join to apply for the Campus Ministry Staff | Hope Church | Memphis University role at CCO Campus Ministry. What about kids? Outreach Magazineeditor-at-large Paul J. Pastor spoke with three of Hopes key staff for this unique story: Smith, Senior Pastor; Strickland, Founding Pastor; and Eli Morris, Senior Associate Pastor. Aside from the above, Daniel also drinks excessive amounts of coffee. He joined Hope in September 2010 as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and, in October of 2013, was elected as Senior Pastor to succeed the Founding Pastor of 25 years, Dr. Richard Craig Strickland. Emily currently serves as the Director of Montreat Morning School in Montreat, NC. I am incredibly thankful to walk through this life with my wife Elodie and we are blessed to have two awesome kids, Abigail and Micah. Can you give me information on models?. The numbers are moving more rapidly than I ever thought they would. Taxes, fees not included for deals content. To communicate or ask something with the place, the Phone number is (901) 755-7721. Then we took it to our session, which also unanimously agreed, and so we began to search for the right fit. I was just seeing the fruit of hard workI didnt want to have to start over again! Invariably politicians or the sheriff are blamed when it does, or an industry or a similar institution. Hope Church Memphis. Preaching & Teaching Team - Our Pastors | Hope Church | Memphis, TN Elders are responsible for the spiritual care of people in our church. They may rarely boil over. Contact & Staff - Multinational Memphis I long for Valley Hope Church to continue becoming a place of refuge and solace from the division that seems to permeate our country, a place where any and all are welcome and feel acceptance and the love of Christ any day of the week. Lets return to your earlier triad: toleration appreciation celebration. These people are called and approved by the members of Valley Hope. It takes a lot of time and a lot of incremental changes. Throughout his tenure at Hope, Chad has served as the Hope 4 Kids Pastor working alongside infants-5thgrade students and their families and Middle School Pastor serving students in the many changes and challenges they go through. We only have had a few times where we seriously disagreed on an important issue. Im 63so I wouldnt have to live through the churchs demise. Go & Do; Membership. A church where HOPE resides, HOPE is received, and HOPE is restored. Jen loves coffee, traveling withher husband, gardening with her girls, and singing! At Hope Church, our mission is clear:We want to engage our unchurched neighbors of every age and ethnicity to experience Jesus. It takes time. Rufus: Well, many of the lessons that I learned through previous ministry paid off after coming to Hope. Jen is excited to have an opportunity to serve Valley Hope. Rufus: Were a congregation that is about 70 percent Caucasian and about 26 percent African-American, and about 4 percent other. If youre from urban Memphis, getting out of the city center to go to a thriving, white, rich suburb doesnt feel accessible. Vincent Joplin (Assistant Pastor & Spiritual Formation). Be specific about your experience and the services that were provided. Connect with the deacons by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. And so we did. Hope Church Memphis - Apps on Google Play Hope Church Memphis Speak Creative, LLC 5.0 star 55 reviews 1K+ Downloads Everyone info Install About this app arrow_forward Now you can. When not enjoying his work at Black Mountain Home for Children, Ben looks to spend lots of time with his family, have good conversations, read, find more work to do, and be outdoors. He served as a preacher and leader of Isight (which was Valley Hopes original name) since his days as a student in Montreat College, when the church was started in a bar in Black Mountain. So consider this: The largest white Presbyterian church in the country, Hope Church, has transitioned over the past eight years from an overwhelmingly white congregation to one that is thoroughly multiethnicand continuing to diversify in genuine, long-term, and heartfelt ways. Sign in to create your job alert for Campus Staff jobs in Memphis, TN. Hope is a place for to experience Jesus through worship, community, service & generosity. From the beginning, it was clear that we needed to connect Hope with the city, though. Rufus Smith, IV is the Senior Pastor of Hope Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Memphis, Tennessee, a mega Presbyterian congregation. Shewants the people of Valley Hope to be a people that is always looking up to God, in to love each other and out to see who is there to be brought into God's family. And in 2018 received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Grove City College in PA. Crazy about baseball, reading and walking, his claim to fame is his wife, Jacqueline of 35 years and their three children who work in Memphis with under-resourced children: Ruth Abigail, (Furman U. in SC; BA); Rufus V (Howard University in DC); and Rhoda Anna, (Agnes Scott College, Decatur GA; BA/MA). So with my home churchs financial and spiritual support, my wife and I struck out to plant a new church along with two other couples. She has many years of church finance experience and loves being able to apply her talents in a church setting. Mosaic encourages the mosaic. Chad is married to his wife, Julie, they have three children that keep them on the go while constantly reminding them to always have fun. Eli is also the pastor of our unique Sunday evening service, The Stirring. He joined Hopes Staff in September 2010, and became senior pastor in 2013. Visit the Career Advice Hub to see tips on interviewing and resume writing. When hes not wrestling his two boys, Samuel enjoys reading, songwriting, and being in the beautiful outdoors of Western North Carolina. Craig, lets start with you. Phil was asked to come work at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys where he had been coming since he was 9 years old so they packed up and moved to Black Mountain, NC.
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