Welcome,
Pastor Erik

I still remember the first time I began learning about Hope. Long before a call was extended, before conversations became concrete, before names and faces started to feel familiar, I found myself paying attention to the spirit of this congregation.

What stood out to me was not just your history, though nearly fifty years of ministry is a beautiful and faithful story. It was the way Hope seems to carry both gratitude and expectation at the same time. You are a congregation that remembers the people who helped build this community, while still looking ahead with openness, courage, and trust.

Angy and I are deeply grateful for the welcome already extended to our family. We arrive with joy and with a real desire to listen and learn. I am eager to hear your stories, to learn the rhythms of this community, to sit with you in worship, in conversation, in prayer, and in the ordinary moments where ministry so often takes root.

At the heart of my sense of call is helping people grow as disciples of Christ: people who know they are loved by God, who are deepening in faith, and who are discovering and using their God-given gifts in service to others. One of the great joys of ministry is seeing those gifts come alive and become channels of God’s love in the world.

I believe the church is at its best when we are honest with one another, gracious with one another, and willing to be surprised by what God is still doing among us. I believe faith is deepened around tables, in worship, through service, in hard questions, in shared laughter, and in the steady work of showing up for one another.

I am excited to begin this next chapter with you. Not because any one person has all the answers, but because Christ is already present in this place, and together we get to discover where the Spirit is leading next.

Thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, and your generous welcome. I cannot wait to be with you, to learn your names, to hear your stories, and to join you in the life and ministry of Hope.