Elders, Pastors, and Deacons

The Scripture does not give us an exact template for church organization but it does offer us some definite principles and important offices. Our leadership structure is shaped by these biblical contributions.

The season of our relocation is over. We have assessed our strengths, weaknesses, and failures. Our attention now is faced squarely on our vision and growing Hope. We have shifted our organizational structure, picking up some traits of Hope's old management team design. If you have been around for a while some of this will look familiar. As we studied biblical church structure in order to add deacons, we also clarified the biblical office of elder.

We have governing elders and pastoring elders. We have determined that we provide salaries for those that need to devote vocational amounts of time to the work assigned them, whether they are a governing elder, pastoring elder, or deacon. This opens up a whole set of non-paid pastoring elders. Each pastor serves over a division of the church. Hope has been especially and unusually blessed with men that will be both vocational, bi-vocational, and volunteer for this body and its purpose.

PASTORS, PASTORAL APPRENTICES, & ELDERS are listed on this page
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Lead Pastor - Mike Hale

Mike Hale moved from Texas with his wife Tracy to be part of Hope in 1997. Mike has a bachelor's degree in theology from Hardin-Simmons University and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity through Liberty University.  Mike has been Hope's Lead Pastor since October 2009. He describes himself as a Swiss Army knife, having held a multitude of jobs and able to do a little of everything.  He and Tracy have six children: Emma, Ethan, Gage, Sophie, Luke and Myla!

Tracy has her degree in music business from Hardin-Simmons University as well and is currently homeschooling her 6^th grader and holding down the fort.  She is a party waiting to happen. Tracy also leads our worship dance ministry and has a passion for interceding and worshiping through dance.

Email Mike at mike@extremehope.org

Pastor of Worship and Intercession - Chris Carter

Chris is married to Parwin and has three daughters and one son. Chris started off as part of the core team when Hope was planted. Chris currently teaches middle school English in the Newport News School System.

He leads worship from his rhythm guitar, writes songs, poetry, and story. If you can't find him, he is probably fishing - his other passion. Chris hails from North Carolina and is proud of it. He is a graduate of University of North Carolina.

Parwin has a degree in social work and is homeschooling their children. She is gifted in intercession, serves in restoration ministries, and dances on the worship dance team.

Email Chris at chris.carter@extremehope.org

Pastor of Integration - Dean Nowotny

Dean and Susan Nowotny are both natives of Massachusetts. Susan’s parents grew cranberries for Ocean Spray on Cape Cod. They met in Springfield, MO at Central Bible College where Dean received his B.A. in Bible and Susan received her second B.A. in Christian Education (her first was in history from U. Mass.). Prior to transferring to Bible college, Dean attended Emerson College in Boston to major in speech and theater. Dean eventually received his MA in Religion from Liberty University.

They pastored Assemblies of God churches in MA for over 25 years. This included being associate/youth pastor in Northampton, assistant and eventual senior pastor in Belmont, founding pastor in Bridgewater and senior pastor in Pittsfield. They were at the church they planted in Bridgewater for 14 years.

They left the pastorate in 2002 and moved to Virginia specifically to sit under the ministry of Ken Tombley. They have continually been involved in Living Waters at Hope since 2002 up to the present. They returned to Hope to embrace it as their home church in early 2008. Though they live in Virginia Beach, both Susan and Dean say, “It is well worth the trip!”

They have two grown children. Nathan and his wife Laura live in Newport News with their three children. Amanda and her husband German live in Hampton. They love being Grampy and Grandma to Hannah, Katie and Tyler!

Email Dean at dean.nowotny@extremehope.org. 

Elder - Steven McCoy

Steven McCoy is an Elder. He and his wife, Mary, grew up together in southeastern North Carolina. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, Steven retired and is now working in the computer field for Lockheed Martin. He has an MS in Education from Old Dominion University.

Mary has a BA in Child Development and Elememtary Education from Christopher Newport College and currently teaches first grade in the Newport News Public School system. She serves in restoration ministry, children's ministry, and hospitality. She is the one with the big smile.

Steven and Mary have been with Hope from the beginning, when Crossroads put it together as a church plant.  They are in their 34th year of marriage, have 3 adult children: James, Karen, and Marcus, and are blessed with 10 grandchildren: Brittany, Jessica, Sydney, Ethan, Adam, Noah, Caitlyn, Skylar, Anna Beth, and Stephanie.

Email Steven or Mary at steven.mccoy@extremehope.org

Elder - Lamonte Williams

LaMonte A. Williams was physically born in June, 1966, in Detroit, MI, and was born again into the Kingdom in December 1987. He was ordained in 1989 and his ministry experience is vast: new member class leader, singles ministry, youth church leader, adult Sunday school and midweek Bible study leader, Associate Minister, Assistant Pastor, and Assistant Director at Friendship House in Newport News. Currently, LaMonte is our Financial Officer and the Assistant Treasurer of the Peninsula Baptist Association, one of our affiliates.

A recent graduate of Christopher Newport University (B.S., Accounting), he currently works vocationally as Staff Accountant at a regional firm in Newport News.

He married his only wife, Simone, in June 1990, and they have three children, Kristen 14, Darius 13, and Karla 11, all currently in the Newport News school system. He believes that Jesus is the Christ, the only Way to God, our Father, and his foundational verse is Proverbs 3:5-7

Email Lamonte at lamonte.williams@extremehope.org

Elder - Bob Nipp

Bob's immediate family includes his wife, Arlene, and his children Ryan, Abigail, Noah, and Aaron. Arlene and Bob have been married for 16 years. They met in Northern Virginia, where they had both attended the same church.

Bob was raised in a non-Christian home, but later came to know Christ  while in college. He joined a Christian student group (Great Commission Minstries) shortly after becoming a Christian. He stayed with Great Commission throughout college and for several years afterwards. After getting married, he and Arlene moved to the Tidewater area, where they joined Crossroads Community Church. While at Crossroads, they were both active in various small groups and music ministries. When they moved to Isle of Wight County, they began looking for a church a little closer to home. They joined Hope and have been involved ever since.

Email Bob

Elder - Jon Cameron

Jon was born and raised in California. He grew up in the church serving in youth ministry and leading worship. One of his many passions is playing guitar and writing worship songs. He has his degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of Maryland University College and currently works as a software tester for Test Pros, Inc.

His wife, Jennifer, grew up here on the peninsula and is currently a stay-at-home mom and writes homeschool curriculum as a part-time job. She taught fourth grade for eight years in Hampton Christian Schools after receiving her undergraduate degree from Liberty University and master's degree from Regent University.

Jon and Jen were married in 1997 and have been attending Hope since 2000. They are truly honored to be serving at Hope-which they are proud to call their "family." They have four children: Chelsea, Jon, Jr., Hailey, and Silas.

E-mail Jon at jon.cameron@extremehope.org.

Pastoral Apprenticeship Program

Hope operates a 2-year apprenticeship program for men and women preparing for vocation ministry. Each apprentice serves a minimum of 30 hours a week in training. You will find them leading out in almost every area of church life. After much testing, evaluation, and hard work, apprentices are welcome to petition for ordination.

Apprentice Rich Goddard - Pastor of Restoration Ministries
Rich came to us from Christ Temple Church in Huntington West Virginia where he was a director of a parachurch ministry. Rich felt a call to an internship here in Restoration and Pastoral Counseling and after 6 months felt the Lord leading him into the apprenticeship program. Rich has 20 years experience in the medical field and has a license to practice as a Registered Nurse and Respiratory Therapist. He is currently employed as an instructor at a local college. He will be completing a masters in Pastoral Counseling and hopes to be married and have children some day. Rich has a call and a heart for restoration ministry. His hobbies are NASCAR racing and music.

Email Rich at rich.goddard@extremehope.org

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