Aaron Mahl - Executive Team Chair and Affinity Groups

mahl.aaron@gmail.com

When our family relocated back to Ohio in the summer of 2017, it was important for us to find a local church that was both passionate about the spiritual growth of its body, but also missional and committed to reaching those who do not yet know how much God loves them.

We are so thankful God led us to Hope Church and has allowed us to participate in what God is doing in and through the body of believers at Hope. We have been challenged by the Biblical preaching, encouraged through Godly and intentional friendships, and have witnessed our kids grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord. Our love and pursuit for the lost has also increased, strengthened as we’ve been challenged to consider God’s loving and sacrificial pursuit of us.

We are excited for the next season of ministry at Hope Church and believe the InsideOut campaign and the years that follow will continue to testify to God’s faithfulness to His people.  We’re struck by the reality that so many people invested in our current facilities and ministry structure, without personally knowing (and in many cases, seeing) the fruit of their labor. We now have the opportunity to steward His resources, entrusted to us, to minister and serve the next generation for the glory of God, and the lasting joy of all people.

Cindy Williams - Lead Gifts and Finance

nathmattlaur@gmail.com

Team members:
Lead Gifts - Eric and Becky Lange
Finance - Jim Sudlow

In 1992, Mike and I were a young married couple from different faith backgrounds when God led us to Hope Church. I can’t overstate the impact Hope Church has had on my life, marriage and family. Small groups have provided mentors and accountability. Communities have provided life-long friends built from weekly fellowship and encouragement. I met some of my best friends while we were rocking our babies in the nursery. All of my children were dedicated to the Lord here and it is where they worshipped and were guided by Student Ministries until leaving for college.

In our almost 30 years at Hope, the church has never wavered from its dedication to teaching the Word of God no matter how challenging or difficult. We are blessed with gifted, faithful pastors who lead us well. Humble servitude is the hallmark of the staff.

This year, I’m studying the book of Acts, the role of the local church, and its importance in a believer’s life. God impressed upon me, in a new way, my responsibility to the local church. Twenty years ago, when Hope Church found a permanent home on this campus, many gave sacrificially so that my family would be blessed. Now it is my privilege to be used by God, alongside other believers, to invest in Hope for generations to come and a whole new community of believers. These are exciting times!

Vince Terry - Design and Architecture

voterry7@aol.com

Team members:
Larry Cunningham

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

My beloved wife (of 31 years this past June) and I met in college. We fell in love early and married right after graduation. We were both committed to God and were faithful to our local church after campus ministries strengthened our faith in Christ. After securing our positions, we both knew Cincinnati would be our new home and started our family four years later and found a house in Mason, Ohio. We truly understand the need for fellowship with other believers and understand the value that Hope facilitates in Communities and small groups. We have enjoyed our small group family fellowship time through the years here at Hope.

Growing up in a Christian home, I accepted Christ at the age of nine. I was baptized at 17 years old. I was determined to live and walk as His ambassador and surround myself with other determined believers. My church families over the years varied in denomination, cultural diversity and backgrounds, worship styles and mission but one thing always held true, that we only serve one King and His name is Jesus.That has and will be our central goal in worship and service that we keep Christ Jesus first and foremost in our lives.

We have three young adult children. Philip, our eldest, is currently a graduate student at Xavier University and recently became engaged. Our daughter, Loren, after graduating from the University of Cincinnati and teaching abroad, felt a call for something bigger than herself – she is a Lieutenant for the Marine Corp. Mathew, our youngest, just graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

My family and I came to Hope more than 16 years ago. We praise God for leading us to Hope and found its love for God and teaching of the foundational truths of God’s living Word to be strong. Our spiritual walk and service has been inspired to grow deeper under the rich and committed teaching of Pastor Stephen Kirk. His dedication and mission to raise true relational believers has been an inspiration and encouragement for me and my family. As members of Hope, we felt God’s call to invest as His servants in the ministry. I have served in other capacities at Hope Church and enjoy the opportunity to serve alongside other committed men and women of God. My wife and I have been members of Belayers and GPS and participated in the choir years ago. We are currently serving as an Elder Couple, communion volunteers, Welcome Desk volunteers, and support our Racial Reconciliation team.

We enjoy traveling and experiencing new sites and cultures. We’re passionate to be used as God’s tool to help transform lives and bring people closer to Christ in community, fostering open and safe environments for ministry. These are challenging times that will test our faith in God. We are not running from the opportunity to be a part of Gods’ transformative work from the inside out.

Dave Slyby - Communications and Prayer

dmslyby@outlook.com

Team members:
Communications - Shawn Davies (design), Mackenzie Pierce (writing and editing), Jared Robey
Prayer - Steve Griebling

We started attending Hope Church in July 2004 and we feel blessed to be a part of our church, as we have made many friends and grown in our spiritual walk. Kelly, my wife, and I have two children. Jim is finishing up his master’s degree at University of Cincinnati and Maggie is at Cedarville University pursuing a teaching degree.

Kelly and I have been involved in youth and student ministry at Hope Church for several years. We have volunteered in the elementary, junior high and high school programs throughout the years. I am currently involved in high school community on Sunday mornings, teaching and meeting with students. I was blessed to have Christian adults come alongside me during my youth and I have a desire to do the same now as an adult volunteer. I have also been a member of the Elder Board since 2017.

We need to build for the future of Hope Church, to become more of a place that can allow for individual group settings, relationship building and closer communities. The upgrades to a physical space can only enhance the purpose of the building for future disciples.

Patti Creutzinger - Events

pcreutzinger@hopemason.org

Team members:
KC Brown, Sarah Brown, Cindy Williams

In 1997, I started attending a ministry hosted at Hope for young mothers. Through that experience, I learned about Hope Church and its sound biblical foundation. I was also impressed with their Kids’ Ministry including training for parents that we felt we desperately needed. We were seeking to become the parents that God wanted us to be. My husband Bill, our two young daughters, Megan and Emilie, and I started attending Hope in 2000. We benefited from the biblical teaching and were warmly welcomed by the Hope body. We became members in 2002.

In 2003, I joined Hope’s staff and my current position is the Director of Operations, as well as assistant to Pastor Stephen Kirk and Pastor Jim Dunn.

Hope Church has been a gift from God for our family, helping us grow in knowing God better, seeking His Word and will, and trusting Him more and more. I feel I have grown up here. Being on staff has given me the opportunity to work with amazing, godly men and women and experience great joy and fellowship. It’s been so encouraging to watch God work as challenges are prayerfully faced and people, including myself, are blessed by the growth these times provide.

It’s such an honor to be part of the Executive Leadership Team for InsideOut. Having managed parts of Hope’s operations, staff, and facilities over the last 17 years, I bring valuable knowledge and experience to the team in how our campus and facility are used daily by Hope ministries, attenders, and our neighbors in the surrounding communities. My heart is truly for Christ to be known and for Hope, as a body and a building, to continue to grow in our ability to influence His Kingdom.

Jill Miller - Kids, Students, Special Needs

jmiller@hopemason.org

Team members:
Mandy Allender, Sharon Mason, Theresa Messer, Jim TInsley

Our family moved from Indiana to Ohio in 2008, and it was unbelievably hard being in a new place with a baby and no friends or family around. Desperate to find some other moms to connect with, I found the nearest MOPS groups in the area and started making phone calls to get more information. After a handful of calls, I decided to join the group that met at Hope, mainly because the person on the phone was the friendliest and made me feel loved and welcomed.

Fast forward to 2011 … Our family ended up visiting the Gathering for the first time and Steve and I both sat with tears streaming down our face the entire service, both knowing without a doubt that Hope would be our church home. It felt like home from the very first moment. The worship was authentic and God-focused, the preaching was powerful and truth-based, and the people we met were warm and genuine. We knew we wanted to be part of a church like Hope. A place where we would be loved and a place where we could love others and invest in something bigger than ourselves. And that’s what we’ve been trying to do ever since!

It’s such a gift how God has graciously allowed our family to use our individual, unique gifts at Hope to serve His people and to bring Him glory along the way. Our daughter, Elie, serves with Kids’ Ministry, ESL and Gen2Gen. Steve is on staff here, but also serves in Worship Ministry and Student Ministry. I am on staff here as well and serve in Worship Ministry and with Gen2Gen. We LOVE Hope Church and love being part of a place where the focus is on living the life we are called to as disciples of Jesus: Loving God, loving people, and helping others do the same. May it be so!

It is a great privilege and honor to be able to help lead us into the next season of life at Hope! I believe with all my heart that going after This is the LIFE is what we are called to do as disciples of Jesus, and that it will change lives forever … our own and those around us. I can’t wait to see all the ways that God will use Hope as a place where life, love and discipleship will be on full display for generations to come. Let’s lean in together, Hope, and let’s come expectant to see what God will do in us and through us on this adventure!