Leadership
Steve Morton, Senior Pastor
Pastor Steve Morton joined Hopewell as Senior Pastor in July, 1997. Growing up in West Chester, PA, Steve's pre-college years were centered around his involvement in the West Chester United Methodist Church, where he held a part time job and was very active in both youth and adult ministries.
Steve began his education at Grove City College and continued his preparation at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in December 1983. His first charge in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church was a six-month assignment at Kellersville in the Pocono Mountains, before moving on to Faith United Methodist Church in Reading.
Steve came to Hopewell after seven years as Senior Pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in Ephrata, where he grew Sunday morning worship attendance to more than 260. Steve married his wife, Joan, in 1989, and they have two children, Jordan and Jessica.
Vicki Pry, Pastor of Caring Ministries
Vicki Pry, Pastor of Caring Ministries, has been a member of the Hopewell Church staff since June 2001. She is a United Methodist Local Pastor appointed to the church by our conference. Her areas of ministry include: Caring Ministries; preaching; staff support person for worship and Older Adult Ministries. Vicki is a graduate of the University of Delaware, having majored in Physical Education. She later obtained her Elementary Education certification from Immaculata University. Her Local Pastors' coursework is ongoing and is in conjunction with Wesley Theological Seminary.
Prior to her calling to formal ministry, Vicki was a kindergarten teacher in the Downingtown Area School District for 15 years. Vicki and her husband, Dick, have lived in Downingtown for 30 years and raised their three daughters in this congregation. They feel so blessed to have their daughters, sons-in-law and six grandchildren living in the immediate area and worshiping here at Hopewell!
Dan Hepner, Pastor of Discipleship Ministries
Dan Hepner was appointed in a quarter time position to Hopewell Church by our conference in 2008. Pastor Dan came to Hopewell Church after serving for the last two years as part time Pastor at Glenmoore United Methodist Church. He is a United Methodist Local Pastor and Hopewell Church is Dan's second conference appointment.
His areas of ministry include preaching and worship leadership, teaching and adult education, new member ministry and discipleship.
Dan is a graduate of West Chester University, majoring in Criminal Justice. Currently Dan is enrolled as a part time student at Evangelical School of Theology in their Masters of Divinity program. Prior to his calling to ministry, Dan worked in law enforcement and currently continues his career in the insurance business. Dan and his wife Donna have lived in Downingtown since 1985 and have been members of Hopewell Church since 1986. Dan and Donna are the parents of four daughters, all raised in Hopewell's congregation.
John Neider, Pastor of Outreach Ministries
John Neider was appointed Pastor of Outreach Ministries in January, 2011. John’s main emphases are coordinating Celebrate Recovery on Tuesday evenings, teaching Bible study such as the Disciple II class which meets every Sunday evening at 6pm and being an integral part of those who preach on a rotating schedule.
John was raised in a strict Baptist family- “we were always in church”. This set the foundation. John entered Houghton College as a pre-ministerial student, but left college, and spent four years in the Air Force. John completed an undergraduate degree in English and also attended graduate school in American Studies at the University of Minnesota.
He is a single dad with three sons and two daughters. In addition to Celebrate Recovery, a goal of John’s ministry is to encourage ways in which Hopewell members can be public about their faith and worship experience. John has been part of Bible study groups that have met at Manhattan Bagel and Hickory Park, both public places where others take notice.
To contact the Pastoral Staff, click here.
Staff
Director of Lay Ministries -- Shauna Ridge
Director of Youth Ministries -- Jon Marcus
Youth Ministries Assist -- Jacqui Davidson
Community & Care Liaison -- Jen Lisowski
Missionary to South Africa -- Jordan Ridge
Children's Ministries -- Cheri Miller, Amy Straub, Patty Wiehler
Director of Hopewell Christian School -- Donna Hepner
Director of Music Ministries -- George Haimbach
Director of Technology -- Deb Collins
Organist -- Sandy Frombach
Church Administrator -- Sheri Kentner
Controller -- Carey Burke
Membership Secretary -- Lynne Kreher
Worship Secretary -- Kathy Geary
Financial Secretary -- Cammy Brantzeg
Security and Grounds -- David Williams
Servant Leadership
Lay Leader -- Ann-Marie Barber
Church Council Chair -- Maryanne Bishop
Board of Trustees Chairman -- J.O. Johnson
Staff Parish Relations Chairman -- Matt Miller
Finance Chair -- Jim Kreher
Adult Ministry -- Brian Oberholtzer
Children's Ministry -- Katy Garner
Communications/Website Ministry -- Jamie Ridge
Discipleship Ministries -- George Hubbard
Equipping Ministries -- Shauna Ridge
Nurture Ministries -- Brenda Eastham
Older Adult Ministry -- Peggy Puy
Outreach Ministries -- Tony Brantzeg
Wedding Coordinator -- Erin Slye
Youth Ministry -- Ryan Kuhnle
