PASTOR JIM GARBER, Senior Pastor

Jim Garber was born and raised in Warren, Ohio, and has followed God's call in his life to pastoral ministry, with an emphasis on music and worship. He graduated from Youngstown State University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Music Degree, and was ordained by the Christian and Missionary Alliance in 2000. 

Pastor Jim served for over 16 years as the Minister of Worship at North-Mar Church of the C&MA in Warren, Ohio.  He and his wife of 30 years, Linda, relocated to Brunswick to join Pastor Gordon in the ministry of Hope Church.  They have two adult children.  Josh (and his wife Jodie and children Gabe and Lily) serves as the Youth Pastor at Lombard Bible Church of the C&MA in Lombard, Illinois.  Andrew (and his wife Lindsay and daughter Adelyn) teaches in the field of special education.

PASTOR TOM O'CONNELL, Senior Associate Pastor

Tom O'Connell was raised in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and graduated from Nyack College in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Youth Ministry.  Following graduation, he married Laurie who was from Canal Fulton, Ohio and moved to Lodi, Ohio to plant Lodi Community Church of the C&MA where he served for nine years as the senior pastor.

He and Laurie have four children - Lilly, Thomas, Nathan and Elsie.  Pastor Tom is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan and joined the pastoral staff of Hope Church in January 2011. 

 PASTOR DAVID TRAINER, Youth Pastor

David Trainer grew up as missionary kid in Gabon, West Africa, until his parents returned to engage in U.S. ministry.  He graduated from high school in Colorado Springs, and graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Ministry.  David has won many awards for soccer at various levels, and has outstanding musical gifts as well.

He and Ann Marie were married in August 2012 and began their ministry at Hope Church in September 2012.  David serves as an assistant pastor and his wife serves as the ‘children’s ministry intern.’

DR. GORDON MEIER, Pastor Emeritus

Gordon Meier was raised in a pastor’s home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Nyack College with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, and from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree.  He earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois in 1995.

After 10 years of pastoral ministry in Willard, Ohio, he became the Director of Church Planting for the Central District of the C&MA, a position he held for nine years.  Pastor Gordon was subsequently elected to serve for three terms as the District Superintendent of the Central District.  After 18 years in the district office, he and his wife of 30 years, Barb, moved to Brunswick to plant Hope Church.  They have two adult children both in full time ministry.

After serving as senior pastor at Hope Church for 3-1/2 years, Pastor Gordon transitioned to Pastor Emeritus in March 2013.