Pastoral Leadership Team
Brent Deffenbacher, Pastor
Lead Pastor
Brent Deffenbacher serves as the Lead Pastor of New Hope. An Oregon-native California re-transplant, Brent and his wife Amy love living in Happy Valley with their son, Blake, and daughter, Paige. During his free time, Brent enjoys drinking a strong cup of coffee, spending time with his dogs, Wookie & Buddy, playing golf, washing his car, and avoiding foods with mayonnaise. An Azusa Pacific University graduate, Brent holds a Masters of Divinity from Fresno Pacific University, but secretly wishes he graduated from the University of Oregon – Go Ducks!! Brent is passionate about the local church, loves teaching God’s Word, and considers it incredibly humbling and honoring to witness the people of New Hope taking next steps in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Peter Johnsen
Pastor of Family Community (Kids, Student & College Communities)
Peter serves on the Pastoral Leadership Team as the Pastor of Family Community, representing the ministries to those from birth through 24 years old. He began pastoral ministry in 2002 at a church in Los Angeles, earned an Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and joined our staff in 2007. He loves leading the Student Community Team and is passionate about pointing young people to Jesus. He and his wife Marjie have been married since 2003 and have their hands full raising two young sons! Peter enjoys golf, music, social networking, and utilizing his Apple products!
Jerry Schmidt
Pastor of Administration
Jerry provides leadership and management of New Hope’s finances, facilities and property, direction to facilities personnel and HR responsibilities. He also leads in to our 55+ Ministry and Pastoral Care, and assists our congregation in matters of charitable estate planning. Jerry and his wife, Jeanie, are one of New Hope’s founding “pioneer” families, having helped start the church in 1972. In his spare time, Jerry enjoys flower gardening, reading, golfing, watching the Blazers (when they’re hot) and most of all, spending time with his wife Jeanie.
Pastors & Directors
Nathan Arnold, Pastor
Weekend Experience Director
Nathan is the Director of Weekend Experience, which is really just a complicated way of saying “Worship Leader”. He works with the Weekend Experience Team to smash together the music, video, lights, sound, and message into a service that hopefully connects us all to the Living God and allows Him to speak into our lives. Nathan is also a huge fan of shenanigans and tomfoolery… but never both at the same time.
Matt Campbell
Director of Kids Community
Matt serves and oversees the nursery through 5th grade community at New Hope. Matt is passionate about helping to raise up the next generation of Jesus followers by creating irresistible environments where Kids encounter Jesus Christ. Matt views himself as a professional story teller, relating the various stories of the scriptures to kids in appropriate and fun ways where two things are accomplished: The kids can go home and retell the story to anyone who asks, and be curious for more! When Matt is not telling stories he is playing basketball or on a golf course. Matt is married to Christina Campbell and they live in Happy Valley.
Janet Cotton, Pastor
Connections Director
Janet is the Director of Connections and she LOVES people. Nothing makes her happier than helping people get connected to the life of the church, primarily into a small group or an area of service. You will usually find her in the church Lobby meeting people, making connections, and giving hugs! Having recently shed 93 lb, she has a new found passion for walking… and Food Carts! Especially walking to Food Carts!
Sarah Charles
Student Community Assistant Director
Sarah is the Assistant Director of StuCom focusing on middle school students and girls’ discipleship. She is a recent graduate from Azusa Pacific University. In her free time, Sarah enjoys walking her puppy Finn, eating hamburgers, and playing capture the flag.
Shanin Engman, Pastor
Associate Pastor of Adult Community
Shanin Engman is the Associate Pastor of Adult Community, overseeing everything from Pre-marital coaching, Marriage mentoring, marriage conferences and events, to one of our support ministries, DivorceCare. She is also involved in helping people get connected into Community Groups at New Hope with our Community Life team.
Carrie Grant
Communications Director
As the Communications Director, Carrie handles everything at New Hope from the Sunday bulletin, to Sermon Art/Graphics, the Website, the eNewsletter, and social media. Since 2007, she has been ultimately responsible for the graphic design, brand management, and overseeing any and all information to be communicated to the public at New Hope. Carrie will tell you she’s sarcastic, loves to read, plays MMORPGs and XBOX games, loves her husband Jimmy and their dog Dexter (cutest schnoodle ever), and can’t tan (at all).
Bradlee Hersey
Assistant Director of Student Community and Weekend Experience Assistant Director
Bradlee serves as the Worship Leader for StuCom, our Middle School and High School services, as well as working toward building worshipful environments in all the services at New Hope. He joined New Hope Staff in 2011, graduating from Warner Pacific College with a Bachelors of Arts in Religion and Christian Ministries. Bradlee loves to play music, study the Bible with friends, and get out on golf courses of the disc and ball varieties. If a sport is outdoors, Bradlee will probably enjoy taking part.
Kurt Kroon, Pastor
Global & Local Outreach Director
Kurt helps people at New Hope explore God’s call for them to live a life on mission. This looks like helping people get involved in local service opportunities and envisioning how God could be calling people to serve where they already live and work each day. Kurt would also be a great person to contact if you have a heart to serve alongside one of our international ministry partners on a long or short-term basis. Kurt and his beautiful wife Sally spend the majority of their time raising their son Porter, and wrangling their daschunds, Frank & Beanie.
Mike Magura
Men’s Community Director
Mike recently transitioned off full-time staff at New Hope, to pursue a job in the local marketplace. Meanwhile, Mike will continue to lead at New Hope through the Men’s Ministry, and he and his family will continue to call New Hope, “home.” Mike has a Masters Degree in Ministry Leadership from George Fox Seminary, and has served in a variety of capacities since joining our staff in 2005, always with a heart to see lives changed through scripture study and authentic small group community. He and his wife Sarah enjoy camping, swimming, hiking and biking with their daughter, Kayla, and son, Aiden. When he’s not at church or at work, Mike can be found coaching basketball and baseball or trying to get to the nearest golf course.
Carolyn Mata, Pastor
Women’s Community Director
As the Women’s Pastor, Carolyn is passionate about helping women discover how to grow spiritually through digging into the Bible in personal study and by gaining insights from other women either in a group setting or mentor relationship. She believes that each woman has the amazing assignment of making a difference in our world and that we accomplish that better together—hopefully with grace and humor! WOW Bible studies, mentoring, coffees, Holiday Marketplace… many venues, but one focus: Jesus and His love.
Bev Skinner, Pastor
Compassionate Care Director
Bev is the Director of Compassionate Care which includes sending Jesus’ love in a card, a phone call or sending flowers. She is always available to pray with you. Bev is also a part of the Pastoral Care Team, following up on your Connection Cards. Each year she leads a Spring & Fall Series of Grief & Loss Support, which ministers to the hurting. Bev loves to hang out with her family, is always up for a party, & most always you’ll find her with a cup of coffee in her hand!
Nicole Sneed
Little Explorers Preschool Director
Nicole serves at New Hope as the Director (better known as the principal) of our outreach ministry, Little Explorers Preschool and Kindergarten. A graduate of Oregon State University and outspoken Beaver fan, Nicole is currently pursing her master’s degree in Ministry Leadership. She loves developing relationships with families and children, and leading all towards Christ’s love. Nicole adores her son Brandon, and enjoys Starbucks coffee, watching the Portland Trailblazers, and decorating her house in unique ways.
Will Wilson
Technical Operations
Will is the Director of the Technical Operations at New Hope. This consists of managing all audio, video, lighting, anti-matter reactors, networking, and computer operations. His desire is to create an environment that ultimately glorifies God through technical reinforcement. In addition to spending time with his wife and friends, he enjoys saving the universe when called upon and long walks on the beach.
Ministry / Support Staff
Trudy Adams
In Reach/Women’s Community
Trudy is the clerical and administrative assistant for the Women’s Community, helping with Women of the Word and the Holiday Marketplace. Trudy also handles all the requests for financial help from within our church family, as well as the larger community. And if that wasn’t enough, Trudy is also the database administrator, overseeing changes to the church database, generating requested reports, and creating and managing online registration forms. Having been at New Hope since 1985 and having raised her two daughters in this church, she finds it a great joy to now bring her five grandchildren to New Hope. “Being on staff at New Hope for the past five years has been a wonderful privilege and a huge blessing.”
Kellie Arabak
Weekend Service Coordinator
As Weekend Experience Coordinator, Kellie helps organize all the behind-the-scenes technical and personnel details that make the Sunday morning services happen. She also leads the Visual Worship Team that runs our in-service graphic program, ProPresenter, and provides on-site technical support for assorted computer issues. Kellie and her pilot-husband, Bill enjoy travel, breakfasts out, and their 2 cats.
David Carver
Lead Audio Engineer
New Hope’s chief audio engineer and Technical Director for our Event Rentals, David has over 35 years of concert and event engineering experience, and has worked with artists from all over the world. He helps to coordinate our Audio/Video Staff for special events. In his free time he quests for the perfect nap, chases aliens, and frolics late at night in the fridge.
Laurie Davis
Front Desk/Reception
Laurie has been the receptionist at New Hope Community Church since April 2012. She has been married to her husband Craig for 26 years and has two boys, Mitch (20) and Garrett (16). She also has a dog named Tucker (10 years old but acts like he is 2). A native of Bend, she has lived in Portland for 26 years and plans move back to Bend after her husband retires from work. Laurie enjoys race walking with her Portland to Coast relay team; last year they took first place in their division.
Mary Fakhoury
Family Community Ministry Assistant
Mary serves at New Hope as the Family Community Ministry Assistant. Mary loves working with preschoolers and students. In her spare time she enjoys dancing and hanging out with friends.
Kathryn Freeman
Bookkeeping & Administration
Kathryn is the Finance Manager (aka ‘Bean Counter’ – her favorites are the chocolate covered coffee beans!) She keeps New Hope’s accounts in order by tracking the faithful tithes and offerings of our partners and contributors, paying the bills and processing the payroll for our wonderful staff. She enjoys photographing God’s gifts of nature and writing as pastimes.
David & Cheryl Goetchius
Recovery
David & Cheryl Goetchius enjoy mountain biking, camping, their grandkids, dogs, God’s creativity and helping others. God brought them together at New Hope Recovery Ministry many years ago and now it is their joy to continue to grow and serve in this ministry.
Rebecca Krantz
Child Care Coordinator
Rebecca oversees child care for the events at New Hope, like WOW and the always popular Love and Logic series. She is also a substitute teacher in the greater Portland area and is currently working on a graduate degree in Special Education at PSU. Rebecca has three awesome kids, Thayer, Freyjah, and Balin, which you will often see helping out around New Hope. She is obsessed with the color blue (especially aqua), carries a cup of coffee with her everywhere, or the largest water bottle around. Rebecca recently re-took up running, something she hasn’t done in fifteen years. She also loves the Oregon Coast, classic cars and music, all things Portland, and refinishing vintage furniture.
Debbie Schlosser
Office Manager & Administration
Debbie has been the office manager for New Hope since November 2011, and has been an active partner of New Hope for over 15 years. She works with all outside rentals for the church (concerts, weddings, funerals, receptions, conferences, etc.). She also serves as Pastor Brent’s assistant and works closely with Pastor Jerry on the Administrative Team. Debbie has been married for 18 years to her husband, Dick and they live just outside of Oregon City. They have 4 children, 2 grandchildren and a very spoiled wirehair terrier named “Buster Brown”.
Barb Siron
Church Records Administrator
Barb’s “privilege”, as she puts it, is to update and maintain the individual names in New Hope’s congregational database so we have accurate information for each attendee. This greatly aids the Pastoral Staff and Ministries in contacting and connecting with the congregation. Also, Barb serves the Pastoral Care Team, keeping them aware of those who are facing crisis or health issues and need pastoral contact. From her office, the Praying for You Cards are written by volunteers and mailed out each week. “To serve the Lord and my church is my greatest joy in living.”
Facilities
Shawn Collins
Facilities Maintenance
Shawn handles all the odds and ends around New Hope dealing with maintenance as well as the occasional construction project and mystery fix-it project. He spends his free time with his family, off-road with his modified Jeep, hunting, or just enjoying the outdoors.
Steve Furry
Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance
You’ll most often see Steve outside (rain or shine), working hard to keep New Hope looking beautiful year round. Even when he’s not here watering flowers or caring for trees, he’s most likely elsewhere enjoying the great Portland outdoors.
Riley Smith
Facilities and Operations
Riley has been a familiar face around New Hope since 1997 and has recently been promoted to the position of Facilities & Operations Manager. He serves as the first-line supervisor for the Maintenance & Custodial staff. His primary mission is to provide support to the ministries by functioning as their “go to guy” for scheduling use of the building, rooms, and equipment. Riley’s favorite quote comes from John Lennon: “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”