STAFF
Rev. L. Todd Marlow
Lead Pastor/Teacher
Pastor Todd came to HOPE Community Church (formerly Westmoreland Baptist Church) April 2005 and has served as Lead Pastor/Teacher for these last (17+) sixteen years. He finished his undergraduate work at Wingate University and is actively pursuing post graduate work in therapeutic & clinical counseling.
Pastor Todd and his wife Lisa have been married for 34+ years and have three wonderful children, Kaitlyn 29, Kameron 26, Karigan 23 all now out of the home developing their families. Mrs. Lisa is a Registered Nurse at Caromont Regional Medical Center Gastonia, working with the critical care patients, and with the ICU patients.
Pastor has traveled extensively international (4-6) four to six mission trips annually, leading Pastor Conferences, in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, HOPE has developed a partnership with a mission in Mozambique, Africa where he has lead (4) four separate summer mission trips. He’s a Pastor’s Pastor, working both locally and internationally to help support, love, encourage, sharpen other Pastors. Many displaced Pastors find home at HOPE during their re-assignment period and Pastor Todd helps to restore, find healing and discover that new ministry assignment. Weekly, Pastors meet at HOPE Church to find friendship, fellowship and through Bible Study, ‘iron sharpens iron’.
Pastor also leads HOPE Counseling Services here on HOPE Hill, where many lives are being changed for the glory of God!
The things Pastor Todd loves most about HOPE Community Church is his opportunity to build relationships, sharing HOPE in times of crisis and leading people to faith in Christ! It is truly a place where “Christ in you, is the HOPE of glory!” Colossians 1:27b
Rev. Wayne Johnston
Senior Adults & Educational Pastor
Wayne, married to Sissy, have four sons and many grandchildren, has served in Church work for over 60 years, both in music and education. Since 2005, he has served HOPE Church in various ministries, namely being the Pastor’s right hand man. His wisdom, love for the people, sense of God’s direction is keen, even at age 79! He works as hard, or harder than any person on our staff and we are blessed to have both him and Sissy as HOPE’rs – to let you in on an agreement he has with our Pastor, “He has to work at HOPE til he’s 142 year old…”. Wayne is a valuable resource for HOPE Church with our Senior Adults (chronologically advanced HOPE’rs) and with our Small Group Ministries – as he writes all our curriculum. What a blessing Wayne is to HOPE Church!
