Staff

Stu Austin

Associate Pastor

Stu is proud to serve as New Hope’s associate pastor, overseeing pastoral care and outreach ministries.

Stu has served in Fort Myers since November of 2002 when he, Ethelanne, and their son Sean moved from Kansas City, Missouri. Stu and Ethelanne are graduates of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Stu also has an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a self confessed adrenalin junkie and has engaged in activities such as white water kayaking, serving as a Navy Chaplain with a Marine Artillery Battalion, sky diving, flying in an acrobatic bi-plane, and most recently, driving a NASCAR race car at the Richard Petty Driving experience. However, his most thrilling experience is seeing men and women identify their Kingdom roles and serve in their area of giftedness. Stu has a special burden for the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa.

Howard Biddulph

Assistant Pastor

Howard is passionate about transformation generated by contact with God’s Word. His role in Adult Christian Education is a natural fit, particularly after decades of university ministry and church planting in Bogota, Colombia. His 47 years in Latin America serve him well in the bi-cultural circumstances that typify New Hope with our host Brazilian congregation. Howard specializes in high handicap golf, and on his days off is often seen on Fort Myers Beach riding bikes or walking with his wife Jan. “Jani”, as he calls her, is a natural in women’s ministry, particularly in mentoring and discipleship.

Asbury Theological Seminary was the site of his graduate training where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree, following his A.B. in biology and chemistry at Asbury University.

Howard and Jan have 2 married daughters and 6 grandchildren ranging from 6 to 19 years of age, half of whom live in Uruguay, South America and the other half in Mansfield, Ohio.

Phil Chandler

Music Director

Phil earned his Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Alabama; his Master of Christian Education from Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi; and did further work toward a Masters in Choral Conducting, again at UA.

He married Jennifer, a piano major, in 1975, and they have five children: three older married daughters – from whom eight grandchildren as of January 2010 – and two more: Philip, a 2010 freshman at the University of Alabama; and Savannah, a 2010 sophomore at Fort Myers High School.

Phil enjoys reading theology, Civil War history and detective stories. He loves Alabama football.

Andy Cornett

Assistant Pastor: Student Ministries

Though he can talk your ear off about most things, Andy doesn’t really say too much about himself. His aim is to passionately love God and love people. He has a wonderful family of five (married to Robin and they have three kids). He loves to cook (and eat), read books, and be outdoors (and if you’ve been to the Cornett house, you know it reflects those priorities). He’s been in student ministry since 1997, and with the New Hope crowd since 2001. He completed his Master of Divinity degree through Fuller seminary in the fall of 2009; in the fall of 2010 he was ordained as a pastor in New Wineskins/EPC. You can most likely find him at local coffeehouses, the New Hope office, at home, or out and about with students. He loves people, so his door (or phone or email) is always open if you want to get together.

Krissy Bashor

Assistant Director: Student Ministries

Krissy has been with the New Hope crowd since January of 2003. She loves working with students, helping with the Contemporary worship service, and helping to plan and organize events for people of all ages to enjoy, especially students. The two highlights of her ministry year are the annual middle school mission trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee and the annual Middle School Fall Retreat.

You will often find Krissy at a local coffee house doing work while listening to the David Crowder Band, grabbing breakfast with students before school, or running around working on media and sound around New Hope. Krissy loves to get together to chat about life and faith, so give her a call and grab some coffee or a meal with her sometime!

Jeannie McGalliard

Director: Women in Ministry

Jeannie is a charter member of New Hope where she has been actively participating in the Well and New Hope Choir and has served as Director of Women’s ministry since 2010. Her educational background is a degree in Nursing from Missouri Baptist Hospital, St Louis, Missouri, but her passion has been to be involved in Women’s ministries and Bible study. She brings professional administrative and leadership experience to the Directors position, as well as years of volunteer service in church ministries. Her personal commitment is to work for the spiritual growth, development and support of the women of New Hope while acknowledging it is God who will provide the skill and ability to complete the task.

Jeannie and her husband, Mike, came to Fort Myers in 2006 so they could enjoy being close to their children and grandchildren. Other than family activities, she also enjoys bike riding, walking, bird watching and anything outdoors.

Debbie Norris

Director: Children’s Ministry

Debbie Norris has served this church family since 1996—enough time to see God work in the lives of the children and adults who are regularly involved in ministry. It is an incredible privilege to see kids put their faith in Jesus and to see people of all ages grow as they step out in faith to serve. Her desire is that all children can see themselves as “world changers” as they live out an everyday faith in Jesus.

Her formal education includes degrees from FSU and FGCU, but nothing compares to the experience of growing with her girls, Jessica and Stephanie. Husband, Lee has a real estate appraisal firm and is a dedicated softball coach and dad. As a family, their favorite pastimes include travel, family nights, watching the girls’ sports, and enjoying holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Pam Poland

Director: Early Childhood

Pam Poland has been serving at our church since 2006 and feels this is what God has been preparing her to do all along. She enjoys growing in friendship with the parents and children. “It is such a joy to serve God in this way, I hope each child who visits our nursery goes home knowing they are loved at church and that church is a happy place to be learning about how much Jesus loves them.”

When Pam is not at work she enjoys being with her family, husband Paul, and teenage son Eric. They stay pretty busy with Eric’s sports schedule, but when they get some down time they enjoy walking on the beach or just chillin’ in front of the tv watching movies and sports. Paul and Pam met at Ohio State over 20 years ago and they all love cheering on the Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Reds each season. She also likes cooking, watching Eric play tennis and baseball, and reading.

Jim Parkinson

Director: Contemporary Music

Jim discovered a passion for leading worship during his service as Youth Director at Greenwood Community Church in Warwick, Rhode Island. During this time, he served as Worship Leader for various student ministry events, including Group Publishing – Group Workcamps programs throughout the United States and Canada.

Jim relocated to Fort Myers during the summer of 2004 along with his wife Betty and their three sons David, Jeffery and Daniel.

He served as Director of Contemporary Worship at Covenant Presbyterian Church from January 2006-March 2008. Now, New Hope Presbyterian is thrilled to have him on board as our contemporary worship leader!

Claire Faasse

Organist

Claire Marie Faasse began playing in church at age 16 and hasn’t stopped since! Leading the congregation’s song and playing to the glory of God is her passion. She also enjoys promoting the cause of good organ music through accompanying choral productions and playing recitals in the community. She has served in Reformed and Presbyterian churches in New Jersey and Florida as organist and music director and has been a teacher of piano, organ and theory. Claire has played the historic pipe organs in the cathedrals of Paris and the Netherlands and holds diplomas in organ performance form Trinity College of Music, London. She and her husband, Jake, a retired educator, New Hope Elder and Clerk of Session, have two daughters and a son-in-law who attend New Hope and serve in education in Lee County.

Trish Emler

Office Manager

Trish Emler has been involved in many aspects of office administration for over twenty years. She loves using the specific administrative gifts and abilities God has given her for the furtherance of his kingdom. Though mostly raised in California, she has also lived in New York, Washington, Colorado, and Kansas, where she met her husband Claude. They have been married for over 30 years and have lived in Cape Coral since 1984. They have three grown children, all of whom live here locally.

Cecilia Drake

Administration

Cecilia is a Naples native with a degree in Marketing from the University of Denver. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading the Bible, and going to the beach with her husband, Ted, and their two German Shepherds. She has been a Church Ministry Assistant for since 1997, and her passion is to serve God and His people. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Kathy Lansberry

Administration

Kathy has worked as a church administrative assistant since 1987. She and her husband moved to Fort Myers for the first time in 2001. Her husband, Rick, is a pastor and was called back to their home church in New Jersey in 2006. Her husband recently retired and they once again live in beautiful Fort Myers. She and Rick enjoy walking, kayaking and going to the beach. Her favorite Scripture is Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Serving the Lord by serving His people is her passion. Rick and Kathy have two children – one in New Jersey and one in Florida, as well as two granddaughters.

Marilyn Frayer

Finance

Marilyn earned a BA in Elementary Education at The University of Michigan and a MS in International Business and Accounting at Kansas State University.

Marilyn and her husband, Jack, moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Fort Myers in 1979 and have belonged to the New Hope family since then. Until their retirement, they operated a travel agent training school and two travel agencies here in Fort Myers.

Marilyn loves the Lord with deep passion and strives to serve Him however called in thanksgiving for His many wondrous gifts.

Terry Bower

Lay Pastor

Terry was commissioned as a Lay Pastor on October 31, 2010. His heart is in ministry to small and rural churches. His role at New Hope is to assist the staff in any ministry area where his talents might be of use, as he prepares for the day he receives a call.

Terry has been with New Hope from her beginning, serving as an Elder and participating on several councils. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and is Vice President and Portfolio Manager with FineMark National Bank and Trust in Fort Myers. He is a graduate of Michigan Technological University, with Masters work at Michigan State. He prepared for the Lay Pastor role through Dubuque Theological Seminary.

Terry and his wife Vicki are both from the Detroit area but call Kansas City home, as they spent 18 years there and raised their two daughters, Allisyn and Erica. They moved to Fort Myers in 1999 and have been part of our congregation since that time.

David Weinman

Missions

David helps coordinate and focus the local and world missions involvement of New Hope. David has been with this church crowd since 2003, when he and his family moved here from Arizona to send and support missionaries with New Mission Systems International. A good part of his life/ministry has been engaged with high school students – with the Mennonite Central Committee in East Africa, and with Young Life and church groups in the States. Kids keep one clever, or so he claims. Privileged to have seen the face of Christ on people in the church worldwide, David is passionate about inviting these brothers and sisters to speak into our lives here. David is a Whitworth University graduate and has a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller seminary.

Robin Cornett

Webmaster

Robin serves as New Hope’s volunteer webmaster. She and her husband Andy have lived in Fort Myers since 2001, when they moved here with their first child. Since then, they’ve had two more children, and Robin’s favorite job is raising them. She is a photographer by trade, but enjoys working on web design, too. She’s an excellent baker, but leaves the real cooking to Andy.

Ed Harger

Facilities/Maintenance

We are thankful to have Ed in charge of our facilities at New Hope. He’s a long time native of Cape Coral; he and Celeste are happily married and have three grown children and four grandchildren. He serves with the puppet ministry at McGregor Baptist and has helped with their preschool for many years. He is also an avid gardener! His humble spirit and gentle heart are a pleasure to have on our staff.

Jay C. Laird

Facilities/Maintenance

Jay C., a southwest Florida native, is our Sunday morning powerhouse, making sure that the coffee is hot and that our facilities run smoothly. He went to high school in North Fort Myers, and then on to the Marines. Currently, he works full time at Southwest Regional Airport, in addition to his service on Sunday mornings. He has a heart for hard work and mission trips, having gone once to Nicaragua with our church, and twice to the Dominican Republic.