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Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
This page is currently under construction. Thank you for your patience during the update process.
Click on the thumbnail images to read more about each staff member.
Eddie has served as Pastor of New Hope since April 2013. Eddie and his wife, Roxanne, arrived in Fort Myers from their previous ministries in Gastonia, NC and Lakeland, FL with an unwavering desire to love and serve those people whom God places along their path.
Eddie received a Bachelor degree from Erskine College followed by a Master of Theology degree in 1989 from Erskine Seminary. He continues to be an avid student of God’s Word and reformed thought. He is a gifted teacher and preacher focusing messages from the Scriptures on evangelism, discipleship, and a living a life with Jesus Christ. Eddie and Roxanne have three children: Robert, Andrew (and his wife Olivia), and Rachel. He is passionate about golf, basketball, and reading. Light-hearted fun follows him as does a smile and warm handshake.
Eddie’s blog page can be found at: Kingdom Calling
Stu is grateful for the privilege to serve as New Hope's associate pastor, overseeing pastoral care, the Board of Deacons and the Stephen Ministry. Stu has served at the University Reformed Church in East Lansing, MI, Gashland Presbyterian in Kansas City, MO and has served in Fort Myers since November of 2002. Stu is a graduate of Boston College and he and his wife Ethelanne are both graduates of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Stu also has an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and was a commissioned officer with U.S. Navy, serving as a Chaplain. He has a love for adventure such as white water kayaking, scuba diving, sky diving, motorcycle riding and mountain climbing. Stu’s most memorable experience was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his son Sean. However, his most thrilling experience is seeing men and women come to a saving knowledge of the love and forgiveness offered by Jesus.
Brad joined the staff of New Hope in January 2013. He has a BA in Music and a BS in Bible from Philadelphia College of Bible (Cairn University) and a MRE in Christian education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Since seminary, Brad has owned 2 businesses and served in various capacities with 3 other congregations.
Brad and his wife, Darlene, have been Florida residents since 1995. They have 2 grown children and one fluffy dog. In addition to working with the church’s finances, he enjoys teaching Sunday adult classes, Wednesday evening financial classes, substituting when needed at the organ for traditional worship, and on occasion taking a long walk on the beach.
Daniel is absolutely floored that he gets to do his dream job every day! He has a passion for connecting people with their role in God's ever-expanding kingdom and finding their place in a global church. Daniel will join our New Hope family in August of 2017. He has worked with at-risk youth and in International Christian schools overseas.
Daniel met his wife, Victoria, while they were both attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. They were married in 2010 and have since added two boys and a Wheaton Terrier that keep them VERY busy! Daniel enjoys traveling, reading, connecting with people over coffee, playing nerdy board games, going on family walks and doing all the voices during story time. Daniel traveled to 19 countries on his last passport and is actively trying to top it!
Benjamin Ball is the Director of Traditional Music and Organist at New Hope Presbyterian Church. In addition to planning traditional worship services, he directs the adult Sanctuary Choir, the Rejoice! Children’s Choir), the Kingdom Ringers Children’s Chime-Bell Choir (grades 3 through 5), and co-directs the adult handbell choir with his wife, Kathryn. Additionally, he directs the children’s musicals, works with the preschool children to teach them Bible songs and the basics of rhythm through color-coded handchimes, and is working towards establishing an Orff percussion ensemble for early elementary grades and will be working to formulate a youth choir and bell program over the next several years. He has served churches in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia before coming to Fort Myers.
Ben earned a Master of Music degree in church music (with a dual major emphasis in organ performance and choral conducting) from Shenandoah University—Conservatory of Music—in Winchester, Virginia, where he studied organ with Dr. Steven Cooksey and was a recipient of the Cooksey-Parker Excellence in Organ Award. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in church music from Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia. While he was still a student in high school, he studied voice with Dr. Melissa Sumner, and participated in opera and opera-theatre performances at both the University of Virginia and Mary Baldwin College. As a vocal soloist, he has sung the bass-baritone solos for many large choral oratorios and festival works for both community and semi-professional choirs. During graduate school, he studied voice performance under tenor Michael Forest of the Metropolitan Opera. He has a special interest in the German art songs (Lieder) of Franz Schubert.
In addition to his church duties, he teaches private music lessons (piano, voice, organ, and music theory). Previously, he served as an instructor of music at Mr. Music Store (Fort Myers, Florida), Saint James College Preparatory School (Hagerstown, Maryland), Cumberland Valley School of Music (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania), Valley Music Academy (Waynesboro, Virginia), and in his own private teaching studio. He serves as editor-publisher of the monthly newsletter of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Ben completed studies towards professional piano tuning/technician certification to both finely develop his musical ear and just simply as a relaxing hobby. Active as a composer, he has written and/or arranged pieces which span a large spectrum of needs within the church music community. These include, but are not limited to: collections of short choral responses, hymns, works for solo organ, handbells, and full (“stand-alone”) anthems for both large and small choirs at various levels of ability. He and his wife, Kathryn (also a degreed church musician), have two daughters. In his spare time, Ben enjoys spending time with his family, reading, woodworking and gardening...and going to the beach!
Kevin holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in Music/Music Business and Management from Old Dominion University. He also studied music at Shenadoah Conservatory of Music and other colleges. He moved with his family to Fort Myers in the summer of 2013 from Tennessee where he was the Assistant Music Director and Contemporary Worship leader for his church. He is also a past television producer/writer/on-air personality for networks including TNN, ESPN and Speed channel, is still involved in television and is a published author.
He married Danielle, a certified personal and fitness trainer, in 1992, and they have three children; twins Kailee and Kasside and their son Keaton who love being a part of youth programs and worship! His entire family has musical gifts and they have shared them in worships and other programs whenever possible. A former touring musician and musical director for U.S.O. Celebrity Tours, Kevin has a passion for music in worship which began for him as a teenager. He also enjoys working with youth and musicians of all ages who have a desire but maybe not the experience, yet, to be a part of a worship group. He believes that there are people with God given musical gifts who may not have been offered the right opportunities to nurture and share those talents and that it is an important mission to seek them out and help them grow. Kevin’s musical skills include writing and arranging music as well as being a vocalist, guitarist, pianist, bass player and percussionist.
Jim began serving students and families at New Hope in February of 2013. Jim and his wife, Stephanie, along with their two young children, Rebecca and Matthew, love living in Florida and are proud to be a part of New Hope. Jim and Stephanie are both graduates of Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where Jim studied Christian Education. Jim has led student ministries for more than 10 years in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Jim enjoys youth group as much as the students do. He loves to have fun and adds humor and energy to our student ministry. Jim is thankful that his job includes leading trips, cheering students at sports games, or giving a listening ear to a hurting parent or teen. More than anything, Jim wants to see students fall in love with Jesus and His Word. He’s convinced that adolescence is the most critical stage in life; a season of incredible physical, emotional social and spiritual development. Every week, Jim gets to work alongside awesome adult leaders to help boys and girls become young men and women who love God with their whole heart and serve others.
Ronni graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana in May of 2015, and immediately began serving at New Hope. She received her BS in Professional Writing while double minoring in Christian Education and Youth Ministry.
God has orchestrated Ronni’s plans in ways that she could not have imagined, but she can attest His plans are much better than her own. Ronni’s passion for students, and her belief that adolescence is a critical stage for students, fuels her desire to aid the development of their spiritual walk. Ronni is excited to provide a nurturing and safe atmosphere for students to feel loved and supported in the midst of transition, and she hopes to be able to show how the Bible is just as “living and active” now as it was when it was written. Ronni loves to sing, write, play euchre, and cheer on her Indiana teams: the Colts, the Pacers, and the Hoosiers. Although a “coffee cheater,” Ronni loves to get to know others over a cup of coffee or a meal. Ronni is so excited to be a part of the New Hope community, and can’t wait to see how God continues to work in and through this church.
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 be "world changers" as they live out an everyday faith in Jesus.
Her formal education includes interior design and early childhood degrees from FSU and FGCU, but nothing compares to the life experience of learning to follow Jesus. Family includes husband, Lee who owns a real estate appraisal firm, their 20-something daughters: Jessica who graduated college and works in advertising in NYC, and Stephanie who is in college studying health care. As a family, their favorite pastimes include family movie nights, dinner for the girls’ friends, Escape Rooms, travel, and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Debbie is often running around on Sundays but would dearly love the opportunity to get together with you over coffee at Menchie’s or Starbucks. She loves people and would enjoy helping you connect with this awesome church family at New Hope.
When Pam is not working she relaxes by reading, cooking and watching sports with her husband Paul. Paul and Pam met at Ohio State about 30 years ago and they love cheering on the Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Reds each season. They have one son Eric who attends Wagner College, Staten Island NY. They enjoy visiting him, watching him play on the Wagner Mens College Tennis Team, and trying new restaurants in NYC.
Cecilia is a Florida native with a degree in Marketing from the University of Denver. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, and going to the beach with her husband, Ted, and their three German Shepherds. Cecilia has been a Church Administrative Assistant 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."
Sharon joined the administrative staff in 2015, where she considers it pure joy to do “Kingdom” work that supports the ministries of New Hope.
Sharon grew up in Ohio and attended Capital University where she received a BA in art education. She has two sons, Justin and Sterling and a daughter, Katie. Sharon has a passion for worship and believes it is our primary purpose. In addition, she loves to watch sports, especially football. She also enjoys music, cooking, biking, reading, doing crafts and walking her three dogs. One of her favorite scripture verses is Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be given you."
Wayne and his family have been part of this community for three decades, and he brings a dozen years experience in accounting and bookkeeping, in addition to previously owning a direct mail postcard marketing company. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Philadelphia College of Bible and a Master of Arts degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Currently, Wayne serves as an elder at Trinity Reformed Church in Cape Coral where he teaches the catechism and adult Sunday school classes. He is in the process of becoming licensed to preach. His wife, Denise, also serves Trinity in various capacities while their three children serve as worship accompanists by playing piano. In his spare time, Wayne transcribes sermons and conferences, plays the guitar, reads books by deceased Reformed theologians, and keeps up with Internet and web technologies.
Michelle joined the New Hope staff in 2016 as the Connections Coordinator and is excited to serve God in this capacity. She is passionate about loving people, spending time getting to know others, and supporting them in discovering their place in our church family. Helping people recognize their spiritual gifts and how their unique personalities can draw others to Christ is something Michelle loves to facilitate.
Michelle attended Palm Beach Atlantic University, taught elementary school for several years, and has also worked as a freelance writer for several publications. First arriving at New Hope via the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program in 2009, Michelle eventually became the coordinator and loved working with moms and their families. She continues to frequently speak to Mom's Groups and women about parenting and family topics.
Married to Mark, they share a desire to help families thrive and experience spiritual growth through involvement with the local church. Along with their 4 children: Olivia, Griffin, Ainsley & Adelynn, they enjoy serving in local mission & service projects, family vacations, and cheering on the Florida Gators!
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.
