PAUL SORENSEN
LEAD PASTOR

pauls@hopechurch.me

Pastor Paul has served in ministry leadership for the past 32 years. He currently leads Hope Church and is also faculty in the School of Theology at Grand Canyon University. Early in his career, Paul led a national touring Christian rock band, organized youth leadership training seminars, college and young adult retreats, youth conferences and trained international mission teams.

As Executive and Lead Pastor of Community Church of Joy (1987-2008), Paul helped launch a variety of innovative ventures, including the small group and new member assimilation ministries, the relocation of Joy’s campus, Bison Ranch Retreat Center, Joy Christian School, and the national Church Coach Network.

Paul attended St. Olaf College (music major), and graduated from Metropolitan State University (B.A. with business emphasis) and Luther Theological Seminary (M.Div.). In 2004 he received his Ph.D. in leadership from Capella University, with a certification in non-profit management. His doctoral research focused on the impact of entrepreneurial leadership in sustaining congregational growth and vitality.

Paul loves to travel, hang out with friends, learn new stuff, exercise, and spend time with Carol, his wife of 37 years, and his three children David , Nathan, and April.

AARON WHITESELL
HOPE YOUTH MINISTRY LEADER

aaron@hopechurch.me

Aaron joined the Hope team in 2018 as an Intern and is now our leading the Youth Ministry. Aaron was born and raised in Texas and came to know Jesus in high school. Since then, he desires to serve Him in every area of his life. This desire led him to Eternity Bible College in California, where he met his wife Alyssa. He is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies. 

Over the past seven years, Aaron has either had involvement in or led various student ministries. He has a heart to serve students and families in Phoenix while helping them understand God’s love for them and their new identity in Christ.

Aaron and his wife Alyssa were married in 2015 and are parents to an orange tabby cat named Figaro. In their free time they enjoy hiking, exploring new places, watching movies, and reading. Aaron is also passionate about video games and the gaming community. He enjoys coffee and works part-time at Starbucks.

Aaron is looking forward to getting to doing life with the students and families at Hope Church!

LILLIAN TOVAR
COMMUNICATIONS & OFFICE MANAGER

lillian@hopechurch.me

Lillian is originally from Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Human Resource Management.

She has been married to her husband, Ivan, for 15 years, and they share two kids, Tristan & Brooke, and have a 3-year-old Cavachon named Koufax!

Lillian enjoys traveling, camping, and going out to eat in restaurants around the neighborhood. She currently works as an office manager with her husband, a dentist, and helps coordinate weddings for Hope Barn & Gardens.

AUSTIN SCHLEIER
HOPE YOUTH JUNIOR HIGH LEADER

austin@hopechurch.me

Austin is a Phoenix native and graduated from Centennial High School. Since middle school, Austin has been attending Hope Church and has watched Hope grow over the years. He was actively involved in the youth group through high school, which led him to begin living in a relationship with Jesus.

He graduated from Arizona Christian University with a Bachelor's in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Christian Ministry and a minor in Biblical Studies. He was also a colligate football player for four years at ACU.

Austin has been doing youth ministry since 2016. He began reaching students through Young Life (where Austin met his wife Elisa) as a leader for a few years in college. Austin joined Hope Church's staff team in 2019 as an intern for youth ministry and joined the high school youth ministry team with Aaron Whitesell during his internship time. Since then, he has launched Hope Youth Junior High and loves connecting with middle school students.

Austin got married on Valentine's Day 2021 to his wonderful wife Elisa at Hope, and together, they help lead the high school youth with Aaron. They love to watch Marvel movies, make new friends, travel, and enjoy being a family who loves and shares Jesus. Austin also works part-time as a barista at Dutch Bros. Coffee in West Glendale and is always up for a good conversation over coffee or a solid adventure!

JESSICA HANSEN
HOPE KIDS MINISTRY LEADER

jessica@hopechurch.me

Jessica is an Arizona native who has been part of the Hope family since 2009. Over the years, she has served on the Summer Team and in worship before having the incredible opportunity to serve the children and families of Hope as our Hope Kids leader.

Jessica graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in elementary education specializing in arts integration and has taught everything from preschool to middle school science. Most recently, she was an instructional coach helping to support teachers through collaborative partnerships.

She met her husband, Brian, at Hope, and they are proud parents to their beloved daughter, Johanna. They still love their 100 lb. fluffball, Murphy, even though he's not the center of attention anymore. A few of her favorite things are AJ's iced teas, office supplies, college football (Go Blue!), and being in a state of maximum coziness at all times. If it has anything to do with the arts — from hand lettering to improv — she'll be there!

RYAN MOORE
INTERIM ASSISTANT PASTOR

ryan@hopechurch.me

Ryan joined the Hope Church staff with 22 years of church ministry experience.

He and his wife, Alyson, have been married for 23 years and have survived countless games of “Turn the lights off” as they raise their awesome kids, Alyza (18) and Ryson (11).

Ryan loves seeing people live out their God given mission in life and is excited that Hope is all about seeing families live on mission. 

DAVIN BROWN
TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR

Davin Brown joined the team in August 2020. He was raised in Southern California and started his college journey at Grand Canyon University in 2018.

Davin has served alongside his parents doing worship ministry since he was young, which flared his passion and career interest in new technology.

He plans to travel after he graduates and become an audio technical engineer for venues, churches, and theatrical performances.

Davin loves to make people smile and go on last minute adventures. He is a diligent learner who gives all glory and honor to the Lord!

JANINE WINCHESTER
HOPE BARN & GARDENS EVENT MANAGER

janine@hopebarnandgardens.com

Janine was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Florida. She moved to Arizona with her family right after she graduated from high school.

Janine married her husband, Michael, 28 years ago. They share two grown children, Jonah and Presley.

Janine works as the Event Manager for Hope Barn and Gardens. Her favorite part of her job is the strong relationships she forms with the brides and grooms who get married at Hope. Developing strong relationships, both professionally and personally, is the foundation of everything she does.

Janine loves to travel, meet new people, and spend time with her family. She also loves to serve on the Children’s Team at Hope!

Jesus Christ is the center of our community, and we believe Jesus is the hope for our lives and for the entire world. 

God created the universe. God is loving, compassionate, just and kind. His deepest desire is to live in an intimate relationship with you and all people.

There is a Triune God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge one God in these three persons.

God became human. This is because of His desire to live in a relationship with us. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is fully God and fully man. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made it possible for all people to live in a relationship with God. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through Him and Him alone can people enter into a relationship with God. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus Christ among us. Through Him God loves us, empowers us and lives in us. The Spirit gives gifts to all believers. We believe in all the gifts of the Spirit and encourage their use.

The Bible is the Word of God. Through it, God reveals Himself to us. The entire Bible is God-breathed and God-inspired. The Old and New Testaments are the norm and guide upon which we base our faith. The Bible is our text and the Holy Spirit ignites our lives through worship and prayer.

The Church is the body of Christ. As His Body, we are called to worship Him, serve Him and be the vehicle through which the Good News is shared with the world.

Lutheran Confessions are part of our DNA. We affirm and identify with the confessions of the Lutheran Church. We affirm the centrality of grace alone, faith alone, and Word alone.

Baptism is more than a sacrament, it's a powerful command we want to uphold. We believe that through the waters of Baptism, God comes to us to adopt us as His children. Through Baptism, God gives the gift of new life. We affirm the baptism of infants and adults.

Communion is a holy sacrament we practice regularly. We believe that through the Lord's Supper, God comes to love us and forgive us. It is a meal of renewal. Jesus is really present in the meal.

Humans have dignity. We believe in the worth and value of every human being. Because they're created in God's image, humans have dignity. Their worth is dependent not on accomplishments, but on God's love. Because God sees humanity as worth dying for, we affirm and acknowledge the dignity of all humans.

Sin separates humanity from God. We believe sin is more than just behavior, it is a condition of the heart that every human faces. We joyfully proclaim the Good News that because of Jesus Christ, forgiveness and freedom are possible. It is that forgiveness that restores fallen humanity's worth.

Jesus will come again, and we anticipate His return. Though we don't know the day or hour, we joyfully proclaim His soon return to inspire all people to make the most of life today.

Rob & Debbie Sutter

Rob and Debbie Sutter have been part of the Hope Church family for three years. When they moved to Arizona after raising their family in California, Rob and Debbie sought a welcoming, friendly church that wasn’t too big and felt like family. Their son, who already lived in Phoenix, found Hope and invited his parents to join him. Rob and Debbie quickly felt right at home — and they wasted no time getting involved!

Rob serves on the Hope Board and the Hospitality Team and preaches at Hope. Even while working as an orthodontist in California, Rob helped in various capacities as a teacher, board member at his kids’ school, and an elder at his church. Rob knew that when he and Debbie found a home church in Arizona, he wanted to serve similarly. Though Rob never expected to fall in love with preaching, he has found that he really enjoys it. He is also grateful to be able to use his prior board experience to share wisdom and discernment with the Hope Board.

Brad & Betsy Allen

If you’ve ever attended a Sunday worship celebration at Hope, you’ve probably had the distinct pleasure of meeting Brad and Betsy Allen. They have been part of the Hope family since it started — and long before that, too!

Brad and Betsy were part of the team that helped move Paul and Carol into their apartment during Paul’s internship with Community Church of Joy in 1987, and they have been friends ever since. Be sure to ask them to tell you the full story about the move sometime (if you’re wondering… it involves pouring rain and squeezing an oversized couch through a window).

After reminiscing on decades of memories, Betsy said, “We go so far back that we consider Paul, Carol, David, Nathan, and April part of the family.”

When Paul had the vision to start Hope Church in 2009, Brad and Betsy were among the first to know about it. When he asked them to consider being part of Hope’s Core Team, there was no question — Brad and Betsy were in! Brad recalls saying, “What took you so long? We would have joined you years ago!”

The Marty Family

We started the Growing Families Community after growing our own family and sensing a need for friends in a similar season of life. We wanted to provide a space for young families to support each other while building their families with a strong foundation on the Lord. In our group, we’ve witnessed the power of prayer after seeing God miraculously bless families with babies. We’ve also seen the power of community by providing meals to each other after bringing babies home from the hospital and while sharing in the joyful chaos and messiness of life with kids.

Ryen Gabuya

Something you’ll quickly learn about Ryen? He’s authentic, driven, and committed to his faith journey. And that journey hasn’t been without its twists and turns. When asked about how he came to Hope Church, Ryen’s story is one of gradual growth, stepping out of his comfort zone, and finding a deeper sense of purpose.

Ryen shared, “I moved here from Southern California about five years ago. At first, my mom kept inviting me to go to church with her, and I resisted. But during high school, my views started to change. I realized there’s more to life than just sports, school, or friends. There’s a bigger purpose, and that purpose comes from God.”

Dave & Gayla Jensen

Dave and Gayla Jensen have been with Hope since its very beginning. The impact of their steadfast service can be seen throughout the church — from the children in Hope Kids to the trees planted around campus!

Dave and Gayla have been married for 31 years. The two met in a singles group when they attended Community Church of Joy, where they met Pastor Paul. Their love began to blossom after they went on a mission trip with their group to Mexico, and they were married not too long after by Paul!

When Paul felt called to start Hope, Dave and Gayla faithfully followed. “We really liked the idea of his vision,” Gayla said. “He’s always seen opportunity in the growing Northern Valley (Norterra) to have a church there that can connect with the community.”

Casey Howard

Something you’ll learn about Casey Howard after getting to know her? Casey is steady, reliable, and consistent. And, to no surprise, consistency was a big topic of conversation when asked about her involvement with Hope over the past six years… and the astronomical growth of the junior high ministry.

Casey said, “In the beginning, three kids came to our Wednesday groups. We continued to trust the Lord and stayed consistent, which attracted both kids and leaders. Austin has invested so much in us. We have formed a close bond and experience life together regularly. It makes it easy for others to want to be a part of it, too.”

The Mayer Family

Luke and Livia Mayer have been attending Hope Church since last summer after connecting with Pastor Paul at Grand Canyon University… not once, but twice!

In August 2022, Luke, who is a professor at GCU, met Paul at a faculty event. At the time, Livia, who is from Switzerland, was in the middle of a long, drawn-out process of obtaining her student visa to study at GCU. Luke said, “Paul said he would pray for Livia’s paperwork to come through.” Livia almost wasn’t able to start school in the fall, but then, at the last minute, their prayers were answered… her paperwork came through, and she could start classes!

The Sawyer Family

Michael and Brittany Sawyer met while leading Norterra Canyon Wyldlife in 2014. They got married in 2019 and have since faithfully served at Hope Church in several ministries. This last year, they welcomed their daughter, Ember, into the Hope Family!

While attending college in Santa Barbara, Michael was introduced to Hope Church by becoming a member of Summer Team. He joined the team his freshman summer in 2011 and again for his next summer break. Michael’s favorite memory from Summer Team and his early involvement at Hope was getting to lead youth like Austin Schleier and Davilyn McArthur who are now in roles of leadership at Hope.

Carlo Dimalanta

“Through Summer Team, I’ve been able to grow and stretch in ways that will impact my life forever. The relationships that I have grown with my peers and students are so real and authentic, and it’s all because of God’s work in the middle of it all. God has done amazing things during my time on Summer Team, and I firmly believe that I’m going to see his work be done even beyond the summer, and that’s something I’m really excited about.”