INTERVIEW WITH TIMOTHY ATOLAGBE

How long have you been attending New Hope?
This weekend (April 26) makes it exactly 20 years since I have been part of the body of Christ previously called Laurel Adventist Church, now known as New Hope.

As the leader of the lay pastors, what is ministry goal?
To assist our pastors in the nurturing and discipling our church family members and regular attenders. This includes teaching or leading various classes or ministry subgroups, baptismal preparation, counseling, prayer, and all other aspects of our church family life.


What do the lay pastors do at New Hope?
Lay pastors serve our congregation visibly during services and behind the scene during the week. During our services, there are lay pastors assigned to pray with the worship teams, pastors and the various ministry groups, welcome worship participants, serve the congregation during communion celebrations, and baby dedications. During the past four years, our lay pastors ministered to our church family members in subgroups called parishes.

Birthdays, anniversaries, births, sicknesses and all other life events in the life each parish member are ministry opportunities for the lay pastor.


Are you looking for more lay pastors?
YES! a congregation our size needs at least 25 lay pastors to effectively serve our church family. Work related travel, relocation out of the area are some of the reasons why we have lost some of our highly committed lay pastors.

What are you looking for in a lay pastor?
A desire to serve God's people, a personal commitment to a journey of growing in Christ, and a willingness to order personal schedules in order to be available to serve others.

How has New Hope changed since you became a member of the church?
Wow! Looking at our church family today makes me render praise to God for the faithful "longtimers" at New Hope. When I became a member when there were less than 12 actively attending young adults, the children's' division all met in two or three small classrooms, and I knew more than 85 percent of the membership by name. It was easy to tell who was absent, and the median membership age was in the upper 50s.

What is your vision for the church?
That our church family members and attenders will radiate warmly with the radical love and passionate commitment to Jesus Christ like new testament church at Pentecost.