ASHLEY & JAy SMITH

SENIOR PASTOR

God called Pastor Ashley to be Senior Pastor in March, 2022, after 3 years as Hope Church Corning Campus Pastor and over 10 years leading an executive ministry team in Pennsylvania.

Pastor Ashley and Jay are high school sweethearts who started dating in 2001 and were married in 2007. They have two children; and live in Wellsboro, PA. Jay works in manufacturing as an Operations Superintendent. They both met Jesus when they were dating in high school and are passionate about sharing his rhythms of grace, God’s goodness, and the Holy Spirit’s help. Both are Enneagram 1’s: Reformers, driven by a mission to help people become more of who they were created to be by connecting them to their Creator.

Besides spending quality time with her family, Pastor Ashley loves reading, kayaking, shopping at Maurice’s, supporting local restaurants on date nights with Jay, and coffee.​

THE TEAM

Jacques gakwaya
KIds & Youth Pastor

Jacques joined Hope staff in 2015. Prior to being on staff he was a part of inner city mission work in Pittsburgh. He has been the Hope Youth director since 2021. Jacques has always been passionate about people. He wants to see the next generation discover who God created them to be and find true freedom in Jesus. He believes all people belong in God’s family and are worthy of love, no matter your age or background.
Whitney is the Hope Preschool Director. She is passionate to see children be nurtured and grow into kind and independent adults. Whitney is amazing at hosting and is always looking for people and ways to connect them to others. She loves to use food and activities to create a comfortable environment for people to feel heard and at home.

Jacques and Whitney met at Hope church in 2011. They fell in love while on a long term team mission trip in Ghana, Africa in 2016. They got married in 2018 and now have 3 children. Both Jacques and Whitney experienced God in powerful ways during their teen years. They were both called individually by God to impact others who haven’t discovered Jesus overseas on the mission field and in their local church.

The Gakwayas love spending time with their kids, fun wrestling, travel adventures, time at the park, and simply being wild and free in their home. They also love date night, hosting people, and traveling as a couple to new places.
Jacques loves playing soccer, volleyball, and anything with fun activities! Whitney loves to hangout with other moms and enjoys cooking!
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noah schultes
Executive Pastor

Noah started working at Hope Church in the summer of 2015 after graduating from Corning Community College with an Associates in Engineering Science. He also attended Hope Christian Academy from Kindergarten through 8th grade before going to Corning High School.
Noah and Rachelle met at Hope Church, got married in 2018, and love adventures with their son. Rachelle is a full-time Nurse Practitioner. She comes from a legacy of family missionaries around the world, and Noah grew up going to Hope Church. He is passionate about the purpose that Jesus has given to him: to help others find and grow in their purpose connected to Jesus and to experience His freedom and grace in their lives.
Rachelle enthusiastically loves and cares for people with the same love that she has received from Jesus. She is a master at planning vacations, which is one of their favorite things to do. When they aren’t away they love drinking coffee, trying new food, hiking, backpacking, riding bikes, and going to fun events.

bishop harry jackson
founding pastor

Hope Church was pioneered by Bishop Harry Jackson in 1981. From our foundation we have always been a multicultural and multigenerational church that meets people right where they are. In 1988 Pastor Harry was led to move to Maryland to found Hope Christian Church, where he was an advisor to multiple Presidents of the United States. Hope Christian Church is currently led by his daughter, Bishop Michele Jackson.

Pastor david hackett
Retired pastor

In September of 1975, Jesus visited and saved both Pastor Dave and Debbie. They have served as Pastors in three churches since that time. Pastor Dave was the second pastor of Hope Church serving as Senior Pastor for 27 years from 1988-2015.
They have raised four children and have 8 grandchildren.
As a Pastor and a Teacher, Pastor Dave, has helped establish three Christian Schools, visited and taught overseas in several nations, and helped establish and oversee a unity movement among the churches of the Twin Tiers. His battle cry has been for unity in the church according to Jesus’ cry in John 17: That we might be one that the world might know the Father has sent the Son. The experiential knowledge of God in worship and prayer has been their life pursuit.
He and Debbie are currently delighting in seeing a second generation of young leaders press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus at Hope.

BOARD OF ELDERS

From left to right:
Jay Smith, Pastor Ashley Smith, Mary Gillis, Dawn Sutherlin, Pastor Noah Schultes, and Yannick Basabakwinshi