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.

gabe cuomo
host team director

Gabe joined the Hope Church staff in January 2026, but his story here goes back much further. Having been part of Hope for over 20 years and serving with Hope Youth for more than a decade, this place has been home in every sense of the word.

Gabe always wanted to be a gym teacher... and today, he IS. That same energy and heart for students carry into everything he does. But even early on, he felt called to something deeper: walking with people as they learn to follow Jesus in a real, lived-out way.

Some of the biggest influences in Gabe’s life were people who didn’t just talk about Jesus - they lived it. They showed up, loved well, and made faith something you could actually see. That left a mark, and now Gabe carries that same heart. He’s passionate about helping others experience Jesus for themselves and learn how to build a life that flows from that relationship.

Whether he’s leading Host Teams, leading worship, or spending time with students, Gabe brings energy, authenticity, and a love for people that’s hard to miss. He genuinely enjoys what he does - being around people, building relationships, and creating spaces where others feel welcomed and seen.

Outside of church, you’ll usually find Gabe doing something active or competitive: kickboxing, playing sports, or watching a good game. He also loves movies, reading, and spending time with his big family (he’s the youngest of six).

For Gabe, this isn’t just a role - it’s a life he loves. And at the center of it all is a simple desire: to keep growing in his own relationship with Jesus and help others do the same.

BOARD OF ELDERS

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