Wayne (Lead Pastor) & Ollie Okamoto

Wayne: B.S. in Biology from Penn State, MDiv. from Trinity, 19 yrs. on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (including 3 yrs. with Church Dynamics), 7 yrs. on staff with the Village Church of Gurnee, started Hope Community Church in 2004. Loves to run & eat, fish & eat, watch college football & eat, & eat.


Ollie: B.S. in Psychology from Georgia Southern, 21 yrs. on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (including 3 yrs. with Church Dynamics). Loves to be outside, garden, read, be with people, and experiment with cooking (did you ever have roasted kale chips?), and most of all, to play with my 3 beautiful grandchildren.


Children: Hannah, Christin, & Justin

 


“I’m excited to see God touch and change lives here at Hope! I’m also grateful for the wonderful community of people He has brought together. There is no greater joy than doing life together with people you love!”


Wayne Okamoto

wayne@go2hope.org


Jim & Cheryl Stewart (Worship Directors)

Jim and Cheryl both came to Christ at young ages and immediately began to answer the calls on their lives that would, by God’s wonderful grace, bring them together not only in ministry, but as husband and wife.


Before coming to Hope, Jim and Cheryl had both been involved in Christian work and music. Cheryl graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a major in music and Jim co-founded the group “Providence.”  For over 10 years, they held evangelistic concerts throughout the Midwest in a variety of concert venues, high schools, camps, and churches, as well as ministering to maximum security inmates at the Cook County Jail and leading worship weekly for the recruits at Great Lakes Naval Training Center.  They have been with Hope for 17 years and love to lead God's people in lifting up the name of Jesus in worship and praise.

Jim is also a Biblical Counselor. He has a heart for hurting people and is presently involved in counseling couples who are struggling in their marriage, folks dealing with depression, and men struggling with a variety of addictions.

They love pizza, Christmas, and trips to Door County (not necessarily in that order)!


Jim & Cheryl (jimathope@aol.com and Cheryl@go2hope.org)


Elder Board

Gary Grant, Head Elder             Travis Brown 

Brian Clements                           Mark Ingrum

Jim Stewart                                  Wayne Okamoto




Shepherds Team (adult small group leaders):


Brian & Karen Clements         Jim Stewart
Kelly & Beth Griffin                  Wayne & Ollie Okamoto         

Gary Grant


Ministry Leaders Team (leaders of specific ministries):

Beth Griffin (Discipleship)

Brian Clements (Financial Team)

Cheryl Stewart (Worship)

Jim Stewart & Mary Skelton (Prayer Ministry)

Jim Stewart (Men’s Ministry)

Dawn Grant (Welcome Ministry)

Karen Clements & Mellarie Now (Women's Ministry)

Lori Alcorn (Nursery/Preschool & Elementary)

Ollie Okamoto (Discipleship)

Wayne Okamoto (Small Groups | Discipleship)