teaching transition

After 20 years of ministry at Living Hope, Gib shared with the elders his desire to step away from the lead pastor role to pursue God’s calling towards a new career path. The elders respect his decision and are deeply grateful for the years he has invested in the life and ministry of our church.

Gib feels led by the Lord to move into marketplace ministry. In early 2027, he will begin transitioning into a role with a company in Nashville, TN to pursue that calling. This decision is not a reflection of dissatisfaction with his role or his years of ministry here. Rather than simply leaving something behind, Gib believes God is calling him toward a new vocational opportunity and season of service.

No. On August 4, Gib told the elders that he desired to step away from his role. This transition began with his decision, and the elders have worked with him to provide a clear and thoughtful path forward.

Gib will continue in his current role through December 31, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2027, he will step back from day-to-day responsibilities and leadership. From January through May, he will teach on a part-time schedule, concluding his time as a regular teacher at Living Hope sometime in late spring or early summer.

His spring preaching schedule will provide continuity for the church while the teaching team begins its work. It also gives the Living Hope body time to express gratitude and bring this long season of ministry to a meaningful conclusion.

Living Hope will communicate opportunities to thank Gib and his family as his time as lead pastor draws to a conclusion. We want to honor his two decades of ministry with genuine gratitude while also respecting the family's transition into a new season.

Living Hope will continue to be led by its elders, who are selected by the church body and entrusted with the overall direction and spiritual oversight of the church. That commitment to a plurality of leadership has been part of Living Hope since its founding and will not change.

Rather than place the primary teaching responsibility on one lead pastor, Living Hope is moving to a team-teaching model. This approach extends the church's longstanding commitment to shared leadership into the pulpit.

The Interim Executive Pastor will lead the staff's day-to-day work in concert with the elders. The elders will continue to provide oversight and direction, while the Interim Executive Pastor will help carry that direction into the staff's daily ministry and operations.

The elders oversee the church's doctrine, direction, and spiritual care. Staff leaders guide the church's day-to-day ministries and operations. Teaching pastors carry significant responsibility for preaching and teaching. These responsibilities support one another, but no teaching pastor will replace the collective leadership of the elders.

No. The church's mission and biblical convictions remain the same. This is a change in how preaching responsibilities are shared, not a change in what Living Hope believes or the work God has called our church to do.

A teaching team reflects the same principle of plurality that shapes Living Hope's elder leadership and ministries. It allows the church to benefit from the gifts and perspectives of several faithful teachers, distributes the demands of weekly preaching, and strengthens long-term continuity.

Cole Huffman and Derek Hall will serve as teaching pastors. Living Hope will also conduct a search for a third teaching pastor to complete the team.

No. Cole and Derek are confirmed members of Living Hope's teaching-pastor team. They are not serving merely as interim preachers while the church searches for someone to replace Gib.

No. The goal is not to reproduce the lead-pastor model with a different person. Cole, Derek, and the teaching pastor selected through the search will share responsibility as a team under the oversight of the elders.

Yes. The New Testament consistently presents church leadership and teaching as work shared among qualified leaders rather than centered in one personality. A team approach fits Living Hope's conviction that Christ is the head of the church and that pastors and elders serve together under His authority.

The teaching pastors will plan together under elder oversight. They will share Living Hope's doctrinal commitments and coordinate sermon series and Sunday messages, allowing distinct voices without competing directions.

The teaching pastors will work with the elders to plan sermon series and assign messages. The aim is a coherent teaching ministry that serves the whole church.

That is understandable. People often connect more readily with one voice or style. A teaching team invites all of us to receive the truth of Scripture through several faithful teachers while remaining united around God's Word rather than one personality.

Yes. The elders are establishing a search team and will give it a clear mission for identifying and evaluating candidates for the third teaching pastor role. The team will work prayerfully and report through the process established by the elders.

The search will focus first on biblical character, theological alignment, and the ability to teach Scripture faithfully and clearly. The person must also be able to serve collaboratively with Cole, Derek, the elders, and the staff within Living Hope's culture of shared leadership.

The elders are more concerned with finding the right person than filling the role quickly. Gib's spring preaching schedule, along with Cole's and Derek's confirmed teaching roles, gives the church continuity while the search proceeds with care.

Yes. Living Hope's elders, pastors, staff, Community Group leaders, and ministry leaders will continue caring for the church body. Members should continue to reach out through the same relationships and ministry channels they use now when they need prayer, counsel, or practical support.

Living Hope will provide updates through its normal communication channels as major steps occur. The goal is to communicate clearly and promptly while allowing the elders, staff, and search team to do their work carefully.

Pray for Gib and his family, for Cole and Derek, for the elders and staff, for the search team, and for the person God will bring to Living Hope. Continue worshipping, serving, giving, participating in Community Groups, and caring for one another. Steady faithfulness will strengthen the church throughout the transition.

Gib's ministry has shaped Living Hope for two decades, so sadness and questions are natural. There is room to be thankful for his ministry, sad about the change, and hopeful about the future at the same time. Our confidence rests in Christ, who remains the head of His church and will continue to guide Living Hope.