ELDER TEAM

Joseph Keith

Elder

Driven by a love for the church, Joseph serves as the Church Engagement Director for Youth Missions International. This love was fostered by the impact of New Hope in his life, as well as by his degree in Bible Exposition. He has served as an elder since 2019. His wife Taylor actively serves at New Hope and their ministry at YMI. They love raising their three children at this church.

Mike Keith

Team Pastor/Elder

Mike's passion for serving the Lord began as an eleven-year old boy at Bible camp. He remembers well that time in his childhood when he committed his life to Christ to serve Him in whatever way He desired. Ministry opportunities that God has blessed him with include 22 years as a team pastor, eleven short-term missions trips, and five years of inter-church pastoral ministries. Since 2006, he has been highly privileged to pastor at New Hope Community Church. The love of his life is Brenda, whom he took as his bride in 1975. Mike and Brenda have been blessed with eight children and currently have nineteen grandchildren! 

Sam Newell

Team Pastor/Elder

Sam is passionate about the local church and has had the blessing of serving in full-time church ministry since graduating from Washington State University in 2010. While working as a Family and Outreach Pastor, Sam had the opportunity to complete a Master of Divinity degree from A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary, and is now excited to be a part of the team here at New Hope Community Church as an Associate Pastor. Sam has been married to his wonderful wife,  Rachel, since 2011 and they have been blessed with two kids, William and Evangeline. 

Ford Rathbun

Elder


Ford met the Savior in 1969 while serving in the US Army. He felt God’s call on his life to serve Him in ministry. Ford and his wife Laurie count it a blessing to serve Him here at New Hope.

Shaun Skidmore

Team Pastor/Elder

Shaun was raised in a Family that loves Jesus and has walked with the Lord since an early age. He has been involved with different churches through-out his life and was involved with a church  plant  in Maryland in the early 2000’s. He served on staff as the Campus Administrator at a church in Auburn from 2012 through 2018. Shaun has started the “Contenders Discipleship Initiative” with Village Missions, which is a 2 year study of the Bible. Since May of 2019 he has been on staff at Bridges of Love NW serving the community in need as they minister with the churches in Pierce County to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He now serves as a Co-Director of Bridges of Love NW. He and his wife, Suzanne, love ministering together and traveling to visit parents, children, and grandchildren. He looks forward to serving the family and friends here at New Hope Community Church as he serves on the Pastoral team.

Don Wood

Elder

My life began in Colorado growing up as the oldest of 4 children in a Pastors home.  The Lord convicted my heart of my need for Him in my life at age 6 and my father graciously introduced me to Him during his 4th of 7 full time ministries.  To be chosen by God to also be a Servant of God has been a huge privilege in my life after  serving 48 years in a total of 7 churches, 2 of which were church plants. This has provided a diversity of ministry experiences. The joy of my life is to bring glory and honor to my Savior. It’s a blessing to be serving with the New Hope Elder Team. My wife Kay and I have been married 55 years, raised 3 wonderful children who are also raising 3 children of their own (9 grandchildren).

Mike Honeycutt

Elder Emeritus 

Mike has attended New Hope since 2011 with his wife, Dee Dee (Elizabeth).  He serves as an elder and a teacher at New Hope and enjoys time with his wife and two daughters, Michelle and Rachel.  He likes hiking, writing, painting, and reading.

Casey Zachary

Elder Emeritus

The Zachary family currently lives in Haiti as missionaries with Real Hope for Haiti. Casey and Briana are grateful they could prepare for the mission field through education, but believe what has prepared them the most has been sharing life with their brothers and sisters at New Hope Community Church and hearing God's Word clearly taught, which has helped them towards spiritual maturity.