ABOUT US
We believe that Jesus calls us to make disciples
who make more disciples who will change the world.
So together we will
WORSHIP Jesus with all we have,
WORK with Jesus to bring the world to him, and
WALK with Jesus and one another in love.
At New Hope Christian Church
We Believe...
ONE GOD
We believe there is one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4 ; Matthew 3:16-17
GOD THE FATHER
We believe God the Father created all things visible and invisible.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who as Savior of the world died for our sins and rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Luke 1&2 ; Luke 23 & Luke 24
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, an active and operative part of the triune God. He convicts the world regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment and indwells every believer at the point of salvation and equips them for personal growth and service to the Church.
John 16:7-9 ; Acts 2:38 ; Ephesians1:13-14
THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the inspired, written Word of God and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. We believe God inspired the original writings of Scripture and those original writings were without error.
Isaiah 40:8 ; 2Timothy 3:14-17 ; Hebrews 4:12.
SIN
We believe that man, created by God, willfully sinned and as a result is lost and without hope, apart from the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 3 ; Romans 3:23 ; Romans 6:23 ; Acts 4:11-12
THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the body and the bride of Christ, founded on earth and confirmed on the day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere. Church Elders, overseers, are to exercise authority over the local congregation.
Matthew 16:13-18 ; Acts 2: 42–47 ; 1Timothy 3:1–7.
OUR ETERNAL DESTINY
We believe that death seals the eternal destiny of each person. When Jesus Christ returns, He will pronounce the eternal fate of everyone, both living and dead – the saved to eternal life in Heaven, the unsaved to eternal separation from God in Hell. .
Daniel 12:2 ; John 5:28–29 ; 2Corinthians 4:14.
BAPTISM
We believe that the biblical mode of baptism is immersion under the water, as indicated by Jesus’ own example and the model seen in the New Testament church. The original Greek word “baptizo” translates to immerse, dip, or dunk. Baptism is for believers in Christ and is evidence of salvation.
Mark 1: 9 – 10 ; Matthew 28: 19 ; Romans 6: 4 ; Ephesians 2: 8 – 10
For more about Baptism CLICK HERE.
SALVATION
We believe that salvation – the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life – is available only by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. This free gift of salvation is offered to all who believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Each person must repent of their personal sins and publicly confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and their Lord and Savior. Believers are baptized into Christ.
Mark 16:16 ; Acts 2:36-38 ; Romans10: 9 ; Ephesians 2:8-9 ; Colossians 2:6;
OUR STORY
In 1993 the Southwest Church Planters started praying and working to establish a vibrant congregation in the greater Venice area. Christian Churches in Sarasota County, Manatee County, Charlotte County, Collier County, and Lee County raised $65,000 to plant a new church. New Hope Christian Church met for the first time March 23, 1997.
. . .
Andy Simpkins, First Preacher
Our Leadership
Dr. Guthrie Veech
Minister / Elder
Guthrie and Barbara began their ministry here at New Hope in July 2016. Dr. Veech is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University, Kentucky Christian University, Anderson University, and Emmanuel Christian Seminary. Guthrie & Barbara have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. Guthrie's prior ministries include being President of St. Louis Christian College for 10 years, Professor of Preaching at Kentucky Christian University, and Senior Minister of New Hope Christian Church in Anderson, Indiana for 14 years. Guthrie has also published 3 books: God Answer Me Please, Growing More and More, and the Christian Minster’s Manual. Barbara was a Professor at St. Louis Christian College and a public school teacher.
Alan Katt
Elder
Alan is a graduate of Cincinnati Christian University. He has ministered at churches in Kentucky and Indiana. He is married to Angela and is blessed to have 5 children and many grandchildren. He and Angela moved to Florida from the Northern Kentucky / Cincinnati area in 2016 after enjoying the Florida winters as snowbirds for many years. They have their own computer consulting company. At New Hope, Alan has preached, led small groups, taught in the communion meditation training, serves on the worship team, and the technology team. He also posts all NHCC sermons on YouTube.
Kevin Ellis
Elder
Kevin Ellis with his wife Mary moved to Venice Florida in the fall of 2017 from Ohio. They joined New Hope in early January 2018. They have five children and four grandchildren. They are both retired and love travelling. While in Ohio, Kevin owned his own fencing business and Mary worked in a medical office. At their church in Ohio, Kevin was a trustee, and the head of the servers and ushers. He also enjoyed his many mission trips to Mexico. Mary also served in many ministries as well. Besides being an elder at New Hope, Kevin gives communion/offering meditations. Mary works in church hospitality. If you have ever been sick and received a meal, Mary either organized it or personally cooked it.
Dennis Oertel
Elder
Dennis and his wife DeAnn graduated from Johnson Bible College in 1979, married in October and began preparing for the mission field. In June of 1980 they arrived in Hawaii and served there for 9 years at Palolo Valley Church of Christ and Maili Christian Church. Upon returning to the mainland, they ministered with the Athens Christian Church, Athens, Tennessee, Raleigh Christian Church, Rushville Indiana, and Belhaven Christian Church, Belhaven North Carolina. They moved to Florida in 1990 and attended First Christian Church in Port Charlotte where Dennis served as an elder and on the praise team. They have also attended Sarasota Christian Church. Dennis and DeAnn adopted three children, Savanna, Breanna, and Isaiah in 2005 & 2006. Since coming to New Hope, Dennis has served on the Praise Team, provided communion meditations, and preached. DeAnn is a teacher in the children’s Worship Program. Dennis works at Home Depot in Punta Gorda and DeAnn works at Kohl’s in Port Charlotte.
George Cooper
Elder
George Cooper and his wife, Maureen, feel so blessed to have found a home at New Hope Christian Church. George grew up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. When he was eighteen years old, George moved to New York City to pursue his dream of writing and singing music. He met Maureen in a Christian coffee house on Long Island doing what they both love to do most—singing God’s music. They have served together in leadership with the New Hope worship team since 2020. Maureen enjoys creating artwork and pictures for the church. George is a singer, songwriter and a founding member of Servants of the Shepherd, a much-loved music group on Long Island. His various church ministries have been in the areas of youth, baptism, Christian singles, and of course, music. George and Maureen have three daughters and four grandchildren.
