Leadership

Bryan Jacobs, Senior Pastor

Pastor Bryan Jacobs was ordained as the Senior Pastor of New Hope Church in July of 2024, having served as Associate Pastor since August of 2017.

Bryan graduated with Honors from Moody Bible Institute in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Exposition. He came to know the Lord in January 2012 at the age of 18. Since then, he has been involved in preaching and teaching ministries in various forms, including various young adult ministries. The emphasis of his pulpit ministry is the careful exegesis of God’s Word according to its historical and grammatical context.

Bryan has been married to his wife Jessica since May of 2015. Jessica assists as a volunteer in the Worship and Arts Ministry at New Hope Church, as well as in the Children’s Ministry. Together they enjoy coffee and quality time as a family with their children.
Bryan’s foundation for ministry is the statement of Jesus in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (ESV).

Gerry Miller, Executive Pastor

Pastor Gerry Miller was called as Associate Pastor of New Hope Church in June of 2006, and later as Senior Pastor in July of 2008 following the retirement of founding Pastor Rev. David W. Yount. In July of 2024, Gerry stepped down from his role of senior leadership into his current role as Executive Pastor.

Gerry came to know the Lord as his personal Savior while in college. His primary secular work up to that point had been in business management. At first, he thought that he could bring with him into ministry proven business principles that he could utilize in fulfilling his pastoral calling. However, Gerry has since come to understand the biblical model of church, drawing spiritual principles of church life from the early church in the book of Acts. These spiritual principles, quite different from business practices, are now joyfully embodied in the church’s vision statement.

Having faithfully served in numerous forms of ministry over the course of his vocational Christian life, Gerry has been primarily a teacher and preacher of the Word. He and his wife Joyce have 6 adult children—Greg, Peter, Katie, Ellen, Luke and Leslie—along with several grandchildren. His favorite hobby is bike riding.

Gerry’s life verse is found in Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (ESV).

Janet Davidson, Director of Worship

Janet is New Hope’s Director of Worship. She currently serves in this role in a part-time capacity while working full time in marketing management at a Chicago-based company. Janet graduated from Cedarville University with a B.A. in Business Administration (Marketing emphasis) and a minor in Bible. She came to know Jesus as savior when she was nine years old at a Bible camp and has been a student of God’s Word ever since.

Janet grew up in a close-knit family that loved travel and music. She has sung in various choirs, ensembles, and worship teams over the years. She believes worship leaders need to lead, not perform and seeks to encourage all believers at New Hope to worship God authentically.

Janet is auntie to three: Kevin, Billy and Olivia. She enjoys her two little rascal cats: Leo (a purebred Toyger) and Charlie (a moggie).

She spends most of her “spare” time taking care of family responsibilities but likes to listen to podcasts, read books, play tennis, and go for walks or bike rides around the forest preserves when she can. The verse that governs her is Philippians 4:8–“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”