DREW HYUN
PASTOR
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Drew Hyun is the Founder and Pastor of Hope Church Midtown, as well as the Founding Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a family of diverse churches in and around NYC. Drew has also co-founded the New City Network, a network of urban churches that value multi-ethnicity, Spirit-filled ministry, emotional health, and mission. Drew is also part of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship team, a movement that is dedicated to transforming church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed leaders and disciples.
Drew graduated from UC Berkeley in California with a major in rhetoric. He later went on to graduate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin).
He has gone on to preach in many different contexts, both in the United States and abroad. His particular passion is for community and for the transformative power that community brings. He now lives in New York City with his lovely wife Christina, and their two children, David, and Avery. His most restful sabbath involves family, sports, and naps.
SARAH BOURNS
PASTOR OF FORMATION
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Originally from Southern California, Sarah has lived in West Philadelphia, Redding, CA, Colorado Springs, and now New York City! Before joining pastoral staff at Hope Midtown, Sarah’s previous 15 years of full-time ministry included urban youth work, poverty and justice services, university discipleship, non-profit leadership, and missionary care. She is completing her Masters of Divinity in Inter-Cultural Studies at the Alliance Theological Seminary in Manhattan.
Sarah loves Broadway, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Roosevelt Island tram, teaching, writing, neighboring, mentoring, drinking Turkish coffee, cooking for friends, and being on mission with Jesus in NYC!
LAURA HAIRSTON
PASTOR OF MISSIONAL CHURCHES
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Originally from Texas, Laura and her family moved to New York City’s Upper East Side in early 2018. They have a deep love for their neighbors and long to see their neighborhood look more like Heaven than Earth.
Laura graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a degree in Communications & Business. She has served in nonprofit executive leadership for over 10 years and will graduate with her MBA from Johnson University in Summer 2021. She has a desire to see all of God’s people find their identity in Jesus, live as sent ones joining God in His mission.
Laura enjoys coffee and walks in the park with friends, music, traveling with her family, being in nature, anything related to assessments and personality tests. She is married to Ryan and has 3 girls - Hadley, Hensley, and Hazel.
ELIZABETH BLACK
TEAM MEMBER, MISSIONAL CHURCH
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Elizabeth Black has served as an evangelist and missionary here in NYC for almost 10 years. She is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Washington Bible College for undergraduate studies. She has a heart for our city and marginalized community, and loves sharing Jesus with those in the LGBTQ, Jewish, African American populations and beyond. She is currently working on her ThM in contextual theology at All Nations. She loves to cook, entertain, watch documentaries and read about culture. Last but not least, she is a proud wife and the mother of two young boys.
SOLOMON ABAKI
PASTORAL RESIDENT
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Solomon Abaki hails from Kenya and is currently living in New York.
He actively trained in Christian leadership while studying in India as a member of the All IndiaInternational Christian Student Fellowship where he strongly connected with Victory Fellowship International, serving especially in praise and worship leading and in other leadership positions. He has since remained a member of Victory Fellowship International and is currently a member of the USA and Canada branch.
Before coming to the United States, he served as a resident and worship pastor for 3 years at Innkeepers Fellowship (Kenya) where he also initiated and ran a football (soccer) ministry to reach out to the youths. Before then he served as a pastor in the London Community Church (UK - England) for 3 years, where he was also involved in kick London (an organization involved in evangelism through football.
He is an active member of Lifelink Global (a worldwide evangelical Christian ministry).Solomon has been involved in church plantings and preaching/teaching across the globe.
Solomon pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in tourism. He is a certified football coach under the Football Association England and loves coaching and playing. He also loves singing, playing and training musical instruments (guitar, keys and drums).
He enjoys hot chocolate, singing with his son and traveling with his family.
He is married to Catherine with whom they have a son David.
JUSTUS TAMS
STEPH KIM
WINNIE LEE
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
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Originally from Hong Kong, Winnie and her husband moved to New York in 2002 to start their business in the city. Winnie and her husband both live in midtown with their two children and their cat! They joined the Hope family in 2016!
Winnie enjoys navigating city life as a parent, and loves exploring many cultural food options. Most of all, Winnie loves to get away with her family to some really quiet places.
CHRIS YU
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
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Chris is a New Jersey native with a passion for evangelism and community outreach programs. His faith journey started in 2018 when he came to a Sunday service at Hope with little knowledge of Christianity. Since then, he has found new meaning in life through his faith, as well as the fellowship and support of the Hope community.
Chris is focused on creating a worship environment that is both safe and inviting for attendees every Sunday. He is also passionate about the Alpha course, which was an integral factor in his faith journey. You can catch him at an Alpha dinner party near you!