Bios of Elders

 

The elders at New Hope believe that, although they are ordinary and sinful men, they are called by God to serve and shepherd this particular flock.  Get to know them a little better as you read their personal biographies…

 
Dennis Caruso was born in Brooklyn, NY, raised in Queens and Long Island, eventually moved to Maryland and attended Salisbury State College. At age 19, God called him out of darkness and into new life. After meeting his wife Laura at Knox OPC, Dennis and Laura moved to Mt. Airy in 1980, and were part of the church plant of New Hope, and raised their two (now adult) daughters at New Hope. Dennis served many years as a deacon, and, although he loved being a deacon, God repositioned him into some shepherding responsibilities, and, thus, into the position of elder at New Hope.
Steve Hake
is a literature professor at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia. He is an avid reader, and enjoys hiking and sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. He is a widower with nine children, six of whom are married, and twenty-four grandchildren. Steve functions as a teaching elder at New Hope. He is a Westminster Seminary graduate, ordained in the OPC. He served as an OPC foreign missionary to Taiwan from 1977 to 1996.
 
Karl Koops
 
 
Dave Myers grew up in the Frederick area and, at 13, professed faith in Christ during a lay-witness weekend outreach at his church. He went on to attend Frostburg University, where he was strongly influenced by InterVarsity and, after he and Dawn married, they served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Quebec among the Montagnais people. In 1996, they came to New Hope after completing a counseling degree at Colorado Christian University. Their six kids have all been involved at New Hope at some point. Since 1996, Dave has been working in the counseling field, meeting with couples and individuals in a counseling practice in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Dave believes that his role as an elder provides accountability that enables him to sharpen his focus and be more consistent in caring for the body at New Hope.
 

Joel Poortenga grew up as a pastor’s kid in western Canada, coming gradually to embrace Christianity for himself throughout high school. He met his wife, Katie, at college in the Chicago area, and they got married in 2003. They both care deeply about God’s church, and love being part of a body where people love God and his truth, love each other through practical service, and reach out to the community. Katie grew up in Taiwan in a missionary family, and Joel has participated in numerous short-term mission trips as well. Joel and Katie have seven children, and they live in Charles Town, WV. They have been a part of New Hope OPC since 2016.