Hi! I’m Francis VanDelden, the pastor at New Hope. I hope you’ve enjoyed perusing our website, and invite you to meet us in person -there’s nothing like growing, learning, and praising God together in person. And there’s nothing like meeting our church family in person. You’ll find New Hope warm and friendly, intentionally focused on the Bible, the gospel, and the grace of God in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Here’s a brief history of our family:
My wife Laura and I hail from Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). We met in our church youth group, but didn’t start seeing each other until I moved to California. I completed my undergraduate studies in Classics at McMaster University in 1995. Laura studied nursing in the same university and graduated with a BSN. While operating a fish & chip restaurant franchise from 1997-2002, I got to serve as a chaplain at a children’s summer camp. God used this chaplaincy role to call me into the ministry, so I enrolled at Westminster Seminary California.
After I graduated in May 2005 with a Masters of Divinity, Laura and I got married. We moved to Grand Rapids, MI, to begin serving as the associate pastor at Harvest OPC. We spent five and a half years there, and absolutely loved it -rich in grace, the gospel, and a lovely church family. During that time our house was divided – we were given three American daughters: twins Samantha and Emma, and Jessie-Lynn.
In May of 2011 the Lord in his wisdom called us to serve at New Hope. New Hope quickly became, and has continued to be a dear home to us. Early in our time here the Lord gifted us with Levi, and then Micah. It has been a privilege to see our personal family be an organic part of our church family. Laura has been able to use her nursing gifts part time at Buckingham’s Choice in Adamstown.
We all enjoy one another, friends, our gracious God, church, reading, games, music, and flowering Frederick. Some, but not all, of us (:-) enjoy gardening, plants, soccer, lego, running around barefoot, raking leaves, home improvements, dogs, and lame jokes.
We invite you to join us in exalting and growing in Christ here in Frederick.
Here’s a brief history of our family:
My wife Laura and I hail from Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). We met in our church youth group, but didn’t start seeing each other until I moved to California. I completed my undergraduate studies in Classics at McMaster University in 1995. Laura studied nursing in the same university and graduated with a BSN. While operating a fish & chip restaurant franchise from 1997-2002, I got to serve as a chaplain at a children’s summer camp. God used this chaplaincy role to call me into the ministry, so I enrolled at Westminster Seminary California.
After I graduated in May 2005 with a Masters of Divinity, Laura and I got married. We moved to Grand Rapids, MI, to begin serving as the associate pastor at Harvest OPC. We spent five and a half years there, and absolutely loved it -rich in grace, the gospel, and a lovely church family. During that time our house was divided – we were given three American daughters: twins Samantha and Emma, and Jessie-Lynn.
In May of 2011 the Lord in his wisdom called us to serve at New Hope. New Hope quickly became, and has continued to be a dear home to us. Early in our time here the Lord gifted us with Levi, and then Micah. It has been a privilege to see our personal family be an organic part of our church family. Laura has been able to use her nursing gifts part time at Buckingham’s Choice in Adamstown.
We all enjoy one another, friends, our gracious God, church, reading, games, music, and flowering Frederick. Some, but not all, of us (:-) enjoy gardening, plants, soccer, lego, running around barefoot, raking leaves, home improvements, dogs, and lame jokes.
We invite you to join us in exalting and growing in Christ here in Frederick.
