Staff

Pastor Steve Wellman, a native of Bluefield, West Virginia, began his ministry as a layperson in 1990. His journey into pastoral service started in 1996 when he entered Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Over the next fifteen years, he pastored two churches and taught at Asbury College and the University of Kentucky. In 2011, he brought his ministry to North Carolina, where he has served New Hope for nearly fourteen years. One of his greatest joys in over 30 years of ministry is pastoring three churches and representing the longest-standing minister in all three. He and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Evangeline Grace, a junior at Wayne Christian Academy, who is a testament to their commitment to family and faith. 

Hope is a native of Eastern North Carolina and right here in Wayne County. She graduated from Charles B. Aycock HS, Wayne Community College, and Lenoir Community College, with an Associates Degree in Arts and Cosmetology. She began playing the piano at age 11. She started her church music ministry at Mt. Caramel Church then went on to serve Jefferson Methodist Church, Pine Forest Methodist Church, and New Hope Church for the past 25 years. Hope has directed handbell choirs, children’s choirs, VBS, and musical groups of all kinds. She is also currently the keyboardist/vocalist for the local blockbuster – Lady and the Tramps. Hope is also an Instructional Assistant at Rosewood Elementary School for the past 19 years. She is married to Ed and has three adult children, Blake, Faith, and Jonathan. Plus three wonderful grandchildren, Luke, Leah, and Penelope. Hope’s rich history and massive musical talent makes her a perfect fit with the New Hope Church family.

Brian is a native of upstate South Carolina where he graduated from Anderson University in Anderson, SC with an Associate’s Degree in Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and Resources. Brian held a wide variety of positions, including owning a pet store, substitute school teacher, and being a police officer before being called into the ministry in 1996. He served three churches as a Youth Director spanning thirty-five years.  Brian is now a high school business teacher at Eastern Wayne High School and has served NHC since 2019. Brian enjoys woodworking, raising chickens, and always trying to be a great husband and father. The best things about Brian are his beautiful wife Erin of seventeen years, seventeen-year-old son Landon, eight-year-old daughter Emmy, and their two Dachshunds Penney and Honey.