Who We Are . . . and Why!
New Hope United Methodist Church is a community of believers in God and Jesus Chirst his son. Our members come from the communities of Clark, Renick, Higbee, Sturgeon, Middle Grove, Moberly...and beyond. But we aren't just "members" of New Hope...we are a church family! Like any family with strong ties, we care for and about each others' lives. And we are glad to extend that same hospitality and care to all who enter our doors seeking God.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Chirst by
learning to be more like Him,
inspiring others to follow Him, and
serving Him in our community and the world.
Our Pastor, Mike Will
Reverend Michael Will just recently took on the pastoral duties at New Hope, replacing our former pastor Dick Curry who retired in late June 2015. So Mike is our "new guy on the block".
Reverend Will has most recently been serving as the pastor of the Riggs Union Church and the Sturgeon United Methodist Church for the past five years. He continues to serve both of those churches as well as New Hope...which makes him a very busy guy!
Previously, Mike served eleven years as campus minister in Columbia at the Missouri United Methodist Church, four years at the First United Methodist Church in Glasgow, and began his ministry at a three-point charge serving the Sheldon, Bronaugh, and Moundville United Methodist Churches. He currently serves on the District Board of Ordained ministry.
Mike was born in Naperville, Illinois and raised in Evanston, Illinois (both suburbs of Chicago) where his father was a professor of theology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. He grew up as a middle child having two older sisters and two younger brothers. His mother was an artist who enjoyed painting and sculpting. Rev. Will graduated with honors in Psychology from the University of Kansas in 1983 and received his Master of Divinity degree from the St. Paul School of Theology in 1990. He also attended Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, where he met his wife, the Rev. Julia Will. Julia has served as Associate Pastor for the last twenty years at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church E.L.C.A. in Columbia. They have one, eighteen year old son, John Michael who will be beginning his studies at Central Methodist University this fall.
Rev. Will is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. He enjoys camping and canoeing and has directed United Methodist camps for youth in Illinois and Missouri. He has lived for a year in Germany and Austria while growing up and has led mission trips in Central and South America.
Reverend Will has most recently been serving as the pastor of the Riggs Union Church and the Sturgeon United Methodist Church for the past five years. He continues to serve both of those churches as well as New Hope...which makes him a very busy guy!
Previously, Mike served eleven years as campus minister in Columbia at the Missouri United Methodist Church, four years at the First United Methodist Church in Glasgow, and began his ministry at a three-point charge serving the Sheldon, Bronaugh, and Moundville United Methodist Churches. He currently serves on the District Board of Ordained ministry.
Mike was born in Naperville, Illinois and raised in Evanston, Illinois (both suburbs of Chicago) where his father was a professor of theology at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. He grew up as a middle child having two older sisters and two younger brothers. His mother was an artist who enjoyed painting and sculpting. Rev. Will graduated with honors in Psychology from the University of Kansas in 1983 and received his Master of Divinity degree from the St. Paul School of Theology in 1990. He also attended Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, where he met his wife, the Rev. Julia Will. Julia has served as Associate Pastor for the last twenty years at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church E.L.C.A. in Columbia. They have one, eighteen year old son, John Michael who will be beginning his studies at Central Methodist University this fall.
Rev. Will is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. He enjoys camping and canoeing and has directed United Methodist camps for youth in Illinois and Missouri. He has lived for a year in Germany and Austria while growing up and has led mission trips in Central and South America.
