LEADERSHIP TEAM

Get to know the Hope Community Church team

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

We Aim to be Servant Leaders

Our goal as a leadership team is to submit ourselves to the authority of scripture and use our God-given talents for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Howard Varnedoe

Lead Pastor

Howard Varnedoe graduated from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College in 2000. He holds a Masters degree from Southern Seminary. His responsibilities include general oversight of the church, Sunday morning teaching, and leadership development. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Dawn, for thirty-four years and is the proud father of five children and grandfather to three grandchildren. Howard enjoys the outdoors, especially hunting, hiking and fishing.

Steve Shank

Pastor

Steve Shank brings over 40 years of pastoral ministry experience to his role on both the leadership and preaching teams. Throughout his career, he has helped establish numerous church plants, contributing his wisdom and guidance to growing faith communities. Steve has been happily married to his wife Janis for 45 years. Together they’ve raised four children who have blessed them with 11 grandchildren. When not serving the church, Steve enjoys reading and taking long walks on the beach with Janis.

Caleb Hancock

Pastor

Caleb graduated from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College in 2023 and served as a pastor at Redeeming Grace Church, which planted Hope Community in September of 2025. Caleb has lived in Tennessee since elementary school and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. It was in college that Caleb became a member of a Sovereign Grace Church and married his high school sweetheart, Katie. They moved back to their hometown in 2013 to be part of planting Redeeming Grace Church. Together they have four children and Caleb loves to play strategy board games, enjoy great books & music, and train for endurance events.