Senior Pastor Transition

A Future Filled with New Hope

For the past 25 years, New Hope Oahu has been a church that loves God, releases dreams, and does church as a team so that people may experience His indescribable love and make the most eternal decision they’ll ever make. God has been so faithful to New Hope, and now more than ever, God is calling us to reach people so the whole world may come to know Him. 

Our heart has always been to let God lead us so that we may become the church––and the people––that He wants us to be. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” As we continue to seek Him, and as He continues to reveal His plans to us, we have realized that His plans, His future, and His hope for New Hope Oahu are far greater than we could have ever imagined. 

Throughout our history, God has provided us with both vision and provision, and in this season, this remains true. As the Lord continues to reveal Himself to us and calls us into our hope-filled future, God has called us to a season of transition. As New Hope Oahu moves forward into this exciting new season, we will continue to build upon our solid foundation established by Pastor Wayne, our relentless heart for God and for people that have allowed us to endure the most tumultuous of times, and the strong core values and culture that have allowed us to grow deeper and stronger in love with Him and in relationship with one another. 

Now more than ever, we must stand firm in our faith. Now more than ever, we must stay true to His calling. Now more than ever, the world needs hope. While seasons change, our values, our mission, and our purpose remains the same: To present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that turns non-Christians into converts, converts into disciples, and disciples into mature, fruitful leaders who will in turn go into the world and reach others for Christ. Hope is alive––it always has been, and it always will be.

Q&A Video: The Future of New Hope Oahu

Hear from Pastor John Tilton about what will never change, and what the future of New Hope looks like.

Watch

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do you mean by “transition”?

In 1995, Dr. Wayne Cordeiro founded New Hope Oahu with nothing but a vision and willing hearts. For the past 25 years since its founding, Pastor Wayne has served as Senior Pastor of New Hope Oahu. Under his leadership, more than 120 churches have been planted around the world through this mother church and 120,000+ people have made first time decisions for Christ in Hawai’i alone.

While New Hope Oahu has been located in several different places––including Farrington High School, Stevenson Middle School, and the Stan Sheriff Arena––and has had several different campus pastors, Pastor Wayne has served as New Hope Oahu’s sole Senior Pastor for the entirety of its existence.

For the first time in its history, Pastor Wayne has passed the canoe paddle, and the mantle of Senior Pastor, to Pastor John Tilton. As Senior Pastor, Pastor John will now cast vision, lead the team, and guide our church into the future, building upon the strong foundation God built through the guidance and leadership of Pastor Wayne.

What does this mean for Pastor Wayne? Is he leaving New Hope?

No, Pastor Wayne is not leaving New Hope. He will continue to serve as President of New Hope International, our governing body, and President of New Hope Christian College, our sister college. This transition will allow Pastor Wayne to better heed God’s call on his life to grow our church plant in Oregon and equip the next generation of leaders at our college, while also allowing New Hope Oahu to continue to flourish as the local, Oahu-based church He created and called us to be.

As he transitions out of the role of “Senior Pastor of New Hope Oahu,” Pastor Wayne gains the titles of “Founding Pastor” and “Pastor Emeritus.” Pastor Wayne will always be our Founding Pastor, and as Pastor Emeritus, Pastor Wayne’s involvement with New Hope Oahu will be similar to how it has been in the past few years. In his roles, he will continue to serve as our spiritual covering, speak  at New Hope Oahu, and partner regularly with New Hope Oahu in missions, church planting, and special events.

Who is Pastor John Tilton?

Pastor John Tilton has served at New Hope Oahu since its launch in 1995 and has been on staff in administration and as executive pastor for the past 14 years. The values and heart behind New Hope run deeply through Pastor John’s veins as he has trained, learned, and was mentored closely by Pastor Wayne.

A graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Pastor John holds his Masters in Formational Leadership from Lancaster Bible College & Capital Seminary. He has served in various leadership, mentorship, and advisory roles in ministry and in the marketplace. He currently serves as Vice President of New Hope International and is on the Board of Directors of both Pacific Rim Christian University and New Hope Christian College. 

Pastor John is married to his amazing wife Lanu, is father to his son Ikaika, daughter Malie, son-in-law Noni, is Papa to his grandchildren Justice, Johanna, and Jordynn, all of whom serve in ministry as a family together at New Hope Oahu.

Pastor John’s heart is to love and shepherd the people of New Hope Oahu––both here on Oahu and globally across the world. He will seek to continue to develop leaders, enable people here to dream with vision and purpose for God’s unique call on their lives, and, most importantly, to seek God as He faithfully guides our church so that we can fully become the church, and the people, He has created and called us to be.

Who is the leadership team at NHO now?

As Senior Pastor, Pastor John will lead and serve our church alongside a leadership team of eight men and women. A multigenerational group of leaders who love God, love people, and love New Hope, these servants will cast vision, serve our people, and be faithful to the unique calling God has placed on our church.

To learn more about them, click here:

(https://enewhope.org/start-here/about/our-staff/)

What is New Hope West and New Hope Christian College's relationship to New Hope Oahu?

New Hope International is the umbrella organization and governing polity of New Hope Oahu, New Hope West, and New Hope Manoa. New Hope West is the signature lab church and practicum experience of New Hope Christian College, our sister college. New Hope Oahu will continue to partner with New Hope West, New Hope Christian College, and New Hope Manoa as Pastor Wayne continues to lead New Hope International.

What does this mean for the future of New Hope?

You may be surprised to find that much of New Hope Oahu will remain the same––our heart, our values, and our mission stay constant. You can continue to expect services filled with exuberant worship, inspirational creative elements, and impactful messages. We will continue to do church as a team as we put on services, send out missions, and do local and global community outreaches. As Pastor Wayne has always said, “New Hope is people.” You are the church, and we are greater together. We are excited to see all God will continue to do in and through this church as we seek Him and let Him lead, as we always have.