New Hope Church welcomes Elijah Stanley as associate pastor

Elijah Stanley joins the Fulton, Md. congregation as Community Builder Pastor

New Hope Church in Fulton, Md., has welcomed Elijah Stanley to its pastoral team as Community Builder Pastor, with an emphasis in high school and young adult ministry.

Stanley is an ordained minister with more than six years of pastoral experience. A DMV native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology from Washington Adventist University and a Master of Divinity from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He previously served at First Church in Washington, D.C., and most recently as an associate pastor at Capitol Hill Church.

Mike Speegle, lead pastor at New Hope, said Stanley’s background made him a strong fit for the role. “We’re excited about having Elijah join us,” Speegle said. “He’s got a great reputation and has done a lot of work with high school and young adults. For us, this idea of community building is the key because both those groups are about building community.”

Stanley said he is eager to help the congregation grow its community outreach. “I’m looking forward to seeing how we can build strong foundations together,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be entering into a very healthy church.”