From a County Without a Church to a Community of Hope
Hope Christian Church sits on Coach Stop Road in Columbia, Illinois, and traces its beginnings to 1993, when Darrell and Ellen Jones noticed that Monroe County was the only county in Illinois without a Christian Church. They moved to Columbia and launched Hope, where Darrell served as lead pastor until June 2022. The church that began as a gap-filling mission is now pastored by Shane Adkisson, who leads the congregation alongside a team of elders and ministry staff.
Hope describes itself as an independent, non-denominational, Bible-believing church that strives for unity among churches and followers of Jesus. Its mission is straightforward: "to see every life filled with the hope of Jesus Christ." The church keeps seven core values in view, beginning with scripture as the foundation of everything it does and ending with a willingness to "dare to believe" by making faith-filled decisions.
Two Sunday Gatherings, One Family
Hope meets for worship on Sunday mornings at 8:45 AM and 10:15 AM. Both services feature heartfelt worship, a shared observance of Communion, and a practical, Bible-centered message from Pastor Shane. Both services are livestreamed online for those who cannot attend in person.
Visitors are welcomed with a series of "next steps" that include considering baptism, joining a Life Group, and serving on a team. A few times each year it runs Pizza with the Pastor, a casual meal where newcomers can meet Pastor Shane and the leadership team, hear the church's story, and explore ways to get involved.
Hope Kidz and Hope Youth
Hope takes seriously the conviction that "kids and students are not the Church of tomorrow, they are the Church of today." Children's programming is woven into the weekly rhythm in two places.
Hope Kidz runs on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM and 10:45 AM for children from kindergarten through fifth grade, with lessons that mix video teaching, live storytelling, worship music, and hands-on activities. On Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, Hope Kidz expands to include children from birth through fifth grade. The ministry is led by Children's Minister Brietta Overall.
Hope Youth gathers for a Sunday morning Jr. High Bible study at 8:45 AM and again on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:15 PM for students in grades 6 through 12. The youth program includes conferences, camps, and outings designed to deepen friendships and faith.
Baptism by Immersion
Baptism is celebrated as a public declaration that Jesus is Lord, and Hope practices baptism by immersion. The church invites anyone who has decided to follow Jesus to be baptized "anytime, anywhere," and offers to meet with individuals beforehand to talk through what it means.
Life Groups Around Columbia
Hope describes Life Groups as "one of the most important ways that people connect and grow in their faith together." These small groups typically meet once a week or every other week and are organized around different stages of life. The church uses an online directory to help newcomers find a group that fits.
Men's and Women's Ministries
Men's Ministry centers on a weekly Men's Breakfast and Bible Study with Pastor Shane, meeting on Tuesday mornings at 5:30 AM and 8:00 AM in Room 101. Women's Ministry gathers for Bible studies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with other events posted on the events calendar.
A Food Pantry That Welcomes Anyone
Hope runs a food pantry every Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, and anyone in the community is welcome to come for food or to serve. The pantry is directed by Becky Wilson, who can be reached at 618-939-9085 or foodpantry@hopeforhim.com.
Prayer, RightNow Media, and the Hope App
A prayer team meets on Sunday mornings at 8:00 AM in the Hope basement and at 9:15 AM in office #6. Prayer requests can be submitted online, and the church maintains an email list for prayer updates. Members and regular attenders have free access to RightNow Media, a library of Bible-teaching videos and study resources, and can download the Hope app for messages, notes, and giving.
Missions Near and Far
Hope's missions work is organized into three streams. Locally, it partners with Good Samaritan Ministries, the Hope Food Pantry, House of Neighborly Services, Life Network of Southern Illinois, and Monroe Country Christian School. Nationally, it supports the Fenimore Family at Clemson University, the Jamir Family serving refugees in Dallas, and Voice of the Martyrs in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Internationally, Hope is connected to families and workers in Thailand, Australia, Nepal, Macedonia, Kenya (both Intercede in Nairobi and CMFI in Northern Kenya), Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
What Hope Believes
Hope holds to a set of essential Christian beliefs: that God loves every person and created them to know Him personally; that God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Jesus is the Father's only begotten Son, who left heaven to bring the gospel and died as a sacrifice for those who trust in Him; that the Holy Spirit indwells every Christian; that heaven and hell are real; that every follower of Jesus is a minister; and that the church is the only true hope for the world.
Pastoral Leadership and Elders
Shane Adkisson serves as Lead Pastor and an elder, joined by elders Tom Schreiber, Jeff Kaiser, Bill Caswell, Mick Slade, and Aaron Elliot. The wider staff includes Roy Lawson on the teaching team, Brietta Overall as Children's Minister, Madison Pace as Worship Leader and Technical Director, Alicia Whitbeck as Communications Director, Missy Lenga overseeing Hospitality and Ministry Services, and Becky Wilson directing the food pantry. Shane and his wife, Dee Dee, have been married for more than three decades and are the parents of Riley and Shelby.
Plan a Visit
Hope Christian Church is located at 9273 Coach Stop Road, Columbia, IL 62236, with the main phone line at (618) 939-9089. Sunday services are at 8:45 AM and 10:15 AM, with children's ministry offered during both hours and a livestream available for those at home.