A Place to Be Known on West Fairview Road
New Hope Church sits at 5307 W Fairview Road on the west edge of Greenwood, Indiana, a Johnson County suburb just south of Indianapolis. The congregation describes itself as "a church committed to creating a safe place to ask questions, finding unique ways to experience authentic community, and helping as many people as possible discover hope in Jesus." That intent is visible from the moment a first-time guest walks through the door. The Welcome page does not sell the church; it acknowledges that the world feels heavy, that information is everywhere and clarity is hard to find, and that the church itself has sometimes contributed to the noise. New Hope wants to be part of the answer, not part of the problem.
What the church is known for locally is a distinctive combination: a nondenominational evangelical identity, a deliberate shared-leadership model with no single senior pastor, a full pipeline of ministries from nursery through high school youth, an on-site preschool and before/after care program, and unusually accessible worship services that include live ASL and Swahili translation every Sunday morning. Two podcasts extend the church's reach beyond its walls, and Rooted Groups pull members into homes across the area several times a year.
Sunday Mornings at 10 AM
The largest weekly gathering is Sunday at 10:00 AM, both in person at the Fairview Road campus and online through YouTube. The service follows a steady rhythm: modern worship songs followed by teaching that the church describes as "accessible teaching on walking with Jesus in everyday life." Services typically last about an hour.
New Hope encourages first-time visitors to arrive about fifteen minutes early. Greeters are posted at the door to answer questions, and the Hospitality Center just inside offers coffee and tea at no cost, with pastries and specialty drinks available for purchase. Rather than passing a collection plate during the service, the church keeps drop boxes for cash and checks in the upstairs foyer and by the downstairs door, a choice it makes "in an effort to be sensitive to guests."
The Sunday experience is unusually welcoming for anyone who does not hear or process English easily. American Sign Language translation is provided in the 10:00 service for those sitting on the left-hand side near the front of the stage. Swahili translation is also offered; guests can pick up an earbud and receiver at the back near the sound booth. The sanctuary is wheelchair accessible, with reserved spots available in a five- or six-member pod so a guest who uses a wheelchair can sit with family.
Dress is informal. Shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and at most business casual are all common, and visitors are told to wear whatever feels most comfortable.
Kids Kingdom and Children's Programming
Children are a major part of New Hope, and the church invests heavily in making the experience safe and engaging. Kids Kingdom serves three age groups on Sunday mornings: the Nursery for infants through age two, Preschool and Kindergarten, and Grades One through Five. Kids in fourth grade and below have their own service during the adult gathering. Fifth graders and above are invited into the sanctuary with their families, with occasional family-worship Sundays throughout the year.
Check-in happens at iPad stations in the center of the foyer. Parents enter a phone number, receive a security tag, and are matched to that tag at pickup. New Hope collects allergy information, learns what each child prefers to be called, and stores contact details so that a text message can be sent to a parent during the service if any assistance is needed. Diaper bags, car seat carriers, and snacks are all welcome; the team provides child-friendly snacks and offers a mother's room for nursing.
Programming emphasizes relevant Bible stories, engaging worship designed for kids, games and crafts, and seasonal camps. Stephanie Vrshek directs the Nursery as Director of Nursery, and Stacey Miller directs Grade School Ministries. Every staff member and volunteer working with children has completed background checks and training.
Children of Hope Preschool and School-Age Care
New Hope operates Children of Hope Preschool on its campus, a registered ministry that accepts CCDF vouchers through FSSA for qualifying full-time students. The preschool serves children ages two-and-a-half to five, combining teacher-facilitated and child-initiated learning, using the Zoo Phonics curriculum and grounding its teaching in God's Word. Indiana's Early Learning Standards guide literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, student wellbeing, approaches to play and learning, physical health, and creative arts. Bible stories are woven throughout.
Two K4 classes (three-year-olds, by August 1) and two Pre-K classes (four-year-olds, by August 1) run either three days a week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) or five days a week (Monday through Friday), from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Before care is offered from 7:00 to 9:30 AM and after care from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. LaShon Wagner directs the preschool.
In addition, Children of Hope at New Hope Church now offers Before and After School Care for students at Pleasant Grove Elementary in the Center Grove school system. The program runs 7:00 to 9:00 AM and 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Staff walk car riders to and from the school and work with Center Grove Transportation for bus pickup and drop-off.
Youth: INFUSE, IDENTITY, ANCHOR, and SURGE
Middle and high school students meet on Sunday evenings in the Youth Room under the direction of Zack Killey, who serves as Pastor of Student Ministries. Four named programs cover the pipeline. INFUSE and IDENTITY serve ninth through twelfth graders on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. ANCHOR is a second option for the same age group, also meeting 6:00 to 8:00 PM. SURGE serves sixth through eighth graders from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The middle school programs previously met from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Each gathering includes large-group activities, student-led worship, relevant teaching, interactive small groups, seasonal events, and missional experiences. The youth ministry is built on four foundations: identity in Christ, personal disciplines and calling, faith community, and readiness for the future. Curriculum draws on Nine Core Insights spanning God's creation, the gospel, transformation by the Spirit, biblical truth, restoration, compassion, and Christian community.
Live, Love, and Go like Jesus
The church's vision is simple and is repeated throughout the campus: "To be Jesus in every corner of the world." Its three-word mission is "Live like Jesus, Love like Jesus, Go like Jesus." Eight values, referred to internally as DNA, shape the congregation's life together. New Hope wants to be Relational, in the way members connect authentically with neighbors and outsiders. It wants to be Shared, leading in teams and developing younger leaders to carry on the work. It wants to be Empowered, relying on the Holy Spirit to transform lives. It wants to be Messy, willing to enter real problems without having to have all of the answers. It wants to be Risky, attempting new ministries to reach people who have not yet heard the gospel. It wants to be Generous, giving time and resources away rather than gathering them in. It wants to be Joyful, celebrating the Christian life with humor and delight. And underneath everything, it wants to be Biblical, treating Scripture as the authority for belief and life.
Beliefs
New Hope describes itself as a "nondenominational evangelical church." Beliefs are formed by commitments to Jesus Christ and to Scripture, and the congregation focuses on essentials while leaving freedom in secondary matters. The church affirms the Trinity: God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons in one. It teaches that the Father is the Creator and the initiator of the divine-human relationship. It teaches that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, whose sinless life, death on the cross, and resurrection provide the only way for people to be reunited with God, and who will return in a Second Advent to renew creation. It teaches that the Holy Spirit reveals God throughout history and indwells the believer for holy living and power in daily life.
The church teaches that humanity, created in God's image, fell into sin and broke the divine-human bond, and that the image of God is restored only through faith in Christ. It teaches that the Old and New Testaments are the only written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and calls every Christian to study and interpret Scripture under the Spirit's guidance. It teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ's sacrifice, with no human effort sufficient to restore the broken relationship, and that believers receive justification and regeneration. It teaches that the church consists of all who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and gathers locally for worship, teaching, fellowship, and ministry. It teaches that those who trust Christ pass immediately into God's presence at death, and those who do not experience eternal separation from God.
Shared Leadership
Visitors will notice that New Hope has no "senior pastor" or "lead pastor." The pastors lead as a senior leadership team, a structure the church calls "shared leadership" and considers intentional. Pastors include Bob Anderson, Randy Spacht, and Zack Killey (who also oversees student ministries). The same philosophy shapes ministry throughout the church: leaders are expected to bring others with them. A Church Council of members serving three-year terms, with pastors also sitting on the council, provides governance; current members include Tiffany Hendrix (Chair), Jan Sexton (Secretary), Nancy Bonson (Treasurer), Barb Davidson, Brant Fisher, George Hendrix, Gabe Hollander, and Stacey Puck.
Other ministry leaders include Lynsey Wood as Worship Leader, Stephanie Vrshek as Director of Nursery, Stacey Miller as Director of Grade School Ministries, LaShon Wagner as Children of Hope Preschool Director, and Nancy Bonson as Director of ELL (English Language Learning) Ministries. Wanda Greathouse serves as Office Manager and Gannon Parker as Facilities.
Rooted Groups and Weekday Gatherings
Beyond Sunday morning, New Hope keeps a busy weekly rhythm. Two adult Bible studies work through the book of Romans together, one chapter at a time, so anyone can join at any point. The Women's Bible Study meets on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Hospitality Area, with childcare provided at no cost. The Men's Bible Study meets on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Activity Center.
Prayer Times are held at 7:30 AM on Tuesdays and Sundays in the Hospitality Area, where members gather to pray for the church and the community. A weekly Play Group for children from infancy through age five runs on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the gym.
Rooted Groups meet in homes three times a year. Designed for newcomers as the first step into the church, the groups walk through the basics of following Jesus and belonging to the New Hope community. Anyone who wants to talk one-on-one questions can also schedule coffee with a pastor.
Sermons and Podcasts
Sunday messages and a growing podcast library extend the church's teaching beyond its walls. Let's Find Out Together is a daily devotional hosted by Pastor Randy Spacht, released Monday through Friday, running eight to twelve minutes per episode and following along with the Sunday messages. Salty Saints is hosted by Zack Killey and tackles tougher questions at the intersection of faith and culture, with weekly episodes that run about an hour. Past livestreams are also available to watch on the church's YouTube channel.
Getting Connected and Giving
Giving is described at New Hope as "an act of worship." Most of the congregation gives online through the church's giving portal. Those who prefer cash or check can use the drop boxes in the upstairs foyer or by the downstairs door. New Hope accepts credit card donations but asks givers to consider prayerfully whether using a card is wise; the church teaches that credit cards should not be used for giving unless the balance will be paid off in full that month.
Baptism is celebrated periodically as a public testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. Those interested in talking with a pastor about faith, salvation, and baptism can reach out to Randy Spacht.
Anyone who wants a low-pressure way to start can schedule coffee with a pastor, sign up for a Rooted Group, or simply show up on Sunday at 10:00 AM. The church is wheelchair accessible, offers ASL and Swahili translation in the main service, has safe programming for every age from nursery through high school, runs its own licensed preschool and school-age care program on weekdays, and follows a shared-leadership model designed to keep everyone, including those exploring Christianity for the first time, fully in the life of the congregation.