Sidney Johnson
Family Pastor
Pastor Sidney brings a wealth of experience, having served as a Children/Youth Pastor, Camp Pastor and Outreach and Evangelism Director in Forest, Virginia. He is passionate about the next generations (Gen Z and Alpha), Biblical literacy, walking with families and the Gospel of Jesus!
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in North Florida, Sidney’s journey has been marked by his life’s mission of glorifying God and making disciples! He earned a Bachelor of Science in Law and Policy with minors in Theology and Biblical Studies from Liberty University, followed by a Master of Divinity from Liberty Theological Seminary, where he met Abigail. They married in March 2024.
Sidney is pursuing a Ph.D. in Practical Theology to enhance his leadership in family ministries. He enjoys sports, board games and exploring the beauty of National Parks.
Phillip Gonzales
Worship Pastor
Born in Texas and raised in Florida, Phillip grew up in a ministry family and loved it. Although people would often ask if he planned to follow in the pastoral footsteps of his father, Dr. Mark P. Gonzales, he would always say he'd only do that if God called him directly.
In 2006 God did call, and Phillip surrendered his life to ministry, knowing that for him it would take the form of both service in the Church and missions in the marketplace. Now, after being a Worship Pastor, Church Planter and Lead Pastor, Phillip is honored to serve as the Worship Leader for New Hope Church. He and his wife, Heather, live with their three children in Babcock Ranch.
Serena Cahoon
Church Administrator
Serena found New Hope in 2021 and came on staff in January 2023. She is a leader in the church’s women’s ministry and a leader in our student ministry, passionately investing in the next generation of young women and girls.
Serving at New Hope Church is a dream come true for Serena, allowing her to use her vast spiritual gifts to bless others and share her love for Jesus. Raised in the church, she takes pride in being a "Jesus Girl" and firmly believes in the power of fervent prayer.
Originally from the Northeast, Serena moved to Cape Coral in 2015. She married her best friend, Jim, over 23 years ago, and together they have two children, Nathan and Natalia, and her beloved daughter-in-law, Gracie.
Abigail Johnson
Children’s Ministry Director
Abigail stepped into her role in 2024, bringing with her a passion for nurturing the faith of young believers. Originally from New Jersey and raised in The Villages, Florida, Abigail earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.
Her calling to ministry led her to Liberty University where she earned a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. It was also at Liberty that she met Sidney on their first day of classes in 2021, culminating in their marriage in March 2024 in Central Florida. After a brief move to Virginia, Abigail and Sidney are excited to invest their lives in the Cape Coral community and help guide the next generation in their spiritual journeys
Isabella “Bella” Bivens
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Bella has a deep-rooted history with New Hope Church, having actively participated in the New Hope Kids and New Hope Students youth ministries. Joining our staff in January 2024, Bella has brought a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for guiding hearts toward Christ.
With a profound love for student ministries, Bella embraces the opportunity to proclaim the gospel and Jesus’s unconditional love. She aspires to venture into the mission field one day, dedicated to spreading the message of Christ across the globe.
Bella is a proud alumna of Oasis High School in Cape Coral and is furthering her academic journey at Florida Gulf Coast University.
New Hope Church Elders
Dan Sater
Dan and his wife Debbie have been happily married for 38 years. They have two daughters, Danielle and Victoria, and son-in-law Brandon.
Dan helps on Wednesdays, and leads the video-based Adult Bible Study Belong Group on Sunday mornings right after the 9:30 worship service.
We love our New Hope Family and doing life together!
Ramon Garcia
Ramon was saved by God’s grace while attending a youth event. His coming to the Lord surprised everyone -- including many church members -- after he “casually” showed up, not even planning to attend.
His passion for the scriptures started early in his Christian life, and he devoted most of his time to the study of the Old Testament and how it shows the consistency of the Trinity. Blessed by many Elders and church leaders who poured onto him, the Lord has allowed Ramon to serve as a leader at each of the churches he has been called to attend and become a member.
He has been married to Josefina for more than 20 years. Together with their teenagers, Gloria, David and Jose, they moved to Cape Coral in 2016 and later joined New Hope Church. At the forefront of their prayers and priorities is to pass onto the next generation both the gospel of Jesus Christ and a legacy of faith that could empower others to trust, surrender and live for Christ.
Greg Osterling
Greg has been an integral part of New Hope Church for many years, serving as both a Deacon and Chairman of the Deacon Body. His commitment to our church family and his unwavering faith are evident in every interaction.
Greg's leadership, integrity and dedication to serving others exemplify the type of followers of Christ we aspire to be. He has consistently gone above and beyond to support our mission of glorifying God and making fully engaged disciples.
We are grateful for Greg's continued involvement and the positive influence he brings to our church family. His service and love is a testament to the heart of New Hope Church.
About Church Elders
1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9, the apostle Paul sets forth characteristics that men must possess to be pastors, elders, overseers, shepherds. If you would like to read a bit more about the role of the Elder in church, take a look at this article in The Gospel Coalition magazine from 2019.