Pastor Tom Richter
The Basics
My wife Jackie and I have one child, a daughter named Katie, who was born in 2009. Jackie is a NYC Public School teacher, and originally from Alabama. We were married in 2005. New Hope is the only church I have ever served as pastor. I began here in 2002, right out of seminary. I attended Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ), and did undergrad at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.
Interests
Music: I like all kinds of music, but I think my favorite artist would be Andrew Peterson. His lyrics are what I want my sermons to feel like when people hear them.
Movies: Gotta give some honorable mention to Lord of the Rings, but I would say the top three would be Tommy Boy, Tombstone, and The Sandlot.
TV: I grew up watching the A-Team, so right there you know my standards for televised excellence are in the stratosphere. I “pity ‘da fool” who doubts that show’s awesomeness. As far as modern TV, if there was a show that combined Seinfeld, the Simpsons, 24, The Office, Jeopardy, and Pardon the Interruption, it would be a fun one for me to watch. And probably me alone.
Sports: Love ‘em. Love to play sports, love to watch sports, but if given the chance would choose playing. Football is probably to best to watch, but I love to play any sport. Hoops, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, golf (disc and regular type), freeze-tag, whatever. Game on. Oh, and “Capture the Flag” with New Hope is always fun. Till someone gets hurt.
Books/Authors: I will assume the question means starting with my 67th favorite book. If so, gotta go with books by Clive Staples Lewis. Sometimes I will read a passage from CS Lewis and say to myself, “I could not have written what I just read on my absolute best day.” When I am doing serious reading, I have benefitted from Dallas Willard. Modern preachers I learn from include Andy Stanley and John Ortberg. When I am reading for fun, I like the Lee Child series about Jack Reacher—it has plenty of blowing stuff up and saving the world from bad guys.
Hobbies: I run. I almost said “I like to run.” But I am not sure that is accurate. Let’s just say “I run.”
Websites: There is a great irony in this, I know. But I find myself frequently surfing over to a productivity blog called lifehacker.com. I have wasted hours of productivity learning how to be more productive.
Five Questions
Where are you from?
A little college town in Western Kentucky called Murray. It has 15,000 people, and the university (my alma mater) has over 10,000 students. So it was fun to grow up there—every fall, the town literally doubled. Ok, almost literally.
What do you do to relax and find balance in your life?
One thing I do is take one day off a week. At the time of this website’s design, that day is Monday.
What books do you find yourself recommending often?
The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis, as well as The Great Divorce. The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg. And I have given away The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey to several people.
What do you like most about being a pastor?
I have the privilege of walking with people through their most pivotal moments in life. Baby dedications, baptisms, weddings, funerals. Tough times and crises, happy times and celebrations, I get the opportunity to offer encouragement. Hard to imagine doing anything else.
Why should an individual visiting this website take the next step and visit New Hope on a Sunday Evening?
The people actually care that you (yes, YOU) are there. So many people have moved away from NYC and they email me to tell me the one thing they have not been able to find, wherever their new home, is a church like New Hope. The people really care about you from the first time you come. Who doesn’t need that? I know it is scary to come to a new place for the first time when you don’t know anyone (think back to KINDERGARTEN!) but seriously, like kindergarten, it is totally worth it.
Jim Samuel
The Basics
I began to be involved with New Hope right around sophmore year at St. John's University. I was an international student at the time and soon began to become my family away from home. I graduated from St. John's with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences in 2006 and joined as campus minister at the church. I also continued to work closely with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on campus. Currently I am perusing my M. Div at the extension center of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, continue serving with students at the Queens campus of St. John's Univ and work at the New Life Christian Bookstore.
Interests
Music: My music tastes vary but currently I'm listening to Jars of Clay, Jesus Culture, Klaus Kuehen, Tedashi
Movies: The Green Mile, To End all Wars, The Village, Madagascar, Saving Private Ryan
TV: House, Band of Brothers, Office
Sports: Soccer, Basketball
Books/authors: Shane Claiborne, C. S. Lewis,
Hobbies: Bicycle riding, Hiking, Fantasy Football,
Websites: I love the cause of justice in the name of gospel of Christ and have a little a fun. Here is a few sites with that sort of idea. www.urbana.org, www.thelastletter.org, worldvision.org, www.stufffundieslike.com
Five Questions
Where are you from?
Most of my childhood was spent in Doha, Qatar a little arab country of the east cost of the Arab peninsula
What do you do to relax and find balance in your life?
I love to sleep in, read, take a walk, visit family and those i care about.
What books do you find yourself recommending often?
Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Becoming the answer to prayers by Shane Claiborne, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
What about ministry do you like the most?
I love the ministry of equipping others and serving at the simplest level.
Why should someone who is visiting this website attend a service here at New Hope?
Biblical truth lived and preached well. You will be blessed by the diversity and friendliness here. |
