Our Leadership
Pastor Ed Godfrey
Pastor-Teacher
Pastor Ed has served at Hope Community Bible Church since September 1995, first as the
youth and worship pastor from 1995 to 1998 and then as Pastor-Teacher since 1998.
Prior to coming to Hope, he served the church at large in various ministries from 1988 –
1995: pastor at Village Bible Evangelical Free Church in Bella Vista; youth pastor at Scripps
Mesa Bible Church in San Diego; pastoral intern at Redlands Community Church in Grand
Junction Colorado; and as youth pastor at Community Bible Church in San Diego.
Starting out pursuing a degree in biochemical engineering at UCSD (1985-1986), Ed followed
the call to pursue full time ministry, attending Christian Heritage College in San Diego (1987-
1990) and receiving his degree in Pastoral/Biblical Studies. He completed New Testament
Greek through Linda Vista Bible Seminary in San Diego at that same time.
Ed’s role at Hope CBC includes preaching and teaching during the Sunday Services,
overseeing the teaching ministries of the church and working with the rest of the elders to
provide leadership to the entire church. Ed enjoys discipleship ministries, working with
various men in the church to train them in ministry. Ed and his wife Laura have two adult
children (Luke and Elizabeth) as well as six grandchildren. In addition to the various
ministries, they are involved with at the church, Ed and Laura love biking, raccoons, and the
fellowship of saints beyond the walls of the church.
Brett Yamaji
Elder
Brett has served as an Elder – Pastor at Hope Community Bible Church since November
2015. Prior to serving as an Elder he served two years as a Deacon. Currently Brett is a fill-
in teacher/preacher when there is an opening. Brett earned his B.A. in Bachelor of Science in
Accounting from DeVry University, Kansas City, MO, in 2007. Before moving to Arkansas, he
served 6 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.
Brett is currently employed as a Business Analyst for Sam’s Club; he has worked for the
Walmart since 2007. He loves to teach and preach the Word of God, is passionate about
sharing the gospel with people he works with or through his blog and teaching and modeling
what it means to be a man that God desires men to be. Brett is marred to Kathie and they
are blessed with 6 children, Charlotte, Thomas, Venessa, Violet, Gary Martine and Francesca.
Chris Collins
Elder
Chris is an Arkansas native. He was born in Rogers, AR in 1976 and graduated from Rogers
High School in 1995. He was born again in March of 1995 and became a member of Hope
CBC in late 1996. Soon after, he joined the Youth Staff and has served in some capacity in
that ministry all the way to the present where he serves as the main teacher leader. Around
2009 he began serving as a Deacon. In 2023 he joined the Elders to help shepherd the flock
of God.
He has led Children's ministries since 2018, which includes the Nursery, Children's Church,
and the Youth Group. He also teaches in both the Children's Church and the Youth Group.
One of his greatest joys is being able to serve in both of those ministries with his wife Sara.
They were married in 1996 and have 6 children: Nicodemus, Zechariah, Hadassah, Abigail,
Elijah, and Faith, all of whom they have homeschooled.
Phil Kolb
Elder
Phil first began attending Hope CBC in April of 2019 after moving to Bella Vista from the Fort
Worth area. They became members of Hope in 2019. Phil began serving as a Deacon in
2020/21 Church calendar year and was affirmed as an elder in 2022/2023 Calendar year.
Martha and Phil are both Native Arkansans. When they moved to the Bella Vista area, they
were looking for a solid Bible-based body of Christ that taught Reformed Theology and so
very thankful that the LORD led us to Hope CBC.
Gerry Villar
Deacon
Gerry has served as a deacon at Hope CBC since November of 2022. He serves as a liaison
between Hope CBC and Hispanic churches that share the facilities. He also serves as a leader
for the Hope CBC Youth Group. Gerry has a passion for counseling the men of the church and
exhorting them to be biblically sound examples of Christ.
Gerry has been a member of Hope CBC since October of 2013. Gerry is married to his
wonderful wife Elizabeth, and they have 4 children: Eddy, Mia, Rosey, and Zeke.
Peter Hader
Deacon
Peter has served as a Deacon since October of 2018. He oversees the church facility
maintenance. He manages the audio / visual booth and live streaming of church services on
Sunday. He is the church’s IT (computer) guy.
Peter came to know the Lord at the age of 18. He is an avid reader and history buff, loves
Bible prophecy, and loves expository preaching at Hope Community Bible Church. He loves
the Word of God, is passionate about sharing the gospel and serving God’s people.
He has a heart for hospitality. He currently owns and operates a small regenerative farm. He
loves breeding and raising various animals. Peter is married to Kathy, and they have three
children and two grandchildren.
Joe Watkins
Deacon
What We Believe
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is God’s written revelation to man; the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, and is alone authoritative on all matters pertaining to life and faith.
We believe there is only one God, who has always existed and will always exist in three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons are co-eternal in being and nature and are co-equal in power, having the same attributes and perfections. They know, love and glorify one another. This one true and living God alone is worthy to receive all glory and adoration.
We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. We affirm His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that the salvation of man, who is sinful and separated from being in right relationship with God, is instantaneous and accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the work and power of the Word of God when the repentant sinner – enabled by the Holy Spirit – responds in faith. This salvation is wholly of God by His grace on the basis of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works. All the redeemed are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
We believe it is the Holy Spirit who opens the hearts and minds of people so that they would respond to the gospel. He brings spiritual life to those who have been spiritually dead, awakening them to repentance and faith. At the same time, He begins to live in the believer, guiding, instructing, empowering, and producing Christ-like characteristics in his life. He sovereignly and graciously gives spiritual gifts to believers, enabling them to serve one another.
We believe that all who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, of which Christ is the head. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by building its members up in the faith, by instruction of the Word, by fellowship, by keeping the ordinances, and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world. The formation of the church, the body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved; the saved unto the resurrection of life and the unsaved unto the resurrection of damnation.
Documents & Statements
We at Hope Community Bible Church, above all, strive to have a high view of God and a high view of the scriptures. It is through loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength that we are able to love and serve our neighbors. Listed below are the core beliefs that we hold to which form the foundation of our services, ministries and outreach programs. In addition, we have posted several statements of belief concerning the culture we all find ourselves in.
Our Vision
Hope Community Bible Church exists to glorify God by making disciples who will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so that…
- God’s person is richly worshiped in spirit and in truth
(John 4:23; Romans 15:5-9; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 3:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:12) - God’s people are thoughtfully and thoroughly instructed in the Scriptures
(Proverbs 2:1-9; Matthew 28:20; 2 Timothy 3:14-17;2 Peter 3:18) - God’s people are equipped to carry on the work of ministry
(Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 4:12-13; 2 Timothy 2:2) - God’s people are lovingly inclined to meaningful fellowship
(Luke 22:19; Acts 2:41-42; Hebrews 10:23-25) - God’s message is proclaimed locally and abroad
(Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:27; Acts 1:8; 5:42; 8:4)
What is the Gospel?
We at Hope Community Bible Church have been called by God and His Word to go out to our neighbors and community to share with them the simple message of the Bible concerning man’s need for a Savior.
The Bible clearly teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that there is “no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). There is a penalty to be endured by all who are sinners, for the Word of God says, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) or eternal separation from God. It is because of these things that man ought to recognize his need for someone who can save him from this condition. Man needs a Savior, for again the Word of God teaches that we were all “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
This is where I have some good news, for God made provision for men to be saved by sending His Son Jesus Christ to the earth, the perfect man and perfect God in one person who, because He is perfect was able to take the penalty for the sins of men in their place by dying on the cross, so that they may, by God’s grace and by faith, not only be delivered from their sins, but may look forward to a changed life in the present, as one who strives to live for God, as well as to a future life, which is eternal life, forever in the presence of God. As the Word of God teaches, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (the result of being a sinner) but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
It is important to know the Bible teaches “salvation is from the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). God must make us “alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5) by His grace so that we can receive the gift of salvation, for again as God’s Word teaches, “There is none who understands, there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11). Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). Again, the great teaching of the Bible is that man must recognize he is a sinner and can do nothing to save himself. All of a person’s so-called “righteous deeds” are as “filthy rags” in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). This is why the Word of God says, “But as many as received [Jesus] Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
So then, how does a person become a Christian according to the Bible? Repeatedly the Bible speaks of repentance, which is acknowledging one to be a sinner and turning away from that sinfulness by the help and grace of God. The Bible says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
How does one believe? Have the words you heard pierced your heart? Are you aware of your sin? The Bible says that it is the Holy Spirit of God who will “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). If you feel the weight of your sin and are asking in some way, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) then I say to you, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” that is:
- Believe you are a sinner (Romans 3:23)
- Believe He died for your sins, was buried and was raised again on the third day just as He said (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
- Believe that in trusting Him one day you will be raised like Him, never to die (1 John 3:2)
- Believe He is the Lord to whom you must submit your life (Matthew 16:24)
Then, as the Scripture says, “you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). For, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Who can do this? God’s Word says, “For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). So then I urge you with the Word of God, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:7-8a) but receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
May I ask, what is your response to these things?
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT
Hope Community Bible Church
2300 S 13th St
Rogers, Arkansas 72756
Email: hope @ hopecbc.org
Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 1765
Bentonville, AR 72712