a letter From Hope Leadership
September 16, 2025
Dear Hope Fellowship Family,
On Sunday, September 14, John McKinzie confessed to sexual sin and moral failure in a meeting with church leadership. Because of this disqualifying behavior, John McKinzie resigned from his role as our Lead Pastor yesterday. The Board has accepted his resignation.
No one on staff had knowledge of this moral failure before John’s confession. And aside from John’s resignation, there will not be any other staff changes at this time.
As a church, our hearts are broken and we are devastated. Many of us have been deeply blessed by John’s ministry, teaching, and friendship. We grieve not only the sin itself but also the pain and disappointment this brings to our church family and community.
We know you may be experiencing a swirl of emotions - sorrow, confusion, anger, or even disbelief. A church leader is highly trusted and when there is a betrayal of that trust, these emotions are warranted. We will grieve together as a church. Please know that our pastors and staff members are available to sit with you, pray with you, and listen to your questions and concerns. We are here for you.
You can contact our Leadership Team directly at leadership@hopefellowship.net. If you need counseling support, please find support with one of our local counselors at hopefellowship.net/counselors.
Above all, we want to remind you of this truth: our faith is not built on the leader of any single church, but on Jesus Christ, who is faithful and unchanging. He is our Shepherd, our Hope, and our Healer. In this difficult season, let’s draw near to Him and to one another, trusting that He will carry us through.
We will continue on with the mission of Hope Fellowship, but we first must grieve and lament. We will spend time this weekend as a church to worship, pray, and process.
Along this journey, we will communicate with you about our next steps and any information that will be helpful for you to know. In the meantime, we ask that you give the McKinzie family the space they need to process and heal by respecting their privacy.
The Executive Team will provide leadership, and the mission of Hope Fellowship will remain steady. We will welcome guest teachers and staff pastors to teach, and our pastors will continue in pastoral ministry and care.
In this difficult time, we lean on the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:4 where he says, “blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
We love you deeply. Please join us in praying - for John, for his family, and for our church family.
Hope Fellowship Leadership, Board & Elders
Dear Hope Fellowship Family,
On Sunday, September 14, John McKinzie confessed to sexual sin and moral failure in a meeting with church leadership. Because of this disqualifying behavior, John McKinzie resigned from his role as our Lead Pastor yesterday. The Board has accepted his resignation.
No one on staff had knowledge of this moral failure before John’s confession. And aside from John’s resignation, there will not be any other staff changes at this time.
As a church, our hearts are broken and we are devastated. Many of us have been deeply blessed by John’s ministry, teaching, and friendship. We grieve not only the sin itself but also the pain and disappointment this brings to our church family and community.
We know you may be experiencing a swirl of emotions - sorrow, confusion, anger, or even disbelief. A church leader is highly trusted and when there is a betrayal of that trust, these emotions are warranted. We will grieve together as a church. Please know that our pastors and staff members are available to sit with you, pray with you, and listen to your questions and concerns. We are here for you.
You can contact our Leadership Team directly at leadership@hopefellowship.net. If you need counseling support, please find support with one of our local counselors at hopefellowship.net/counselors.
Above all, we want to remind you of this truth: our faith is not built on the leader of any single church, but on Jesus Christ, who is faithful and unchanging. He is our Shepherd, our Hope, and our Healer. In this difficult season, let’s draw near to Him and to one another, trusting that He will carry us through.
We will continue on with the mission of Hope Fellowship, but we first must grieve and lament. We will spend time this weekend as a church to worship, pray, and process.
Along this journey, we will communicate with you about our next steps and any information that will be helpful for you to know. In the meantime, we ask that you give the McKinzie family the space they need to process and heal by respecting their privacy.
The Executive Team will provide leadership, and the mission of Hope Fellowship will remain steady. We will welcome guest teachers and staff pastors to teach, and our pastors will continue in pastoral ministry and care.
In this difficult time, we lean on the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:4 where he says, “blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
We love you deeply. Please join us in praying - for John, for his family, and for our church family.
Hope Fellowship Leadership, Board & Elders