New Hope Staff & Elders

Todd Stewart

Pastor & Lead Elder

Todd joined the New Hope staff in the summer of 2004. He and his wife Jennifer grew up in Kansas and they both attended KSU. They have 4 kids - 3 boys and girl. Todd graduated with an education degree in December 1996, and completed his Master’s of Divinity at Midwestern Baptist Seminary in 2010. Prior to joining the New Hope staff, Todd was the director of Crosswalk Ministries at The Ohio State University. He also served as a missionary for 2 years in East Asia, and for 2 years on the KSU Christian Challenge staff.

Todd oversees New Hope staff and leaders, and also serves on the elder team. He is the primary teacher at the weekly central gathering, and heavily invested equipping and empowering New Hope's servant leaders. Todd also serves as Lead Elder on New Hope's Elder Team.

Ben Deaver

Equipping Pastor & Elder

Ben’s role as Equipping Pastor exists to help God’s people pursue relationships here in the Little Apple that change the world. Ben's main focus is to help inform, equip, and connect New Hopers more deeply with God, each other, and our world. He directly oversees our LIFE University equipping courses program and is currently serving as an Elder as well.

Ben joined the New Hope staff in June of 2006. Both he and his amazing wife, Maris, graduated from KSU in May of 2004. Prior to his role at New Hope, Ben worked with the Navigators, a collegiate ministry, at Kansas State for two years. He graduated from Emmanuel Household Seminary in May of 2009 and is the proud father of Kate Corinn and new baby son Maddox Benjamin. Ben and Maris are excited to help the New Hope community share their lives and the love of Jesus Christ!

Dave Geldart

Administrator

Dave began serving at New Hope as Administrator in June of 2008. He works full time in the church office processing financial information, coordinating communications with visitors, members, and friends of New Hope, and overseeing New Hope's facilities.

Dave started coming to New Hope soon after moving to Manhattan to go to KSU in 2001. He graduated KSU with a Bachelors in Business Administration. Dave then attended Emmanuel House Seminary and where he earned his Masters of Divinity. He is married to his beautiful wife Jenn and they have a young son, Ben (and another son on the way!).

Ryan Nutter

Fusion Youth Pastor

Ryan is the director of Fusion Youth Ministries at New Hope. He moved to Manhattan and joined New Hope in the Fall of 2004 then joined staff in May of 2008 as a volunteer director. Ryan is married to his wonderful wife, Camala, who is also deeply involved with Fusion. Ryan graduated from Kansas State in December of 2006 with a Bachelors in Business Marketing and received his masters degree in Christian Education from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2012. He and Camala have young twins that keep them up at night :) --a boy and a girl.

Mindi Sturm

KidsLIFE Director

Mindi is the part-time director of KidsLIFE, New Hope's children's ministry. She came on staff in 2008 and has a heart to see children get to know God. Her husband, Brian, is the Associate Director of Christian Challenge, a campus ministry at K-State. Together they have four children - (from eldest to youngest) Elijah, Emma, Cooper, and Zeeke.

Robbie Nutter

Worship Team Director

Robbie volunteers as the director for New Hope's worship teams. He graduated from KSU in 1997, and a year later, was married to Gail. They became members of New Hope in 1998. Robbie and Gail have 3 kids - Levi, Sarah, and Jason.

For 2 years after college, Robbie worked on staff with the KSU Christian Challenge ministry where he served as the worship leader. He and his wife then left K-State to do mission work in East Asia. Now that he's back in the States, Robbie works full-time on staff with Christian Challenge. His heart is to see Christ’s church come alive as the people bring all of who they are before all of who God is in worship.

Tony Classen

Elder

Tony and his wife Carmen grew up in Kansas and they both attended KSU. Tony graduated with a business management degree in December 2003. He and his wife both attended Emmanuel House Seminary after college.

Tony worked on staff with Christian Challenge after college and then worked on staff with New Hope from 2004-2007 as Administrator. Tony currently works as Product Consultant at Vibe-It, a software development company. Tony and Carmen currently help lead a LIFE Group and have three young children.

Ben Duell

Elder

Ben is a long time New Hoper. Ben attended Emmanuel House Seminary and currently works as Project Manager at Schultz Construction. He also volunteers to help lead music at New Hope's Central Gathering and also leads a LIFE Group on Thursdays nights. He and his wife, Kristin (who also attended Emmanuel House), have three young children that are full of life. The Duells love people and have committed their lives to advancing the Gospel by building relationships that change the world.

Nate Sapp

Elder

Nate is a long time New Hoper. He currently works on staff with Christian Challenge as Worship Leader. He helps disciple students and leads a LIFE Group through Christian Challenge. Nate also works as a professional photographer. So if you have a question about DSLRs or sweet lenses -- especially if they're Nikon -- Nate's your man!

He and his wife, Erika, have three young daughters, with a son on the way!