Pastors
Covenant Hope is a congregationally-ruled church led by a plurality of biblically qualified pastors. Accountable to Christ, these men are to provide servant leadership to the church by prayerfully guiding, fiercely guarding, and humbly governing the church body. Here at CHC, each of our pastors lead in specific areas of ministry within the church while being equal in authority to one another and the church family.
CODY EVANS, Pastor of Preaching & Vision
Cody grew up on the other side of Hickory, NC and began attending a local church at a young age after participating in VBS, where he accepted Jesus Christ. Throughout his time in the local church, Cody began to explore a desire to serve in local church ministry. This desire led Cody to attend The College at Southeastern. Southeastern has become very special because this is where both Cody graduated with his BA in Christian Studies, and where he also met and married his wonderful wife Ashlee in January 2016. Cody has had the joy of serving in Student Ministry at Plainview Baptist Church and also being equipped by Open Door Church for pastoral ministry; Open Door then sent Cody to help replant Covenant Hope Church in January of 2018. He has now finished his Masters of Divinity at Southeastern and works bi-vocationally there.
PAUL GATERS, Pastor of Member Care
Ryan grew up in King and Winston-Salem, NC where he came to faith at a young age and grew up in a healthy gospel-minded church. He also met his future bride while they were still in the children’s ministry. After graduating high school, he moved all the way to Raleigh, where he graduated with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from NC State. After waiting on her to graduate from that light blue university down the road, he was overjoyed to marry his childhood sweetheart, Meagan, in 2007. The Lord has blessed them tremendously with four children – Riley, Abby Ruth, Charlotte, and Cole. During and after seminary at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Phillips family were members at Open Door Church in Raleigh, where they were poured into and trained for pastoral ministry. Open Door sent Ryan and his family to help replant Covenant Hope Church in 2018.
RYAN PHILLIPS, Pastor of Discipleship
Ryan grew up in King and Winston-Salem, NC where he came to faith at a young age and grew up in a healthy gospel-minded church. He also met his future bride while they were still in the children’s ministry. After graduating high school, he moved all the way to Raleigh, where he graduated with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from NC State. After waiting on her to graduate from that light blue university down the road, he was overjoyed to marry his childhood sweetheart, Meagan, in 2007. The Lord has blessed them tremendously with four children – Riley, Abby Ruth, Charlotte, and Cole. During and after seminary at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Phillips family were members at Open Door Church in Raleigh, where they were poured into and trained for pastoral ministry. Open Door sent Ryan and his family to help replant Covenant Hope Church in 2018.
Staff
In efforts to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, our church has called attention to specific roles of ministry. These ministries are led by staff members who help our church grow in our love for God and others.
NATE COBB, Minister of Musical Worship
Nate grew up in Kannapolis, NC and learned of Jesus from his parents and the church they attended. He gave his life to Jesus at a young age after talking with his parents one night after a church gathering. Growing up in the church, Nate learned more and more about Jesus and His Word, but it wasn't until the summer after his freshman year of high school when he realized that God was calling him to serve in a local church context. Nate didn't know exactly what that looked like at first, so in order to grow in his faith and pursue the Lord's calling for him in ministry, Nate attended The College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, NC and graduated from the school in May of 2019. During his time there, the leaders of his local church (Imago Dei Church), led him to do an internship where he learned how to care for his church family by commending Jesus to them in song and through the Scriptures. Soon after the internship, the Lord led the pastors of CHC, Nate, and the elders of Imago Dei Church to explore the possibility of Nate leading in musical worship here at CHC, and in December of 2021, Nate joined CHC.
Deacons
Our deacons are lead servants who care for the material and logistical needs of the church so that the pastors can focus on the Word of God and prayer, following the pattern of Acts 6.
