Worship on Stilesboro Road
Living Hope Church sits along Stilesboro Road in Kennesaw, Georgia, where two Sunday services fill the sanctuary each week. The church, whose mission is "Inspiring passionate followers of Jesus," has become a home for Kennesaw-area families looking for engaging Sunday worship, weekday Bible studies, and a strong children's and youth program.
Worship is held at 9:30 and 11 a.m., and the building opens its doors to anyone who wants to draw closer to Christ, whether someone has followed God for a lifetime, is brand new to faith, or is still figuring out what they believe. Each service runs about an hour and includes a time of sung worship, an encouraging message, and age-appropriate programming for children. Both services are livestreamed on YouTube so those at home or traveling can join in, and a coffee station greets early arrivals.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Visitors enter through a wooded covered entrance where greeters hand out directions and a warm smile. The dress code is open: jeans and t-shirts sit alongside dresses and suits, and people come as they are. Free coffee is on hand, and a children's check-in runs alongside the services.
Nursery care for infants through age four is offered during the 9:30 a.m. service, and childcare for children ages two and under is available all morning. Children's ministry for PreK through Grade 5 meets during the 11 a.m. service in the Education Wing, where children move between age-based small groups and a large group for Bible exploration, dynamic worship, dramas, and games. Children also take home a Bible Memory Fun verse to practice throughout the week.
Middle and high schoolers worship with their families in the morning services, then return in the evening for youth group from 6 to 8 p.m. The student ministry also runs annual retreats, on and off-campus events, and outreach opportunities throughout the year.
A Mission to Inspire Passionate Followers
The church's vision lays out a clear picture of how the community seeks to live out its mission. Members are invited to share their faith, value and care for others, express love for God in joyful worship, grow and take next steps in faith, love others and engage in their community, participate wholeheartedly, and plant new ministries. The values that shape that work are simple and direct: put God first, show unconditional love and generosity, and exhibit integrity and respect.
For adults who want to take their next step, the church offers a Growth Track that walks through the basics of faith, baptism, discovering spiritual gifts, and using those gifts to serve.
What Living Hope Believes
Living Hope teaches that the Bible is the Word of God for all people, authoritative, inerrant, and infallible, and that its primary message is the Gospel of free salvation through Christ. The church affirms one true, holy God who exists in three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father created the world and maintains an intimate relationship with His creation.
Members believe that Jesus came to earth through a virgin birth, lived a perfect life, gave up His life on the cross to fulfill the plan of salvation, and rose again three days later, eternally defeating sin, death, and the devil. He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God, and will one day return to bring all believers with Him.
The Holy Spirit, the church teaches, comes from the Father and Son to bring people to faith in Jesus, then lives inside each believer to remind them of their salvation, help them grow in faith, follow Jesus faithfully, and apply Scripture to daily life. The Spirit guides believers, helps them understand the Bible, and leads them to share the good news of salvation with others.
On baptism, Living Hope teaches that Jesus created it for every person, including infants, and that through a combination of God's Holy Word and water, He makes a covenant of salvation. In baptism, believers receive the forgiveness of all sins (past, present, and future), the gift of the Holy Spirit, the sure and certain promise of salvation, and spiritual rebirth.
On Communion, the church teaches that the night before He died, Jesus celebrated the traditional Jewish Passover with His disciples, then gave them the Holy Meal known as Communion. Quoting Luke 22:19-20, Living Hope teaches that when believers participate in the meal, they receive the forgiveness of their sins, are reminded of their salvation, receive strength to follow Christ in daily life, and have the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel.
Kids, Students, and Sunday Mornings
The children's ministry at Living Hope is built around the idea that the youngest among the congregation should feel treasured, valued, and loved. Infants and toddlers in the nursery learn simple truths: God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever. First-time families can pre-register their children so that staff and volunteers are ready to welcome them and have a chance to share allergies, comfort items, and emergency contacts ahead of the visit.
For middle and high schoolers, the student ministry gathers on Sunday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. with youth leaders and a high school leadership team committed to walking alongside students through the middle and high school years. Annual retreats, on and off-campus events, and outreach opportunities round out the program. The student ministry also publishes a newsletter for parents and teens who want to stay in the loop.
Bible Studies Throughout the Week
The church's Bible study ministry is the heartbeat of adult discipleship at Living Hope. Studies meet in Conference Room 1 unless otherwise noted, and most are open to anyone looking to grow in community and understanding of Scripture.
- Expanding the Sermon meets Sunday mornings from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. in Conference Room 1 and takes an in-depth look at the verses from that morning's sermon. Childcare is provided. Led by Ray Herman.
- Parenting Bible Study for Moms meets Tuesday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for young moms, with free childcare. Led by Chelsea Roach.
- Women in the Word meets Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for women who want to grow in community and study of God's Word. Led by Brenda Biberdorf.
- Bible Study for Young Women meets Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary for singles, the newly married, and young moms. Free childcare. Led by Chelsea Roach.
- Bible Study for Young Men meets Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Sanctuary for singles, the newly married, and young dads. Free childcare. Led by Caleb Williams.
- Bible Study for Men and Women meets Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and offers an in-depth look at books of the Bible. Led by Ray Herman.
- Women Connected in Christ meets the first and third Thursday evenings of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for women whose children range from middle school through young adulthood. Led by Dawn Broadwell.
- The Y Men's Ministry meets Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Youth Lounge for a time of Bible study, trusted confidence, and accountability. Led by Steve Garland and Bob Ledna.
School of Fine Arts
Living Hope's School of Fine Arts offers private instrumental lessons from a staff of trained musicians, with the school directed by Worship Director Justin Rogers. Lessons are available in violin (Paul Hedman), bass and guitar (Alice Johnston and Justin Rogers), drums and percussion (Paul La Duca), and piano (Susan O'Brien and Maryellen Truelove). Prospective students can contact Justin Rogers to schedule a lesson.
Hedman holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern Mississippi and has completed teacher training in all ten volumes of the Suzuki curriculum; many of his students have gone on to leadership positions in school orchestras, youth symphonies across metro Atlanta, and university music programs. Johnston, a Berry College graduate in classical guitar performance, is pursuing a master's at Georgia State University and aims to create a safe, inspiring atmosphere for learning. La Duca, who started playing drums at age three, attended the Atlanta Institute of Music and now teaches and plays professionally in bands across the greater Atlanta area. O'Brien brings a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Kennesaw State University and over 20 years of one-on-one piano teaching experience. Truelove holds an associate degree from Macon College and a bachelor's from Kennesaw State, and has served as Director of Music and organist at Thomaston Methodist Church in Thomaston, Georgia, and played for the Korean Ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Marietta.
Meet the Leadership Team
Lead Pastor John Schubert has served Living Hope since the summer of 2010. He and his wife Joy have one son, Austin, and he is passionate about Jesus and loves leading others to Him. He enjoys time with family and friends, hunting, hiking, riding ATVs, and is a diehard fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and RAM trucks. His favorite Bible passage is Ephesians 3:18-19: "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully."
Justin Rogers leads Worship, Youth, and the School of Fine Arts. He picked up his first stringed instrument in the sixth grade and was serving his church's worship team on guitar and bass by age 14, and has continued in worship ministry ever since. He has written, recorded, and performed music across many genres, and has worked alongside well-known worship artists, Nashville songwriters, and contestants from The Voice. He serves alongside his wife, Melissa Rogers, who is also part of the Worship Ministry. Chelsea Roach directs Children's and Youth Ministries and leads several of the women's Bible studies.
The Board of Directors, including Sande Ledna, Kerry Krueger, Amber Buchheit, Sandy Chan, Joe Hines, and Daniel Lowe, provides accountability and oversees the church's finances, and a team of Elders, including Ron Biberdorf, Greg Birkbeck, Ray Herman, Joe Hines, Steve Schaefer, Jon Torblaa, and Gerald Turner, supports the pastor and cares for the congregation with humility and love.
Giving and Staying Connected
Living Hope receives gifts three ways: in person on Sunday mornings, online through a secure giving platform, and by mail to the church's address. The church frames giving as a partnership: "None of the work we do at our church would be possible without God moving the hearts of our people to give." People exploring faith or looking to get involved can fill out a Connection Card, send a prayer request, or contact the office at office@livinghopega.com or (770) 425-6726.