Senior Pastor:
Vacant

Ray of Hope is currently interviewing applicants for this position.


For information about this vacancy, and other vacancies within the IPHC Appalachian Conference, please visit this website: https://www.appconf.org/church-opportunities.


Sunday morning worship continues as scheduled during this time. Please join us!

Executive Administrator:
Teresa Meadows

Teresa has been a member of Ray Of Hope Church for 19 years. She accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was 23 years old.


"I love the Lord with all my heart and I love serving Him on a daily basis. My hearts desire is to make Heaven my home and to help lead others to know Jesus Christ as Savior in their lives."


In the past at Ray of Hope Church, she has served as the Women's Ministry President for 8 years, she has served as a Sunday School Teacher, a Christian Education Leader and also praise and worship leader for 10 years.


Teresa now serves as the Executive Administrator, the Vice President to the Women's Ministry, a member of the prayer team, and a member of the Board at Ray Of Hope Church. She is also a part of the Ray of Hope Choir.


Teresa has lived in the Harrisonburg area for her entire life. She is the Vice President and Treasurer of the Elkton Neighborhood Watch. She also serves the city of Harrisonburg as a Pharmacy Technician.


Teresa's favorite scripture is Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."...


"Because no matter what circumstances or trials we face, it's all part of God's plan, and it will work out for the good. I need to trust His purpose for me."


She and her husband Jim have 2 beautiful daughter's and 1 adorable granddaughter.

Next Generation Executive Ministry Leader:
Shelly DeFreese

Shelly has been a member of Ray Of Hope Church since the year 2009.


Shelly was born and raised in Mahwah, New Jersey. She accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was 11 years old.


Shelly attended The King's College in Briarcliff Manor in New York (A Christian University) majoring in Elementary Education. Her journey at that college brought her to the Shenandoah Valley in the year 2004. She currently works for the Rockingham County Public School System.


"I bought my home in Weyers Cave in 2009. At that time our neighbors introduced us to Ray Of Hope Church. One visit and we felt we returned home."


In 2012 she completed her foster parenting license and 3 months later received her 2 sons, ages 8 and 3. Eleven months later, her daughter arrived at 2 days old.


"My home, hands and heart were full! I prayed for peace and strength to be there for them and their parents and for whatever path we would travel. Twenty five months later, all 3 were legally and officially my children. More importantly, we became a God appointed family."


Shelly's favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope."


"This scripture has always rang true in my life and I thank the Lord for all of His blessings on me!"

Next Generation Ministry Leader:

Deb DeFreese

Debbie was born and raised in New Jersey and worked in a Private Day Care as a teacher for over twenty years. She visited Ray of Hope faithfully with family during her visits from New Jersey. She then moved to the valley in 2013 and became a member at Ray of Hope.


She holds a Ministerial Diploma from Free Gospel Bible Institute in Export, PA and an Associates Degree in Early Education.  She has served as a Minister in training in her former church (Hope Chapel Mission in Salisbury, New York) and was licensed by her Pastor Emeritus the late Reverend Alvin D Gunther.  Debbie is currently employed with the Rockingham County Schools and works as a Teacher’s Assistant with Special Education.


Debbie has been a member of Ray of Hopes Women’s Ministry since 2013.  She has also served as an Assistant to her sister with the Children’s Ministry at Ray of Hope since 2015.


Debbie resides with her family in Weyers Cave, VA.


Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

Next Generation Ministry Leader:

Jessica Harris

Jessica is currently a student at JMU and her major is: Elementary Education.


In her own words, this is Jessica's testimony. "I was raised a Christian, got angry and turned my back on God in high school, went to Ray of Hope for the first time in October 2020 because Annabelle wouldn’t stop inviting me, kept going because of the overwhelming sense of peace I felt, gave my life back to Christ in January 2021 and was baptized in June 2021, joined Children’s Ministry team in October 2021."


Jessica's favorite scripture is Romans 5:8... “But God shows His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jessica added, "I like this verse because it reminds me of God’s never ending and perfect love. He loved me even when all I did was run from Him, and He helped me make some crazy changes in my life once I found Him again. He’s pretty cool."

Helps Ministry Leader:

Jeanette Smith

Jeanette has been a member of Ray Of Hope Church since 2004 when she truly gave her heart to the Lord.


In the past, she has served as the Women's Ministry Treasurer, the Fundraiser Coordinator, on the Prayer Team and has assisted with Sunday School Classes.


The Food Pantry was started by Jeanette in 2017 as a way to help the needy and support different functions of Ray Of Hope Church.

Jeanette also serves on the Prayer Team.


Jeanette is married to her wonderful husband James Sr. Together they have 3 wonderful children and 7 awesome grandchildren.


"My precious mom is Barbara Mowbray. She is my prayer warrior and she helped teach me how to truly believe in Jesus Christ. I praise God everyday for my life. The Lord brought me through and healed me of cancer in 2016. My walk with Him became even stronger. Every chance I get, I tell everyone around me of the awesome God I serve."


Jeanette's favorite book of the Bible is Psalms and her favorite scripture is Psalms 27:14.



Administrative / Missions:

Mervin Diehl

Mervin has been a member of Ray Of Hope Church for 22 years.


In the past at Ray of Hope, Mervin has served as the Men's Ministry President for 8 years.


Mervin has been on the Board for 20 years. He was the overseer of building the new sanctuary at Ray Of Hope Church, he has been the Missions Director for 15 years, and he is also the director of the Fundraiser Committee.

Mervin also serves on the Prayer Team.


Mervin has been a member of the Mt Crawford Ruritan Club for 40 years and he also works at the Rockingham County Fair as the Grounds Keeper.


"I love serving the Lord and my community."


Mervin's favorite scripture is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."...


"I love this scripture because I know that I am not worthy and that I'm just a sinner saved by grace and He gave His son so that I may live."


Mervin has 3 wonderful children and 6 amazing grandchildren.




Teresa Meadows

Teresa has been a member of Ray Of Hope Church for 19 years. She accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was 23 years old.


"I love the Lord with all my heart and I love serving Him on a daily basis. My hearts desire is to make Heaven my home and to help lead others to know Jesus Christ as Savior in their lives."


In the past at Ray of Hope Church, she has served as the Women's Ministry President for 8 years, she has served as a Sunday School Teacher, a Christian Education Leader and also praise and worship leader for 10 years.


Teresa now serves as the Executive Administrator, the Vice President to the Women's Ministry, a member of the prayer team, and a member of the Board at Ray Of Hope Church. She is also a part of the Ray of Hope Choir.


Teresa has lived in the Harrisonburg area for her entire life. She is the Vice President and Treasurer of the Elkton Neighborhood Watch. She also serves the city of Harrisonburg as a Pharmacy Technician.


Teresa's favorite scripture is Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."...


"Because no matter what circumstances or trials we face, it's all part of God's plan, and it will work out for the good. I need to trust His purpose for me."


She and her husband Jim have 2 beautiful daughter's and 1 adorable granddaughter.

Fred DeFreese

Fred came to the valley in 2004. He began attending Ray of Hope in 2010 and joined the church in 2013 with his wife and two daughters.


Before moving to the valley, Fred had been on a Church Board in New Jersey and also served as a Deacon at a church in New Jersey.

Sammy Cash

Sammy has been a member of Ray of Hope since June of 2018.


He was raised in church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a very young age.


"It's hard to pick a favorite verse of the Bible. I'd say the books of Genesis and Revelation are probably my favorite. I like learning how things became, trying to put it all together and learning of the things to come."


Sammy owns a landscaping business. He enjoys farming & hunting and he loves trying new things.


"I am married to my amazing wife Ana who I met while I was on a mission trip."

Debbie DeFreese

Debbie was born and raised in New Jersey and worked in a Private Day Care as a teacher for over twenty years. She visited Ray of Hope faithfully with family during her visits from New Jersey. She then moved to the valley in 2013 and became a member at Ray of Hope.


She holds a Ministerial Diploma from Free Gospel Bible Institute in Export, PA and an Associates Degree in Early Education.  She has served as a Minister in training in her former church (Hope Chapel Mission in Salisbury, New York) and was licensed by her Pastor Emeritus the late Reverend Alvin D Gunther.  Debbie is currently employed with the Rockingham County Schools and works as a Teacher’s Assistant with Special Education.


Debbie has been a member of Ray of Hopes Women’s Ministry since 2013.  She has also served as an Assistant to her sister with the Children’s Ministry at Ray of Hope since 2015.


Debbie resides with her family in Weyers Cave, VA.


Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

Tammy Smith

Tammy grew up attending a Lutheran church with her family. When she met her husband in 1999 she began attending Ray of Hope with his family.


Tammy accepted Jesus as her Savior on September 23, 2000. Tammy's mom started attending Ray of Hope with them in the beginning of 2016, and in June of 2016 Tammy joined the church.


Tammy is currently active with the Women's Ministry and has also served in the Benevolence Ministry.


Tammy's favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."


She is happily married to her husband Jim and they live in Staunton.