WHAT WE DO:
Do you feel there is more of God to be discovered? We want to help you discover the Lord like you never have before. Whether you want to be in full time ministry or just wanna go deeper and know Jesus more, this place is for you.
This college is designed to train and equip Christian leaders through grounded Biblical teaching, seasoned discipleship & mentorship, and hands-on ministry.
You will learn:
- How to properly interpret and understand God’s Word
- Christian Ethics
- Essential Church History
- How to share Jesus with family, friends, co-workers, and strangers
- All about The Life of Christ and what that means as a disciple
- How to craft & preach a sermon
- How to share your testimony
- How to defend your faith when others attack it
- To become the leader God has called you to be
- To manage your money and resources
- About who God has made you to be
- Different ministries inside & outside the church
Our goal is that everyone who comes through this college will become a disciple, then make disciples, and change the world.
Our Awesome Team
Program Director
Pastor Tommy & Holly Russo
Pastor Tommy grew up in Northern Virginia. As a child, he had an encounter with God that showed him just how real Jesus was. At age 13, he moved to Florida and began attending a local church where he was about to meet Jesus again. At about age 16, he had another encounter with God at this church which left his life completely turned upside down. He aquired a passion and zeal for God and began to tell anyone who would listen about Jesus and his love for them.
In 2012, he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Marketing & Finance from USF but shortly afterwards felt called into the ministry. He started taking ministry classes and became a licensed minister. In 2013 he started running in the young adults ministry at Church of Hope as a volunteer and in 2015 he was hired on staff and later married his wife, Holly. Shortly after that he received his license in Ministry and in 2022 became an ordained minister from the Assemblies of God. He is passionate about seeing people know Jesus intimately, grow in their knowledge of God and his word, and spread the love of Jesus everywhere they go.
Teaching Support Staff
Pastor GP & Alicia
Pastor GP came down to Florida on vacation from Canada a few years back…and never left! He and his family heard the Lord speak and say that Sarasota is where he wanted them. After hearing God speak, they have jumped into what He has for them and Pastor GP joined our SCM staff as a teacher and helper in the college.
If you know him, you know he can become friends with anyone in about 1 minute. His charisma and funny quips have made our students comfortable and know they have a friend in him. He works hard to engage the students and mentor them, always pointing them back to Christ.
He and their family have been excellent additions our staff and our community. We are so blessed to have this guy on our team.
Head Pastors at Hope
Pastor Scott & Darla
Pastors Scott & Darla pastored in Canada for many years and had a very successful ministry. Both were raised by parents in ministry and felt had a good grasp on ministry and were loving what God had called them to do in Canada and hoped to do that for a long time. God had very different plans for them.
In 1996, God gave pastor Scott a vision of him pouring his spirit over Sarasota, Florida (a place Scott had only visited before) and Scott prayed and a church reached out to him and asked if he would come and be the lead pastor. After some time, they decided it was God’s will to relocate themselves and their 4 children and pastor here in Sarasota, Florida the Church of Hope.
All these years later, they would both tell you how thankful they are that they listened to the Lord and God has blessed them, this ministry, and their family. We believe that is largely in part because of their obedience to do what God asks of them. They serve as our lead pastors at Hope and this ministry is very thankful for them.
