Josh and Hope were set up on a blind date in 2001 through a mutual friend. After much “convincing,” Hope agreed to a second date, and the rest is history. They were married in 2004 and have 4 kids (Lex, Cole, Ava, and Truitt) with a 5th on the way (Levi, coming August 2021). Together, they serve as the lead pastor couple of Vertical Church in Chesapeake, VA.

Along with several other families, they planted Vertical in 2010. For 10 years, Josh served as the Lead Teaching Pastor until 2020 when he became the Lead Pastor. As a couple, Josh and Hope are passionate about leading people into a pursuit of the presence of God and helping them learn to display His presence in their daily lives. For Hope and Josh, becoming part of the Next Level Relational Network family in 2019 was like finally finding a home. They want nothing more than for other pastors to find the same thing they found.