HIGHLAND HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Worship Tech and Media Specialist
As a truck driver for nearly fifteen years, Christopher has seen pretty much all that this great nation has to offer. He came to realize that the most beautiful place he could be was right at home.
Christopher does everything he can to ensure that folks coming to Highland Hope truly feel the presence of the Lord during our worship services. He wishes to share his love of Christ with everyone around him, and to help others to spread His gospel and worship together.
Covid-19 has changed much about how we worship, and Christopher has been at the forefront of experimenting with new means of bringing the Highland Hope worship experience into the homes of congregants all over the world.
Pastor Chuck Kurfman was born in Beardstown, IL, and grew up in several small towns throughout central Illinois. He has wonderful memories of attending Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and youth group at local United Methodist Churches, as well as other churches in these small towns.
He is a graduate of Virden Community High School (go Bulldogs!), the University of Illinois Springfield, and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. While in high school, he felt the call to ordained ministry, but he fought that call until he accepted a full-time ministry position in 1999 serving as youth pastor and pastor's assistant.
His began serving at his first appointment in 2007 at the New Salem United Methodist Church, just west of Springfield. He then was appointed to the then two-point charge of Pawnee and Thayer United Methodist Churches in 2013, and that appointment became a three-point charge in 2016 with the addition of the Divernon United Methodist Church. On July 1, 2021, he began serving at his new appointment at Highland Hope United Methodist Church.
He met his wife, Amy, at the church she grew up in, Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church in Springfield, IL, where he was attending and singing in the choir. (He knew her parents before he met her…) Pastor Chuck and Amy were married in 1991. He and Amy have four awesome children: Lily, A. J., Emma and Liam.
Pastor Chuck wants everyone to know that there is nothing they can do to make God love them less and there is nothing they can do to make God love them more. We are not loved by God because of who we are but because of who God is.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director - Kids in Christ
Ciara was born in Creve Coeur, Missouri and raised in Highland, Illinois. Ciara, her husband Bryn and son Cayden reside in Carlyle, Illinois. She is a Greenville University Alumni. Her parents introduced her to Highland Hope church over 15 years ago where she still attends to this day.
She has had the pleasure of working with children of all ages. She was the nursery coordinator here at Highland Hope for 3 years. Ciara is currently the Assistant Director with the Kids in Christ program.
Ciara is a firm believer that through Christ anything is possible. She thinks it's exciting to teach young minds about Jesus and spread his love all around.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Pastor
Denise Thole was born and raised in New Baden and has been a life-long member of the United Methodist Church, having transferred to Highland Hope from her former home church. She has been married to her husband John for close to 29 years and has raised two beautiful children, Grant and Sage.
She and her husband opened and operate Thole Fabrication and Welding in Highland over 15 years ago, where Denise still enjoys working on evenings and weekends.
Denise is organized and fairly creative, and finds the job of Executive Assistant to the Pastor suits her well. It has been a pleasure for her to get to better know the staff and parishioners at Highland Hope.
Job Titles:
- Business Manager, Kids in Christ
- Retired Air Force Officer
Philip is a retired Air Force officer with over 30 years of business and financial management experience, holding degrees from Governors State University and Webster University. He and his wife Jennifer began attending Highland Hope shortly after being being stationed at Scott AFB and moving to Highland in 1999. They have two children, Lauren and Caleb.
Philip has been involved in several church areas over the years to include the setup team while the congregation met at the Highland Elementary School, sound booth, brass ensemble, praise band, Upwards basketball, and Financial Peace University facilitator. He began working with Kids in Christ in late 2018.
Philip and Jennifer feel blessed for the friends and "family" they have found at Highland Hope. Philip derives great satisfaction from helping others better prepare for their future through improved personal finance literacy.
My name is Shawna. I have worked with children for over 20 years. I graduated from Greenville College in 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. I have been the Director for Kids in Christ School Age Program, and the Kids in Action Day Camp Program since 2012. My husband Paul and I have 5 children. We are active members of Highland Hope UMC. I enjoy singing, reading, walking, scrapbooking and spending time with my family! I praise Jesus every day for the many blessings in my life! I look forward to serving you!
Sophie Harpster, originally from Mattoon, IL, relocated to the greater St. Louis area after graduating from Greenville University in 2021. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Biblical Studies and a Ministry minor.
She and her husband Taylor currently live in Troy, IL and recently welcomed their first child. In her free time, she enjoys creating music with her husband, caring for their dog, Millie, baking, and spending time with her family.
Sophie is passionate about community, both inside and outside of the church walls, as well as faith education through biblical study. She finds the most important part of ministry is to love others well, and is grateful for the opportunity to do that while working at Highland Hope.