Dr. Luder G. Whitlock, Jr., a Presbyterian minister, has spent much of his life in education, including 27 years at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). Dr. Whitlock joined the faculty of RTS in 1975, and, at the age of 37, was appointed president, a position he held for 23 years. Under his leadership, RTS grew from a small regional school to one of the most innovative as well as one of the 10 largest seminaries in North America.
Dr. Whitlock’s years of ministry have been marked by an effort to bring mutual understanding and cooperation within the worldwide evangelical community, which led him to serve on the boards of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), the World Evangelical Fellowship (North America region), Mission America, the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, and Greater Europe Mission. He was co-founder and co-president of the International Reformed Fellowship, and later assumed a major role in the establishment of the World Reformed Fellowship. Dr. Whitlock has contributed to more than 20 books and 20 periodicals. He is author of The Spiritual Quest and served as executive director for The Spirit of The Reformation Study Bible.
Dr. Whitlock currently serves as President of Excelsis and as Executive Director of the CNL Charitable Foundation and the Seneff Family Foundation in Orlando, Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Vanderbilt University. He and his wife, Mary Lou, have three grown children and eleven grandchildren.
If you attend our 11am Contemporary Service and would like to familiarize yourself with the songs we will be singing this Sunday, here are the links to check them out:
We are continuing to build community with one another through our Fun on the Run summer events. This past week we had a pickleball tournament that was not only competitive but also fostered camaraderie and teamwork.
The fun continued Tuesday, when we took an energetic group of middle schoolers to Sky Zone Trampoline Park. It's heartwarming to witness the friendships and memories being created during these events. Want to join in the fun? Check out our Fun on the Run calendar available at the Welcome Table and stay tuned for more exciting adventures!
The world needs the light of your leadership!
The Global Leadership Summit August 7-8, 2025
It only takes one spark, one visionary, to create light in the darkness. New Hope is hosting the Global Leadership Summit simulcast August 7-8, 2025. You will join a community of leaders stoking the embers of their leadership. And when your single light is added to a community of leaders, you can illuminate the world! Please plan to join us for this inspiring two days of learning together.
Please update your information in ELI, our online church directory. If you have a new address, phone number, email, or would like to add or update your picture, you can do so directly in ELI. You can click here to access ELI or you can find the link under "Contact" in the menu at the top of this page. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can write your new details in the Friendship Pad on Sunday and we will be happy to update them for you.
SAMARITAN'S PURSE
Recently, Samaritan’s Purse delivered shoeboxes to children in Ethiopia whose families work at the Koshe dumpsite in Addis Ababa to survive. This dumpsite is characterized by mountains of trash, and many families residing nearby salvage items daily to provide for their children. Oftentimes, the toys these precious children cherish came from this very trash heap.
The delivered shoeboxes were filled with fun and exciting items. For many children, it was the first gift they’d ever received, and the joy of the new toys resonated deeply with their parents as well. In numerous places like Addis Ababa, these shoeboxes serve as a medium to introduce the Gospel message. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love tangibly to children in need worldwide and, in partnership with local churches globally, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations.
Although the national collection week for shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is from November 17 to 24, children worldwide receive their boxes throughout the year, and churches continuously pack boxes year-round. New Hope has already started planning for this season’s packing and collection. We invite you to pray with us that our church-wide goal of 300 physical boxes and 200 online boxes will be met. If you are interested in learning more or serving in New Hope’s Operation Christmas Child activities this year, email our Community Outreach Director Rachel Frey at rachel@newhopefortmyers.org.
