SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Dr. R. Craig Strickland, D. Min.
Senior Pastor/Preaching & Teaching Team

Dr. Craig Strickland began Hope in 1988 in a living room with 8 original members. Now approaching its 23rd year, Hope has reached out to people and churches of all denominations and faith communities with a message filled with hope and guided by a commitment to servant-leadership at every level. Today, Hope welcomes an average of 6000 members and visitors every weekend. Craig graduated from Messick High School. After high school, he graduated from Memphis State University and received both his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry Degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was the founding member and Chairman of the Board of The Memphis Leadership Foundation and has served on numerous committees involving church growth. He is currently Chaplain of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, The Germantown Police Department and Chief Chaplain of the Tennessee Public Safety Network. Craig lives in Germantown with his wife, Lee, and their yellow lab, Barklee The Wonder Dog. They have three adult children; Emily married to Scott, Tucker, and Taylor, and two grandchildren, Scottie and West.

Scott Milholland
Chief Operating Officer

While successfully working in the corporate environment in Dallas, Texas, Scott felt urged by God to use his executive leadership gifts to further His Kingdom. Besides corporate success, he was an active leader within his church, Prestonwood, which is a large 30,000+ member church in the Dallas area. He served in leadership at Prestonwood in several areas such as evangelistic outreach, community mission work, and coordinating volunteers. He also served on both for-profit and non-profit boards. He received his BBA in Finance and his MBA. Scott lives in Germantown with his wife, Shannon, and four daughters; Hannah, Hayleigh, Clara and Carynne.

Rev. Mike Sadler
Pastor of Men's Ministries

Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Mike joined the Hope staff in 2004 as our Caring Ministry Pastor. Soon after, he became Hope’s Executive Pastor as we headed into our largest capital campaign building project to date—our current 5,000 seat Sanctuary and supporting facilities. Mike also heads up Hope’s Men’s ministry. He’s an avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman, and a pretty good golfer, as well. Mike lives in East Memphis with his wife Jeannine. They have three adult children; Sarah married to Aaron, Teddy and Julia.

Dr. Eli Morris
Stirring-Urban/Preaching & Teaching Team

A lifelong resident of Memphis, Eli graduated from Overton High school followed by his B.S. from Memphis State in 1977. Eli received his Master of Divinity with honors from Memphis Theological Seminary in 1990 and his Doctor of Ministry in 1996 from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Eli’s concern for the poor has been a hallmark of his work at Hope. His current role at Hope as the Associate & Urban Ministry Pastor finds him each and every day engaging with and ministering to those who live with the challenges of poverty.  He serves on the boards of STREETS Ministry,  Oasis of Hope, Luke 4:18 Ministries, and MIFA Emergency Services. Eli also is the pastor of our unique Sunday evening service, The Stirring.  An avid runner, Eli has logged over 21,000 miles and has run in every state in the U.S. except Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska.  Eli lives in East Memphis with his wife Patty and two cats. They have three adult children; Tommy married to Jessica, Avery married to Destiny, and Lindsay.

Kathy Flake
Project Director

Kathy—quite simply—does it all. Whether it’s figuring out how to pull off multiple graduations or Christmas services, Kathy always has the details ironed out. Born in Texas, Kathy eventually moved to Memphis and graduated from Ridgeway High School followed by Memphis State University. She began working at Hope  to create the weekday preschool program in 1997. Since overseeing our last building project, Kathy estimates she has walked up and down the sanctuary stairs more times than she can count. Her one weakness is Diet Coke, especially from Sonic. Kathy lives in Germantown, TN with her husband, Randy. They have two adult sons; Michael and Brian.

Rev. Rufus Smith
Discipleship/Preaching & Teaching Team

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Rufus joined the Hope staff September 1, 2010. Before moving to Memphis and Hope he served 12 years as the Sr. Pastor of City of Refuge Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), a diverse, dynamic and socially active congregation. He is the Chairman of the Evangelical Presbyterian Urban Ministry Network. In addition, he served 3 years as the lead Chaplain for the NBA Houston Rockets and advises on four other local and national Boards. He was ordained in 1988 and studied at Houston Baptist University majoring in Theology and Psychology and his passion is preaching, teaching and discipleship development. He loves baseball, reading, fishing and walking, but his claim to fame and fun is His wife Jacqueline of 26 years along with their three adult children, Ruth Abigail, Rufus V, and Rhoda.

Mary Ann Ruff
Women's Ministry Director

Mary Ann has served as the Director of Women’s Ministry at Hope since 2006. Before moving to Memphis, Mary Ann served as the Director of Women’s Ministry at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, NC; Director of Connection Ministry at Myrtle Grove Church in Wilmington, NC; and Women’s Ministry Director at Colonial Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. She has contributed to the book “Leading Women to the Heart of God” by Lysa Terkeurst and “Building an Effective Women’s Ministry” by Sharon Jaynes. Mary Ann enjoys reading, fellowship with friends, and a latte from Starbucks. Mary Ann is the wife of Dave Ruff who is Pastor of Adult Education at Hope Church. Mary Ann and Dave have three adult children, Molly, Amy and John.