Leadership

Sojourn church is blessed to have two founding pastors, Blake Bowman and Ethan Hooker. The two are fast-friends and consider it an incredible kindness of God to be tasked with planting Sojourn Church together.

PASTOR

Blake Bowman

It was in his hometown of Mount Airy that Blake first met his best friend and future wife, Amber, to whom he has now been married for 17 years.

Along with their two wonderful kids, the Bowmans have served as missionaries and church planters in Egypt and Mexico.

Blake’s time overseas has only deepened his conviction that God’s design for gospel advance is centered on local churches—churches that faithfully proclaim His Word, make disciples, and raise up gospel heralds who plant new churches among every people and in every place. And it is that same conviction that has led him back home to plant Sojourn Church.

PASTOR

Ethan Hooker

Ethan is passionate about expository preaching, biblical theology, and discipleship, and has given his life to equipping the local church to faithfully fulfill the Great Commission. Along the way, he's worked in emergency medical services and social services before sensing God's call into pastoral ministry, and has since earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Ministry from Carolina University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree.

Along with his wife, Allison, and their two children, Pastor Ethan longs to see a church centered on Christ, shaped by the Word, committed to discipleship, and faithfully engaged in the mission of God.

Church Polity

Christ is the head of His church, and because He is, we are not free to organize our leadership however we see fit. Rather, we want our structure to reflect what Christ has clearly prescribed in His Word. That conviction leads us to a church that is elder-led, deacon-served, and congregationally-ruled.

Elder-Led

Scripture consistently calls churches to be shepherded by a plurality of qualified elders (also called pastors or overseers) who teach the Word, guard sound doctrine, and shepherd the souls entrusted to them

Deacon-Served

Alongside elders, Scripture establishes the office of deacon, qualified servants of the church who care for practical needs so that the ministry of the Word and prayer is not neglected. Deacons are not a decision making body; their calling is to serve, not to govern.

Congregationally-Ruled

While elders lead and deacons serve, final authority under Christ rests with the gathered congregation, particularly in matters such as membership, discipline, doctrine, and the appointing of church leaders.

We love God's word and His people.

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