Pastor Elissa
Pastor Elissa came into a relationship with Christ through the ministry of a backyard bible school program at the age of 5. While she faithfully attended church, it wasn’t until she was thirteen that she felt a true call to live a fully devoted life for God. While on a mission trip in South Africa, Elissa felt God’s leading to pursue her calling to share His love with everyone she met and began to faithfully engage in mission trips both locally and abroad. She has traveled for missions to ten countries and has participated in dozens of local or inner city mission endeavors.
After working in youth ministry for three years, Elissa felt called to continue her education. She graduated from Asbury Seminary in May 2011 with her Masters in Christian Ministry. Elissa says that she “truly felt God’s hand leading and guiding her to Hope” and that she “feels at home here”. It was truly God designed because on March 24th of 2012, she married Ben Dodge whom she met here at Hope!
Pastor Elissa states that her favorite scripture is Psalm 103 because it has meant so much to her during numerous trials and moments of her life. She particularly loves verses 2-5: “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.“
Pastor Elissa came into a relationship with Christ through the ministry of a backyard bible school program at the age of 5. While she faithfully attended church, it wasn’t until she was thirteen that she felt a true call to live a fully devoted life for God. While on a mission trip in South Africa, Elissa felt God’s leading to pursue her calling to share His love with everyone she met and began to faithfully engage in mission trips both locally and abroad. She has traveled for missions to ten countries and has participated in dozens of local or inner city mission endeavors.