Lead Pastor Jim Olson and his wife Belinda were married in 1985 while attending Eastern Washington University where Jim earned his B.A. in Applied Psychology with an emphasis on Counseling. He was drafted in 1986 by the Houston Astros and spent the next few years with Belinda traveling and living in different parts of the country before settling in San Jose, CA for five years. There he worked at Ming Quong (home for children taken out of the home by court order) and then at an adolescent day treatment facility (for severely emotionally disturbed teens). After the birth of their first daughter Ashley, they packed up and headed to Spokane where they started attending New Hope Christian Center in 1993 and have been here ever since. Two years later Jim and Belinda welcomed their second daughter, Stephanie, into the world. Jim started helping with the youth group and taking online seminary classes as he felt God’s call on him to be a Pastor. He was licensed as a Pastor in 2005. Jim served as Youth Pastor beginning in 2006 before stepping in as Head Pastor in 2011. He believes strongly in discipleship and each person growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jim currently works full time as an Orthopedic Service Rep for Depuy Orthopedics and considers himself more of a teacher than a preacher. He loves to study the Hebrew language and it shows in his messages.