hope leadership

  • Bo jeffares - pastor

    Bo is originally from Meridian, MS, and came to Hope after graduating Mississippi State University in 2004. He later earned a masters in Global Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary. Bo currently lives in Tupelo, MS, with his wife, Kimberly, and two daughters. He enjoys playing, writing, and listening to music as well as reading, bowhunting, golfing, and being with friends.

  • Jon wright - ASSOCIATE PASTOR | worship leader

    Originally from Lake View, AL, Jon graduated from the W with a Bachelor's in Music Education and has lived in Columbus since 2014. He enjoys all things music, film, and philosophy, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity with Fuller Theological Seminary in hopes of one day working in hospital chaplaincy.

  • leah shackelford - hope kids director

    Leah is originally from West Point, MS, but has lived in Columbus since 2010. She graduated from the University of Mississippi and is a middle school teacher at Annunciation Catholic School. Leah has attended Hope since 2017 and loves serving children and following Jesus in this community of believers.


  • a. b. puckett - board member

    A. B. grew up in Columbus. After graduating from Furman University, he worked as a financial advisor for Edward Jones, and later moved to Kenya to help found Global Connections, a non-profit that serves the widowed, orphaned, poor and oppressed. A. B. currently works in private equity and serves on the boards of BlueSky Global Ministries and Global Connections as well as the Cadence Bank advisory board.

  • john trumm - board member

    John is originally from Potosi, Wisconsin. He currently works as a Civil Engineer for the U.S. Air Force with seven years active duty and over fourteen years Civil Service. John has two children and lives in Steens with his wife, Laura. He enjoys traveling adventures and exploring and experiencing the scenery, history, and food that new places have to offer.

  • RObert Staggers - Board Member

    Originally from West Point, MS, Robert has lived in Columbus since 1995 and served on staff at Hope for over a decade. Robert is an avid musician. A cook. A lover. A fighter and a friend. 

  • GLORIA HERRIOTT - BOARD MEMBER

    Married to Columbus-born Maurice, Gloria is originally from Southern California but has enjoyed living in Mississippi off and on over the last fifty years. After raising her three children here, Gloria retired from her advertising career and took ownership of Hollyhocks Gift Shop in downtown Columbus. She served as a children's minister for many years and has served the church in many capacities. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys traveling, especially to Israel and Italy.