Following the Shepherd: Meet Hope Church’s New Pastor, Drew Gardner
Pastor Drew Gardner wasn’t looking for a new church. He was content in Smithville. He loved his church, his community, and his ministry, and would have stayed and retired there.
Then Hope Church called, and through a series of unmistakable confirmations, Drew and his wife, Kelly, knew God was calling him to serve as Lead Pastor there.
Stepping into a new ministry—especially one in a non-denominational church—was far outside the path Drew had imagined for his family. But as Drew and Kelly prayed and met with the church’s search committee and elders, it became increasingly clear that God was leading them into this unexpected move.
“For me, more than any other move we've made in our life, God confirmed to us that this was kind of His direct will for us to do this,” Drew said. “As we saw what God was doing there at Hope, it was like, hey, we just want to, we want to be a part of what God's doing there.”
The Gardners didn’t take it lightly. For weeks they prayed for God to close the door to Hope if He wasn’t leading them there. Instead, the doors opened wide, leading them to choose between comfort and the Shepherd. They chose to follow.
For Drew, learning to follow God’s leading began long before the call from Hope. He was the son of a pastor who once led the church in Smithville, where Drew was later called to lead. He watched his dad follow the Lord in ministry all his life. At age 8, Drew realized his sin and gave his life to Christ. In high school, he led Bible studies, and in college, he served as an interim youth minister at his home church.
While in college, Drew’s father passed away, leaving his church without someone to preach. Drew was asked to fill the pulpit in his first opportunity to preach, and it was clear that God had gifted him in this area. But when Drew first felt the call to ministry, he resisted. He had gone to college, earned a degree, and was working as a teacher and coach. Still, after a few short years in the profession, he knew God was calling him out of teaching. In a moment of full surrender, Drew left his teaching career and began pursuing ministry.
The first step was seminary, so Drew and Kelly packed up their family and moved to New Orleans while Drew attended New Orleans Theological Seminary. After completing his Master’s Degree in Divinity, specializing in expository teaching, Drew and his family headed to Dry Prong, Louisiana, for his first pastor job.
After five years in Dry Prong, Drew received the call to return to his childhood home church, Smithville Baptist Church, as lead pastor. Excited to return home, Drew and Kelly brought their family to Smithville, where they served for the last five years.
Now Drew, Kelly, and their six children, ages 14 to 2—Virginia, Dillard, Hannah, David, Laura, and Jacob—will begin a new ministry at Hope Church, though it won’t take them far away. The Tupelo area is home to both Drew and Kelly. In high school, Drew’s father began pastoring at Auburn Baptist Church, where Drew met Kelly during his senior year. A Saltillo native, Kelly was raised in Lee County and attended Itawamba Community College, where Drew also attended and served as a leader of the Baptist Student Union.
Drew and Kelly married after Kelly graduated in 2009. Kelly earned a nursing degree and worked as an RN in home health before becoming a stay-at-home mother. She was still working full-time when their daughter was born, but knew right away that God was calling her to be home with their children. While they were in New Orleans, Kelly considered working for a while to help them financially and applied for several positions, but the call to work never came. Instead, Kelly embraced being a stay-at-home mother and home educator for their children.
After years of following God's direction through different seasons, churches, and cities, Drew and Kelly—together with their six children—are beginning a new chapter as they join the Hope family.
For Drew, this next season isn't about bringing a predetermined plan to Hope. It's about continuing to follow the One who has led him every step of the way.
“My desire and my commitment to the church is to pursue the Shepherd,” Drew said. “And to lead alongside the leadership of the church, with God's Word in front of us.”
He isn't coming with a particular style of worship or programs that he believes Hope must embrace. He isn't coming with a list of things that simply need to be done because they're what a church is “supposed” to do.
He's coming with a desire to listen to God and follow Him.
“Whatever you want us to do, wherever you want us to go, however you want us to do it for the good of our people and for the glory of His name,” Drew said.
That's the heart Drew and Kelly are bringing into this next chapter.
And now, Hope has the privilege of getting to know them—not simply as our new pastor and his family, but as fellow believers committed to following the Good Shepherd wherever He leads.
Then Hope Church called, and through a series of unmistakable confirmations, Drew and his wife, Kelly, knew God was calling him to serve as Lead Pastor there.
Stepping into a new ministry—especially one in a non-denominational church—was far outside the path Drew had imagined for his family. But as Drew and Kelly prayed and met with the church’s search committee and elders, it became increasingly clear that God was leading them into this unexpected move.
“For me, more than any other move we've made in our life, God confirmed to us that this was kind of His direct will for us to do this,” Drew said. “As we saw what God was doing there at Hope, it was like, hey, we just want to, we want to be a part of what God's doing there.”
The Gardners didn’t take it lightly. For weeks they prayed for God to close the door to Hope if He wasn’t leading them there. Instead, the doors opened wide, leading them to choose between comfort and the Shepherd. They chose to follow.
For Drew, learning to follow God’s leading began long before the call from Hope. He was the son of a pastor who once led the church in Smithville, where Drew was later called to lead. He watched his dad follow the Lord in ministry all his life. At age 8, Drew realized his sin and gave his life to Christ. In high school, he led Bible studies, and in college, he served as an interim youth minister at his home church.
While in college, Drew’s father passed away, leaving his church without someone to preach. Drew was asked to fill the pulpit in his first opportunity to preach, and it was clear that God had gifted him in this area. But when Drew first felt the call to ministry, he resisted. He had gone to college, earned a degree, and was working as a teacher and coach. Still, after a few short years in the profession, he knew God was calling him out of teaching. In a moment of full surrender, Drew left his teaching career and began pursuing ministry.
The first step was seminary, so Drew and Kelly packed up their family and moved to New Orleans while Drew attended New Orleans Theological Seminary. After completing his Master’s Degree in Divinity, specializing in expository teaching, Drew and his family headed to Dry Prong, Louisiana, for his first pastor job.
After five years in Dry Prong, Drew received the call to return to his childhood home church, Smithville Baptist Church, as lead pastor. Excited to return home, Drew and Kelly brought their family to Smithville, where they served for the last five years.
Now Drew, Kelly, and their six children, ages 14 to 2—Virginia, Dillard, Hannah, David, Laura, and Jacob—will begin a new ministry at Hope Church, though it won’t take them far away. The Tupelo area is home to both Drew and Kelly. In high school, Drew’s father began pastoring at Auburn Baptist Church, where Drew met Kelly during his senior year. A Saltillo native, Kelly was raised in Lee County and attended Itawamba Community College, where Drew also attended and served as a leader of the Baptist Student Union.
Drew and Kelly married after Kelly graduated in 2009. Kelly earned a nursing degree and worked as an RN in home health before becoming a stay-at-home mother. She was still working full-time when their daughter was born, but knew right away that God was calling her to be home with their children. While they were in New Orleans, Kelly considered working for a while to help them financially and applied for several positions, but the call to work never came. Instead, Kelly embraced being a stay-at-home mother and home educator for their children.
After years of following God's direction through different seasons, churches, and cities, Drew and Kelly—together with their six children—are beginning a new chapter as they join the Hope family.
For Drew, this next season isn't about bringing a predetermined plan to Hope. It's about continuing to follow the One who has led him every step of the way.
“My desire and my commitment to the church is to pursue the Shepherd,” Drew said. “And to lead alongside the leadership of the church, with God's Word in front of us.”
He isn't coming with a particular style of worship or programs that he believes Hope must embrace. He isn't coming with a list of things that simply need to be done because they're what a church is “supposed” to do.
He's coming with a desire to listen to God and follow Him.
“Whatever you want us to do, wherever you want us to go, however you want us to do it for the good of our people and for the glory of His name,” Drew said.
That's the heart Drew and Kelly are bringing into this next chapter.
And now, Hope has the privilege of getting to know them—not simply as our new pastor and his family, but as fellow believers committed to following the Good Shepherd wherever He leads.
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