Staff

Join Us Sundays at 10:45 am and Wednesdays at 7:00 pm!

Senior Pastor Mark Watkins
&
Melanie Watkins

Pastor Mark Watkins has been faithfully pastoring for 33 years, with 26 of those years serving as Senior Pastor of Christian Hope Church. He and his wife, Melanie, have been together since they were 15 years old and have been married for 39 years. Together, they are blessed with two children and seven grandchildren, who bring them great joy and keep family at the heart of their ministry.

Mark’s call to ministry came while serving on the mission field in Russia, where God placed a burden on his heart to pastor. In August of 1999, the Lord led him and Melanie to Christian Hope Church, where they have poured their lives into the congregation and the Warner Robins community. An attendee of Luther Rice Seminary, Pastor Mark’s greatest passion is to see God’s people experience and live out the Word of God. His ministry is deeply rooted in the church’s mission: Real People experiencing a Real God creating Real Change.

A verse that has guided his life and ministry is 1 Timothy 1:12-13: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” Pastor Mark continues to serve with gratitude for God’s mercy and a heart to shepherd others into transformation through Christ.

Youth Pastor Shane Lamontagne
&
Lynn Lamontagne

Pastor Shane Lamontagne has faithfully served in ministry for 15 years and has been part of the Christian Hope Church family for 22 years. He and his wife, Lynn, are blessed with three children: Madison, Taylor, and Grace. His ministry journey includes studying at Wagner College and completing the MIP course to earn his pastoral license.

Shane’s passion is to lead people to Jesus in everyday situations, showing them the goodness of God in a real and tangible way. He loves teaching the Bible in a simple, practical style that helps people truly understand and apply God’s Word. Over 23 years ago, he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, and since then his greatest joy has been leading, mentoring, and sharing the love of Christ with others. His personal testimony of visiting 14 churches before finding Christian Hope speaks to his heart for solid biblical teaching and the welcoming presence of the Holy Spirit that drew him to stay. He often describes Christian Hope as one of Warner Robins’ hidden gems.

In addition to serving as Youth Pastor, Shane leads a weekly men’s Bible study at the Woodlands Coffee Shop in Kathleen, GA, every Friday morning at 7 AM. His favorite scripture, John 3:16, is a constant reminder that if God can love him, He can love anyone. Outside of ministry, Shane enjoys fishing, sports, golfing, volleyball, pickleball, and softball. He also loves playing board games and card games, and most of all, spending time with his family and friends. His outlook on life is simple: make the most of each day, smile often, and bless others while keeping his focus on impacting the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Chad Jackson
&
Candice Jackson

Pastor Chad Jackson has been serving in ministry for 17 years and joined Christian Hope Church in June of 2020, stepping into the role of Children’s Pastor at that time. He and his wife, Candice, are blessed with two sons, Logan and Micah. Chad holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from West Virginia University, though he’ll quickly add, "The good ole Holy Spirit anointing helps!".

He began preaching at the young age of 15 and later served as a youth pastor for seven years in his home church. After marriage, God led Chad and Candice into street ministry, taking the Gospel to parks and isolated places throughout West Virginia. Their journey eventually brought them to Georgia, where a divine connection and a timely invitation led them to Christian Hope Church. During a parking lot service in the height of Covid, he felt the Lord confirm that Christian Hope Church would be their home and a place to build the Kingdom.

As Children’s Pastor, Chad has a passion for worship, preaching, mentoring, and seeing lives transformed in the Kingdom of God. He also views his workplace as a mission field, mentoring and guiding young men as both a manager and a Christ-centered role model. His favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11, a verse that reminds him of God’s faithful plans for us. Outside of ministry, Chad and his family love the outdoors—camping, hunting, overlanding trails, and fishing bring them peace and joy in God’s creation.