We exist to enable people to love God, love others, and serve passionately!

  • Dimas Castillo - Senior Pastor

    A native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Dr. Dimas E. Castillo is the Senior Pastor of Living Hope Community Church. Prior to his arrival at Living Hope, Pastor Dimas served as the Director of Multicultural Evangelism at the New River Baptist Association for eight years. Pastor Dimas enlisted in the United States Navy and served faithfully for 22 years, retiring as a Hospital Corpsmen Chief Petty Officer. 

    Pastor Dimas gives the credit for all success in the growth of Living Hope and his personal life to God. He knows through his own experiences that if you are truly repentant, God is quick to forgive you. And more than that, the Bible tells us He is able to keep us from falling! He is continually in awe of how God is using His people to advance the ministry. It is his heart's desire to see Living Hope become the vessel that brings Christ to the masses by combining a strong foundation with a fresh and inspired vision of change. 

    Pastor Dimas holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Campbell University, a Master of Divinity in Church Planting and Evangelism and a Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership from Liberty University Theological Seminary. He is married to Nora; whose sincere and gentle spirit compliments the ministry that God has ordained for their lives. Into their union they have one daughter, Dee and one son, Jonathan. They have 4 grandchildren, Kevin, Jaylen, Mya, and Abel. Email him.

  • Robert Hall - Associate Pastor

    Robert is an Associate Pastor that teaches during our Traditional Worship service on Sunday mornings. He also oversees our senior ministries. Robert has been serving in this location since 2003. He enjoys old cars and is the Director for Campbell University at Camp Lejeune, NC. Email him.

  • Maleni Cress - Children's Ministry Leader

    Maleni has a huge heart for children and provides oversight for Birth - 5th Grade on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Maleni came to Christ because of others who invested in her as a child and she understands the opportunity we have to invest in children each week. Because of the rate of our growth and change with our military families, Maleni works diligently to inspire and coordinate a large number of volunteers that help nurture our children's spiritual growth.  Email her or call 619-787-6031.

  • Crystal Meadows -Youth Ministry Director

    Crystal is a wife and a mother of 3 with 1 more on the way, but most importantly a daughter of the KING! 

    She has worked with youth of all ages over the last 15 years and stepped into the Youth Director role here at Living Hope Community Church in October of 2019. 

    "I love teaching youth about agape love and eternal life and strive to keep their faith IGNITED! My goal is to give them the tools to be a light in a world full of darkness and send them out shining brighter than before."

  • Kierstin Gilbert - Traditional and Contemporary Worship Leader

    Bio coming soon

  • Cathy Rhoades - Office Administrator

    Cathy started as our Financial Secretary in 2015. She retired in 2011 from the Department of Navy, Installations Command in Washington D.C. as Deputy Inspector General for Fraud Waste Abuse and Mismanagement after 34.5 years. She is married to Todd and has two daughters and four grandchildren and two rescue dogs.

Our Core Values

  1. Jesus! He is the source of our salvation and through him alone we can have a personal relationship with God the Father. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source of our beliefs, revealing Jesus as the Son of God. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
  2. Love. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13 1
  3. Diversity with Unity. We are a multicultural and multigenerational church seeking to create an environment where everyone is welcomed and can encounter Christ authentically. Our members and ministry leaders are multicultural and include men and women from many backgrounds. We pray that our church’s worship will reflect the diversity found in heaven (Revelation 7:9).
  4. Family. We believe in strengthening families and honoring God with lifelong commitments to marriage between one man and one woman. Marriages need the support of their church community. We want to support parents, as they disciple their children. And we, as the Body of Christ, are an intergenerational family. We join together in celebrations and in tears. If a misunderstanding arises, we graciously seek to understand each other and be reconciled.
  5. Sanctuary. Apart from Christ, the world is without hope and peace. We offer a safe place for all and desire to be a beacon of hope to the hurting, spiritually needy, and physically needy in our community.
  6. Prayer. We expect God to speak to us and guide us individually and corporately. Prayer declares that we need the supernatural power of God’s presence to see our world changed for His glory and good. For our battle is not just physical, but the battle is a spiritual one requiring spiritual weapons (II Corinthians 10:3-5).
  7. Discipleship. We are called to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded. We value daily prayer and reading of the Scriptures. We value mentors and a humble desire to continue growing and learning together. When one of our members relocates, we pray that they will be better equipped to serve God in their new location as a result of their participation at Living Hope.
  8. Serving. We believe that serving is vital for healthy spiritual growth and is an act of worship, which reflects the example of Christ. God has given each of us the privilege and responsibility of serving and ministering in a variety of ways in our church, neighborhoods, and workplaces.


Our Mission

We exist to love God, love others, and serve God with passion.


Our Vision

To be the church that brings people to Jesus, displaying the love of God by connecting with people of many backgrounds, to disciple them into faithful followers of Christ, and to equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in our community and beyond.


Established in 2011

By the merging of Rock Creek Community Church & New River Baptist Church