§ New Hope Baptist Church of Bay City has called Pastor Lee Austin as bivocational pastor beginning August 1. Dr. Ross Lucas has done an exceptional job serving as their interim for over two years, guiding them through a process of renewal, healing, and refocusing of their ministry. New Hope is one of three churches that are engaged in the "New Birth, Living Hope Initiative", a five year turn around plan designed for churches who desire to form a more hopeful future of ministry to their community.
Lee and her husband Charlie are excited to be starting a new chapter in their lives at New Hope Baptist Church. Previously Lee served Hepburn Baptist church in Pennsylvania as the Pastor of Visitation for three years and as interim pastor for about eight months. They also served the Lord as foster parents to troubled teenagers through Bethesda, a Christian agency that helps children who would otherwise be in juvenile detention centers for repeated offenses.
She began college as a pre-ministerial student at Pfeiffer College in Misenheimer, NC in the 1970's,and then at Richard Stockton State College in NJ in 1985 and received a B.A. She attended CLI in Williamsport, PA, and became a CLM. Lee has also taken 40 hours of training as a volunteer chaplain at Williamsport Hospital and has served as a volunteer chaplain ever since.
God has placed a desire in her heart to start a ministry for women who are abused and addicted to drugs or alcohol. She was instrumental in founding "Credo", an organization dedicated to helping people with addictions and abuse to name their higher power "Jesus". Today "Credo" has joined with "Celebrate Recovery" and has reached thousands of hurting souls.
She and Charlie have five children and five grandchildren.