Meet the team
Josh &
Adrienne hodum
Lead Pastor
A Tennessee native, Pastor Josh Hodum grew up in a Pastor’s home with 4 siblings. Church has always been a part of his life. He accepted his calling to preach in 2001. He pastored in Mississippi for 11 years before being called to Cookeville as Pastor. He has a heart for the community and loves to help people. He also serves as one of the Chaplains for the Cookeville Police Department and Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Josh is not a stranger to Cookeville, having attended Tennessee Tech University (BA in Business Management) and then having served 3 years as Assistant Pastor here at First Church from 2007 to 2010.
He and his wife, Adrienne, married in 2004. They have one son – Bentley (10). Adrienne served in the Air Force and is also a bachelor’s alumni of Tennessee Tech, with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Alabama. She currently works at Davita Dialysis. She loves adventures and thrifting, with a passion for organizing events and children’s ministry. Their son Bentley is a student at Algood and is involved in bible quizzing.
Their desire is to see everyone in our area know and love Jesus and each other through connecting with one another. Josh loves golfing, Tennessee football, church, his son and his wife, although not in that order!
Ron Phillips is the Bishop of First United Pentecostal Church in Cookeville, TN.
Ron Phillips is an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International. He grew up on a small farm near Corinth, MS, and answered the call of God and began preaching at fifteen years of age. He earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Pentecostal Bible Institute. Beginning full-time ministry at age twenty one, he began travelling as an evangelist throughout the South, East Coast and Midwest preaching revival meetings. His pastoral ministry began in Freeport, IL, then later in Ames, IA. He came to First Church here in Cookeville in 1998, serving as associate pastor under Founding and Senior Pastor Ellis E. Cooper. He became senior pastor upon Pastor Cooper’s retirement in 1999.
In addition to his evangelistic and pastoral ministries, Pastor Phillips has served in various official capacities in the United Pentecostal Church International. Some of these include Youth Secretary and then Youth President of the Illinois District, Iowa District Youth President, Iowa District Presbyter, and currently, Tennessee District Presbyter.
He and his wife, Judy, have two children and five grandchildren.
Ron &
Judy Phillips
Bishop
Rev. Adam Miller answered the call of God and began preaching at eighteen years of age. He earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Texas Bible College. He has a genuine passion for the lost and reaching the community with the gospel. He is a Master Production Scheduler at a local marine plant. Adam enjoys playing golf, board games, ping-pong, and outdoor activities. Angeline obtained a Bachelor's in International Studies from Texas Bible College and continued her education later at Western Governor's University, earning an additional Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Angeline has worked with children for the last 18 years, both stateside and internationally, in 6 countries, 4 continents, and most recently in the Cookeville community where she works as a 4th Grade teacher at Prescott South Elementary. She has a true passion for educating the leaders of tomorrow. She enjoys hiking, playing the drums, and coffee.
Adam & Angeline have three children, Kiegan, Levi, and William.
Adam Miller
Family Pastor
Lonnie &
robin Christian
Treasurer & Secretary
Lonnie and Robin Christian have been married for over 38 years. They met in a small town in Southwest Virginia as young teenagers and remained childhood sweethearts. They have two children and three grandchildren. Their hobbies are spending time in the outdoors, travel, family, friends, food and fellowship. Prior to moving to Cookeville, they spent 30+ years in the Northern Virginia-Washington DC metro area where they both worked secular jobs within private industry, local County and Federal Government. During this time, they served their local Church by leading Children’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Ladies Ministry, Jr Youth Ministry, Bible Quizzing, Secretarial Support as well as Bro Christian preaching and teaching the Word. They have also had the opportunity to live in England and the Outback of Australia where they were again involved with their local ministry.
Lonnie received his Baccalaureate degree in Homeland Security with a concentration in Information Assurance and Cyber Security from American Military University.
While in Australia, Lonnie studied theology at South Pacific Bible College
Andrew christian
Worship Pastor
Rev Andrew Christian answered the call while attending Indiana Bible College; there, he and Victoria received a Bachelor's in theology. They are both educators; Andrew works at Algood Elementary, and Victoria has a Bachelors in Elementary Education where she teaches 7th Grade in Smithville.
Andrew is a connoisseur of coffee and loves to read. He also has a healthy collection of board games.
Victoria loves to travel and embroider.
Michael &
rose hook
Connect Pastor
Michael and Rose Hook have spent the last 49 years in ministry, connecting people to God’s kingdom through evangelizing and pastoring. Rev Hook is a well-respected revivalist that assisted in planting and growing new and existing churches. Their passion is to help new believers find a connection to Christ through Home Bible Study and assisting them in discovering their talents in God’s Kingdom. Rev Hook is a graduate of the University of South Alabama, Mobile, Al. The Hooks have been married for almost 51 years. They love to spend time with their family and grandchildren.
