Pastor Jonathan Kaleb Hoover
Pastor Jonathan Kaleb Hoover accepted God’s call to preach at the age of fourteen. From an early age, the Lord placed within him a desire to faithfully proclaim the truth of His Word and serve His church.
To prepare for ministry, Pastor Hoover attended a local church Bible Institute for six years, where he received sound biblical training and developed a deeper understanding of the Scriptures.
In March of 2007, he moved to Indiana to assist in youth ministry, faithfully serving and investing in the lives of young people while gaining valuable experience in local church ministry.
Recognizing God’s calling and faithful service, in August of 2019, he was ordained to the Gospel ministry as pastor and has continued to faithfully preach the Word of God and shepherd God’s people.
Pastor Hoover has been happily married to his wife since 2005, and together the Lord has blessed them with four children. As a family, they are committed to serving the Lord and seek to honor Christ both in their home and in the ministry of Gospel Light Baptist Church.
Pastor Hoover’s passion is to preach the Word of God without compromise, to see souls saved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to disciple believers in the faith, and to encourage families to build their lives upon the truth of God’s Word. His desire is that in all things, Jesus Christ would receive the glory, honor, and praise.
We invite you to visit Gospel Light Baptist Church and look forward to welcoming you. Whether you are searching for a church home or simply visiting the area, we pray you will find a warm, Christ-centered church family where the Bible is preached and Jesus Christ is exalted.
What We Teach
At Gospel Light Baptist Church, our desire is to honor, glorify, and please our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. We believe that a firm foundation in the doctrines of God’s Word is
essential to a healthy New Testament church. The following is a summary of what we believe
and teach.
If you have additional questions concerning our beliefs or would like to speak with our pastor,
please contact us. We would be glad to answer your questions and share more about the truth
of God’s Word.
GOD
We believe there is one true and living God, eternal in His being, who has revealed Himself in
three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These three are equal in every
divine perfection and work together in perfect harmony in the plan of redemption.
Scripture: Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 45:21–22; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 14:10, 26; 15:26; 1 John
5:7
THE SON OF GOD
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ is eternally one with the Father. Conceived by the Holy Ghost
and born of the virgin Mary, He is both the Son of God and God the Son. He is fully God and
fully man—one Person with two natures—who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without
sin.
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–35; John 1:1–2, 14; Colossians 2:9;
Hebrews 4:14–15
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, brings the repentant sinner to faith in Christ, places every believer into the body of Christ, seals the believer, illuminates the Scriptures, and empowers God’s people to be faithful witnesses.
Scripture: John 3:5–6; 16:8–11; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14; 12:13; Ephesians 1:13–14
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and is His complete and final revelation to
mankind. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the very Word of God.
We believe God has not only inspired His Word but has also faithfully preserved it. We believe
the Authorized Version of 1611 (King James Version) is God’s preserved Word in the English
language and is our final authority in all matters of faith, doctrine, and practice.
As believers, we are called not only to believe God’s Word but also to obey and live according to
its teachings.
Scripture: Psalm 12:6–7; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; James 1:22–25; 2 Peter 1:21
ETERNAL SECURITY
We believe that every person who has placed genuine faith in Jesus Christ is eternally secure,
kept by the power of God forever. We also believe that Christian liberty must never be used as
an excuse to live in sin.
Scripture: John 10:27–29; Romans 8:34–39; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 5:13
THE CHURCH
We believe a New Testament church is a local congregation of baptized believers united by a
covenant of faith based solely upon the Word of God.
The biblical offices of the church are pastor and deacon. The two ordinances Christ gave the
church are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe each local church is autonomous under the headship of Jesus Christ and is
responsible for proclaiming the Gospel, baptizing believers, and teaching Christians to grow in
their faith so they may faithfully represent Christ in the world.
Scripture: Matthew 18:15–20; 28:19–20; Acts 2:41–47; 6:1–7; 1 Corinthians 11:20–34; 1
Timothy 3:1–13; 2 Timothy 2:2
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe salvation always precedes water baptism. Scriptural baptism is the immersion of a
believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost under the authority of
the local church.
Baptism does not save but publicly identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and serves as the believer’s first act of obedience.The Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance observed with unleavened bread and the fruit of the
vine in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. We believe participation should be
preceded by:
● Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ
● Scriptural believer’s baptism
● Honest self-examination before the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 3:16; 28:19–20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41–42; 8:26–39; Romans 6:3–5; 1
Corinthians 11:23–31; Colossians 2:12
SEPARATION
We believe the Bible teaches the principle of separation.
This includes:
● The separation of the local church from doctrinal error and false teaching.
● The separation of the individual believer from sinful and worldly practices that dishonor
Christ.
● The biblical distinction between the responsibilities of the church and those of civil
government.
Scripture: Romans 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15; 1 John
2:15–17; 2 John 9–11; Jude 3
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
We believe the Bible teaches the principle of separation.
This includes:
● The separation of the local church from doctrinal error and false teaching.
● The separation of the individual believer from sinful and worldly practices that dishonor
Christ.
● The biblical distinction between the responsibilities of the church and those of civil
government.
Scripture: Romans 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15; 1 John
2:15–17; 2 John 9–11; Jude 3
BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES
Biblical Authority
The Bible is our final authority in all ammeters of faith and practice because it is inspired by God. No creed, confession, or human tradition can supersede the authority of Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21
Autonomy of the Local Church
Each local church is self-governing under the headship of Jesus Christ. While churches may voluntarily cooperate with like-minded churches, no outside organization has authority over a local congregation.
Scripture: Colossians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 19, 23
Priesthood of the Believer
Every believer has direct access to God through Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest. No earth mediator is needed. Every Christian has the privilege and responsibility to pray, study God's Word, and serve Him.
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 5:9-10
Two Ordinances
The Lord has given His church two ordinances:
● Believer's Baptism by immersion
● The Lord's Supper
These ordinances picture the Gospel but do not provide salvation.
Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Individual Soul Liberty
Every individual is personally responsible before God for what he believes. Faith cannot be forced, yet every person remains accountable to God's Word.
Scripture: Romans 14:5, 12; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 1:9
Saved, Baptized Church Membership
We believe membership in the local church is reserved for those who have trusted Christ as Saviour and have followed Him in believer's baptism.
Scripture: Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 4:3
Two Offices:
The Bible establishes two offices within the local church: pastor and deacon. The biblical term pastor, elder, and bishop refer to the same office of spiritual oversight.
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1
Separation of Church and State
We believe God established both civil government and the church with distinct responsibilities. Neither should control the other. Christians should be faithful citizens while recognizing that Christ alone is the Head of His church.
Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22; Acts 5:29