Grace United Methodist has a new pastor

Grace United Methodist Church, the oldest religious institution in Valley Stream, has a brand new pastor — a youthful, well-spoken evangelist from upstate New York, the Rev. Jeffrey Luis Hooker.

Youthful energy, however, is not the only thing Hooker brings to the pulpit, having devoted most of his adult life to preaching and ministering in New England and New York. Born in Louisiana to Nicaraguan immigrants, raised in the Bronx and later upstate, Hooker heard the call to ministry early in life, at age 13, which for him was something of divine revelation.

“I was sitting at a prayer meeting at a little Spanish United Methodist Church in West Haverstraw, New York, when I just felt something in me, like a little voice inside of me that prompted me to share with the people there that I wanted to be a pastor,” he said. “And then I felt that that’s what God was calling me to do.”

Hooker attended Nyack College to pursue a degree in pastoral ministry, and earned a master’s in divinity from Boston University. He earned a Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary earlier this year. In 2008, he was appointed to a congregation at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Boston, where he ministered for seven years.

He returned to New York to minister in Newburgh where he learned the complexities of when a church tackles the social ills of its larger community. He and his congregants regularly cared for neighbors battered by crime, poverty, homelessness, and mental health problems.

It may feel a world away from the mild, more well-to-do suburban village of Valley Stream, Hooker noted, but one thing remains clear: every community has its own set of unique challenges and needs and there’s no “magic bullet” that will solve everything.

It’s been roughly six months having joined the church, but he’s still actively listening and learning, trying to get his finger on the pulse of the community and get a sense of what “bridges to build, opportunities to create and need gaps to fill.” 

Pastors and church leaders often wrestle with the “million-dollar question” of what makes for a healthy, thriving congregation, Hooker noted. While some pastors lean exclusively on hard metrics like attendance rates, membership size, and donation amount, he promises to focus on less tangible, morally informed goals.

“I think a thriving congregation is one that doesn’t look inward, one that is not insular-focused,” said Hooker. “A church that makes a point not to get lost in itself and locks its doors, but looks outward and asks how we can be part of our community. How better can we serve our community? How better can we serve our neighbors and those around us?”

Remaining relevant and visible in the eyes of the community remains an urgent challenge for churches in Valley Stream and around the country amid declining attendance as pastors and priests struggle to entice back their once-regular churchgoers in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

“When I first got here. [My congregation] were almost in a lull, but not asleep,” Hooker said. “My goal was to reopen the space and reopen the church. Meeting virtually became normative, and hybrid worship has become the standard, but I want to reemphasize the importance of gathering in person and sharing the physical space. Presence is something we are trying to recapture.”

He has certainly brought a dynamic presence. One that, JoAnne Hazell, a 30-year-veteran church member, says churchgoers will be happy to stand behind.

“In six short months, Rev. Jeffrey has started to shape the future of Grace United Methodist Church in Valley Stream with his ability to bring people together, his welcoming nature, willingness to listen to our congregation, strong leadership skills, and results-driven attitude,” said Hazell. “Throughout the years, our congregation has adapted to change. Church leadership plays a critical role in the evolution of the church [during that change].”

The long-standing institution has weathered and overcame difficulties for decades and is no stranger to change, noted Grace Methodist Nursery School director Diane Panzarino.

“The church needs to overcome the attendance and economic challenges presented by Covid, but I believe Pastor Jeff Hooker’s new ministry will reflect his positive energy, his strong sense of community, and commitment to inclusiveness, which will attract families to Grace United Methodist Church,” said Panzarino.

However, some things never change.

“We are a family of faith striving to share God’s love,” said Hooker. “That is our mission statement, our guiding light, our modus operandi.”

Have an opinion on Pastor Jeff Hooker? Send us an email at jlasso@liherald.com.