We will welcome our new ministers on Sunday, July 13 at both worship services and there will be a welcome reception in the Family Life Hall from 10-11 a.m. Let's give them a wonderful welcome to Marietta First!
Rev. Dr. Hopper
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Harden P. Hopper III (EMAIL) as our new Senior Minister. Rev. Dr. Hopper comes to Marietta First after serving as the Senior Minister at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in East Cobb for the last eight years. Rev. Dr. Hopper grew up in Cobb County and graduated from Campbell High School. He attended The University of North Georgia and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army upon graduation. During his 22 years of active duty and reserve service, he earned a Master of Strategic Studies at the US Army War College. Rev. Dr. Harden ultimately retired from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Rev. Dr. Hopper served as a Regional Director for the Department of Family and Children Services in a 13-county area of Northeast Georgia. After answering the call to full-time ministry, he served as Minister for Cartecay United Methodist Church in Ellijay as a Licensed Local Pastor. During this time, he attended Asbury Theological Seminary to earn a Master of Divinity and then a Doctorate of Ministry. Rev. Dr. Hopper served as Minister at Bascomb United Methodist Church in Woodstock before his current appointment at Mt. Zion United Methodist. Rev. Dr. Hopper has been a Methodist minister for 20 years.
Rev. Dr. Hopper is married to Karen, and they have 2 grown children. They like to travel and especially like to take classes through the New Orleans School of Cooking. They reside in East Cobb and are looking forward to becoming part of the FUMC family. Rev. Dr. Hopper’s first Sunday serving in the pulpit as our new Senior Minister will be Sunday, July 13.
Rev. Dr. Lahondra Little
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Lahronda Little (EMAIL) as our new Associate Minister. Like Rev. Dr. Hopper, Rev. Dr. Little has come to the ministry after a start in the corporate sector. A native of Forest Park, Rev. Dr. Little has an undergraduate degree in Integrative Studies from Clayton State University in Morrow. Beginning in 2015, Rev. Dr. Little left the corporate world with a desire to utilize her rich cultural heritage to nurture and guide others back to wellness and wholeness.
She began her studies at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta in 2015 and received a Master’s Degree in Theological and Ministerial Studies. She then continued her studies at Emory University and graduated with a Doctorate in Spiritual Care and Pastoral Theology. She teaches Spirituality, Health, and Vocational Discernment at the Candler School and is a published author as well. She is passionate about leading programs in spiritual formation and women’s ministry and is very excited about her upcoming ordination as an Elder in Full Connection in June.
Rev. Dr. Little is currently serving as the Senior Pastor at Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Conyers. She is married to Tommy, and they have two sons who attend her alma mater, Clayton State University. They currently reside in Ellenwood, Georgia. She enjoys reading, writing, yoga, and tending to her house plants. Rev. Dr. Little’s first Sunday as our Associate Minister will be July 13.
We are excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Hopper and Rev. Dr. Little to our church and to the surrounding Marietta community! Sunday, July 13 is their first Sunday in worship.
With Rev. Dr. Hopper, Rev. Tolbert, and Rev. Dr. Little, we will have the clergy team to uphold our proud traditions, represent us well in the community, and lead our congregation forward in the ministry of the Lord.