Media Contact
Rev. Chineta Goodjoin, Pastor
Email: chineta.goodjoin@mynewhopepres.org
Phone: 714.288.9986
Key Highlights About New Hope
Reverend Chineta Goodjoin
Visionary Leader, Advocate for Justice, and Transformational Pastor
Reverend Chineta Goodjoin is a trailblazer in faith-based leadership, social justice advocacy, and community transformation. As the founding pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church in Orange County, California, she has built a ministry rooted in dynamic worship, cultural inclusion, and community engagement. Her work spans local and global initiatives, promoting equity in education, health, and the arts. Rev. Goodjoin’s leadership has garnered widespread recognition, including being named one of Orange County’s Most Influential People and receiving awards for her contributions to music education and social justice.
Recognitions & Accomplishments
- 2007: Founding Pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church, creating a vibrant and inclusive spiritual community dedicated to dynamic worship and social justice.
- 2010: Publication of her sermon At the Feet of Jesus in The African American Pulpit.
- 2015: Celebrated for her leadership in racial justice advocacy following the Charleston church shooting.
- 2016: Named one of Orange County’s Most Influential People for her impactful community leadership.
- 2017: Successfully chartered New Hope Presbyterian Church within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
- 2019: Received an award from the City of Santa Ana for contributions to music education through the Hope Alive initiative.
- 2024: Co-edited a groundbreaking article on Womanist Theology, contributing to the academic and faith-based understanding of the experiences of Black women.
- 2025: Named Woman of the Year by State Senator Tom Umberg, Senate District 34
Notable New Hope Milestones
- 2007: Became a new church development, the first viable African American church in the Presbytery of Los Ranchos and Synod of Southern California and Hawaii in 50 years.
- 2009: Held the first Rhapsody of Love concert to raise money for music enrichment programs at Willard Intermediate School in Santa Ana, CA, restoring a defunded music program by sending professional musicians into classrooms.
- 2014: Rebranded benefit concert, Hope Alive, featuring renowned artists such as Sheila E., Oleta Adams and Poncho Sanchez, to expand music enrichment through a partnership with Santa Ana Unified School District.
- 2016: Hosted town hall forum on gun violence and became a leading social justice advocate in response to the racially-motivates shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
- 2020: Moved location to Anaheim, CA and began the process of merging with St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.
- 2021: Started food distribution program for the local community and has served X meals since then.
- 2022: Established partnership with University of California, Irvine School of Medicine Programs in Medical Education Leadership Education to Advance Diversity – African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC) to provide community health equity projects.
- 2022: Played a pivotal role in establishing the Health Equity for African Americans League (HEAAL), focusing on addressing health disparities and advocating for equitable healthcare in Orange County, CA.
- 2023: Completed merger with St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.
- 2024: Established partnership with Tumaini International in Kenya to support the Kisaani Village Water Tower Project and provide fresh, clean water to families across four villages.
- 2024: Created a community garden to enhancing food distribution program, providing fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs to community members.
- 2024: Established the New Hope Orange County Orchestra, providing free music education to young musicians of color and addressing the lack of diversity in classical music.
- 2024: Expanded its annual Jazzy Christmas Concert to raise money for its community and global programs: Food Distribution/Community Garden, New Hope Orange County Orchestra, Kisaani Village Water Tower Project, Community Health Equity projects.