Mission

The mission of Higher Hope Church is to “lead people to abundant life in Jesus Christ.” -John 10:10

Beliefs

It is only through Jesus Christ that we have a FULL LIFE. He became man, so that we may know Him. He willingly gave Himself up for us so that we can experience life, and life to the full.

The Bible is God’s Holy Word; it is without error; it was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; it is His love letter to us, His People.

All powerful, holy, all knowing, ever present, and beyond all that we think He is!

He is ever present in the lives of the followers of Christ. He convicts us of our sin. He instructs and guides God’s children, and He gives gifts to each believer.

The Church is God’s chosen instrument to work in the world.

We are sinners in need of a Savior. Our Salvation can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not saved through what we do, but only by God’s amazing grace.

Higher Hope Church is a member of the Churches of God, General Conference (CGGC). If you would like further information on the doctrine of the CGGC, please visit www.cggc.org.

Core Values

Discipleship

Cultivating growth that results in fully-devoted followers of Jesus who lead lives seeking God, pursuing passions, and investing in others.

Community-Minded

Reaching out with the Good News and impacting people beyond the church building through genuine/humble acts of service, generosity, and prayer to see lives changed.

Relational

Fostering strong, supportive relationships by offering an authentic, come-as-you-are environment and creating opportunities to meet, make memories, and grow together in all aspects of life.

Biblical

Rooting our beliefs, practices, and teachings in the Word of God and sharing that truth in a way that is meaningful and relevant.

Meet the Team!

Hi, glad you're here. I'm Jeremy. My wife, Tricia, and I met at Practical Bible College and have been married for 21 years. We have three awesome kids- Alex, Lilly, and Aubrie. When we're not serving at church, you’ll probably find us hiking, playing volleyball with friends, or traveling together as a family. I started this role at Higher Hope Church in October of 2025; but I believe God has been building connections and preparing me for it long ago, as far back as high school when Higher Hope's church planter (Mike Schooley) was my youth group leader. After college, I started as a youth pastor in Dryden while also working with teens in the foster care system. In 2011, we moved to Elmira when I joined the team at Higher Hope as Youth Pastor and eventually Associate Pastor. By 2017, my family and a core group from Higher Hope planted The HUB Church in Elmira — a church where I continue to love and lead. It's been a great journey so far and now, as lead pastor, I am excited to witness more people find abundant life in Jesus at Higher Hope. I promise to serve with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength just as my favorite verse commands, Mark 12:30-31.
Jeremy Cranmer
Senior Pastor
Hey there, my name is Michael Chaborek. I recently (2024) graduated Bible college from Ethnos 360 Bible Institute in Wisconsin; but I have been part of Higher Hope since 2010. I have so much gratitude for the great friends who introduced me to this place. Everything has really come full circle here- from being a new believer to being mentored by a pastor here to leading my first small group then being supported when I chose to go back to school to change careers, and now being offered my first pastoral job. I'm super excited to serve in ministry here at Higher Hope Church. One thing that I look forward to most in this role is teaching small groups and discipling people so their relationship with Jesus deepens. I love seeing people transformed by the Gospel, and seeing people use their gifts to help others. In my free time, I enjoy a spending time with family and friends. One of my favorite places to be is with family at the lake. I'm avid outdoorsmen, especially hunting and hiking in the area. I grew up in Big Flats so I've been here all my life; but the surrounding scenery just never gets old- God's Creation.
Michael Chaborek
Pastoral Resident