Ron Parrish
Senior Pastor
Ron is a native "Austinite" but spent his adolescent years in the Rio Grande Valley. Jesus Christ broke into his life at the age of 15. Two years later he met the 2nd love of his life, Janine, at a Christian college near Dallas. Their partnership in ministry and romance flourished when they transferred to the University of Texas in 1974. The UT Chi Alpha ministry, which they lead, became the seedbed for birth of Hope Chapel the year after Ron graduated in 1976.
After pursuing a graduate degree from Fuller Seminary in California they were invited to join the leadership team of Church in the City in Houston, Texas. In 1983 the Parrish family (Heather-5, Misi-2) moved to Indonesia where they were involved in a church planting movement among Muslims on the island of Java. (New churches and a new Parrish - Bowen, were birthed during those years In Indonesia) Ten years later, when on furlough back in the U.S., they were asked to become the Senior Pastors of Hope Chapel here in Austin. Under Ron's leadership, Hope Chapel continued its commitment to planting churches in Austin and "the Nations". In August of 2000 about 200 people from Hope Chapel joined Ron and Janine in launching Hope in the City.
Ron is passionate about loving God and seeing Him honored throughout the earth through starting communities of Christ - worshippers (churches & cell groups). He also loves spending time with his family, especially outdoors. He plays any sport that involves a ball and he's pretty good at racquetball.