Leadership

Pastor and elder are synonymous terms. These servant leaders are called by the congregation to shepherd, teach and equip the saints for the work of ministry. We are thankful for the following leaders who serve our St. Pete church and community well:

Ronnie Rentz

Lead Pastor / Elder

Ronnie was born and raised near Tallahassee, FL in the neighboring towns of Quincy and Havana. At the age of 13, God graciously saved him and gave him a passion for the life-changing gospel of Jesus. Early in his walk, God placed a desire and aspiration to serve the Lord in vocational ministry. After college, Ronnie was blessed by the equipping of local churches and the opportunity to attend and graduate with his Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2018.

Next to the saving work of Christ, the greatest life-giving grace in Ronnie’s life would be his wife Christina, whom he married in 2014. Ronnie and Christina have three beautiful daughters (Phoenix, Flora and Aurora) and a precious son (Tripp). Ronnie is humbled to serve and shepherd the community of Covenant Hope Church and is hopeful to see the bride of Christ flourish in the days ahead.

Jim Hollenbach

Non-Staff Pastor / Elder

Jim Hollenbach serves Covenant Hope Church as a non-staff pastor/elder. He and his wife Eileen have been married for over 50 years and have two grown children, Brian and Nancy. Jim served 28 years in the U.S. Navy as a carrier pilot, air wing strike leader, EA-6B squadron commanding officer, and DOD Acquisition Professional. He then worked for 12 years as a consulting systems engineer to DoD, NASA, and industry. Eileen has worked as a Spanish teacher, administrative assistant, and full-time mom.

By God’s grace, Jim and Eileen both came to faith in 1975 through the faithful witness of other Christians leading home Bible studies in Spain. They moved to St. Petersburg in 2008 to see Jim’s parents through the end of their life. Jim has previously served as an elder of Capitol Hill Baptist Church and Covenant Life Church.

Matt Kindell

Non-Staff Pastor / Elder

Matt grew up in Venice, FL, famously known as the “shark tooth capital of the world.” As a child, he loved fishing and playing sports, with baseball taking him to Hillsborough Community College. During high school, Matt’s life was transformed when he became a Christian through a local youth group, a pivotal moment that shaped his future.

In college, Matt’s passion for the church and serving others flourished. He actively participated in various ministries, focusing on youth and college students and serving as a youth leader and intern with his local church community. This dedication led him and his wife, Emma, to lead the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Tampa from 2013-2016, as well as their community group for 8+ years and counting. Matt also enjoys reading, being outdoors, and making memories with his family. He and Emma are blessed with three daughters: Nora, Annie Jo, and Sadie.

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