Jack Hopkins serves as the Assistant Director of Ministry for CVCYouth. Jack graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. Growing up in the Cleveland area, CVC became Jack’s home church during his freshman year of high school in 2014 through the youth program. He’s taken up roles recently through leading the worship team and the weekly meeting team at the University of Toledo’s Cru movement for the past three years. He has found joy in the Lord through his worship ministry and the discipleship of college peers. Jack is a game fanatic, anything from the classic board game to sporting events, and is in love with all things Cleveland. He now functions primarily in the areas of outreach, service, and technical programming. He works closely with para-church organizations in the area and builds relationships with local school administration with the goal of inviting students to New Life in Christ. Jack works with our send team at CVC to help get students involved in serving inside the walls of CVC and outside the walls in the community. He also helps to organize worship and tech for all big events and weekly programming.

Jack is with all of these crazy boys all by himself and is in desperate need of a guy that is willing to step in with him. Email him at jhopkins@cvconline.org to get involved!

I became involved with CVCYouth in February of 2018 only 5 months after becoming married to Drake Brauer. After having to forfeit my dream of becoming a middle school teacher, my friend Carolyn Lorow suggested that I get involved with Collide. Although I had my hesitations at first, I have loved every second of it. My favorite memory of Collide was during Frontlines when I watched my group of girls spend a whole week growing in patience, kindness, and leadership to care for a girl with special needs. Rather than being competitive and focusing on their desire to win, every day they shifted their focus on making this girl feel important, safe, and included. Outside of CVCYouth I help teach special needs at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center. In my spare time I enjoy crafting, designing, sports, singing, reading, cooking, board games, and spending time with family and friends.

Hi I’m Holly Top! I have been
working with CVC youth for over a decade. It has been a joy and privilege to be a part of such an awesome ministry! I am currently co-leading upcoming 8th-grade Collide girls with Kristin Brauer. Apart from serving with CVCYouth you can find me and the students
serving with the mobile pantry monthly. Missionary work overseas is also a big part of my life and I will be co-leading a trip to Indonesia this upcoming year. I am a Medical Assistant at Akron Children’s Hospital and love to do all the newborn visits. I coach
kids CrossFit at APC in Wadsworth once a week. I have six siblings, three nieces, four nephews, and a cat. In my free time, I love to hang out with my family. We are big on games, walking/hiking, swimming, bonfires, really anything! I absolutely love the
beach and everything that comes with it. Love going to the movies, skiing, and the zoo. Always need at least one cup of coffee in the morning. Favorite movie is Return to Me. The favorite band is LifeHouse. Favorite bible verse Hebrews 11:1. Favorite youth retreat
is Frontlines. Favorite food Pad Thai. Favorite dessert Honey Hut Ice Cream. I love to travel and I’ll try almost anything at least once.

Andy Bay grew up in Geauga county and has been attending CVC since 2012. He resides in Hinckley with his wife and 3 children: Jordan, Ethan and Colin. He has a passion for Truth and looks forward to joining CVC youth to raise up this new generation of disciples for Christ. His day job is in software, but his happy place is running trails in the area.

I became involved with CVCYouth in April of 2018 shortly after my wife Kristin Brauer had joined. I was looking for an opportunity to serve God’s Kingdom and I could serve alongside Kristin. I don’t have a specific memory of Collide that surpasses any other, each day is a blessing to walk with my students, being able to watch them learn and grow. My favorite part of serving is watching things click for them when they understand, it reminds me that the work I’m doing is important and fruitful. Outside of Collide I am a civil engineer at the Ohio Department of Transportation and in my spare time I enjoy sports, board games, video games, and spending time with my wife, family, and friends.

Brielle just graduated from Liberty University in May 2021 with a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and minors in Chinese and health promotions. She is very excited to be back in the Cleveland area, and summer camp 2021 and her time with the seventh grade girls played a huge part in her decision to stay in Cleveland! She is so excited to invest in the lives of the seventh grade girls in Collide. She loves languages, cultures, and adventuring with friends to different cities. She is always down for a coffee or ice cream date, and she has a special love for bubble tea. Brielle loves to go on walks, go hiking, play volleyball, read, and hang out with friends. She is especially excited to study the Bible with the seventh graders and to see their relationships with Jesus flourish!

Jon is grateful to be a part of CVCYouth. He is currently serving as a parent-volunteer in Collide with the sixth-grade boys (class of 2026). Jon began attending CVC in 2002, and God used the environment at CVC to prompt a close walk with his Savior, Jesus Christ. Jon also met his wife Kristina here, and they were married in 2004. Together Jon and Kris have three children. Nathan is their oldest, and he is part of CVCYouth’s Collide ministry, Abby is their middle child, and Wendy is their youngest. Both of their girls look forward to being part of student ministry when they are old enough. Jon also serves as an accountant for National Interstate Insurance Company in Richfield. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, vacationing to warm places, and anything else where he can be outside, as well as rooting for Cleveland sports teams.

Austin is a Cleveland transplant. He grew up on a farm near Hershey, Pennsylvania. He moved here in 2018 to marry his wife, Lauren Meyer. He immediately jumped into student ministry and has been serving with Collide and Impact for three years. Austin enjoys building relationships with CVCYouth students and encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Christ.

While Austin comes off as quiet and reserved it doesn’t take long to know that he laugh fills a room and he shamelessly dances every time a good tune comes on. Austin enjoys long naps, Star Wars, and never says no to ice cream!

Joe has served at CVC for over 15 years preaching, leading worship, and caring for the students of CVCYouth. Joe and his wife Linda met at CVC and enjoy laughing, boating, watching The Voice, and hanging out with their two kids – Grace and Logan. Joe holds his undergrad degree from Balwin-Wallace College and an MA in Theology from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and enjoys reading, fishing, hunting, good BBQ, country music, water skiing, adventures, and live theater. Joe’s happy place is with his family out on the open water.

Sophia Pedersen is a CVCYouth student turned leader! She has been serving with our middle school students since 2013 and loves to build relationships with her students and guide and encourage their growth in their faith and theology. Sophia married her husband Matt in 2018, and the two enjoy playing board games together with their friends and family.