About Hope Chapel
Since 1988, Hope Chapel has been a gathering place for ordinary people who believe Jesus is worth everything. We meet on Sundays, live in community all week, and exist to make disciples in Austin and beyond.
Who We Are
We believe the local church is the hope of the world. Not because we have all the answers, but because we gather around the One who does.
Hope Chapel is an evangelical, non-denominational church in Northwest Austin. We hold a high view of Scripture, believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, and practice a faith that touches every part of ordinary life — work, family, neighborhood, and wallet.
We're not trying to be the biggest church in Austin. We want to be the most faithful — one disciple at a time.
To know Jesus and make Him known — in Austin and to the ends of the earth.
A city transformed by the love of Jesus — neighborhood by neighborhood, family by family, one Hope Group at a time.
Scripture. Prayer. Community. Generosity. Witness. We aren't just talking points — they're the rhythm of how we do life.
How We Live
Every sermon, every small group, every decision traces back to what God has said. We read it, study it, memorize it, and stake our lives on it.
We believe prayer changes things. We have a weekly prayer team, 24/7 prayer chain, and we start every elder meeting on our knees.
Church isn't a building you visit on Sundays — it's the people you do life with. Hope Groups are how we practice the "one another" commands of Scripture.
Jesus' last command is our first priority. We don't just want church attenders — we want people who follow Jesus and help others follow too.
Grace is the only reason any of us are here. We try to extend that same scandalous grace to our neighborhood, our city, and the world.
Austin is our backyard — but the Great Commission has no borders. We support 11 missionaries and 4 church plants, locally and globally.
Hope in pictures
No staged smiles. These are our actual people, doing what we do every week.
Doctrine
We're an evangelical, non-denominational church. Here's what's non-negotiable for us.
The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, inerrant Word of God — the supreme authority for faith and life. We read it literally where it's literal, figuratively where it's figurative, and we don't add to it.
There is one God who eternally exists as three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God. The Trinity is not a puzzle to be solved but a community to be welcomed into.
Jesus is fully God and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a substitute for sinners, rose bodily on the third day, ascended to the Father, and will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Salvation is a free gift received through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone — not by works, rituals, or religious performance. God justifies the ungodly. This is the best news ever told.
The universal Church is the body of Christ — all who have been redeemed across every time and place. The local church is the primary expression of that body. We take the local church very seriously.
The Holy Spirit indwells every believer, convicts, empowers, gives spiritual gifts, and produces fruit. We believe the Spirit is active today and we welcome His work in our community and our individual lives.
Baptism by immersion is the public declaration of a believer's faith and union with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Communion (the Lord's Supper) is the regular proclamation of His death until He comes. Both are open to all believers.
Jesus rose bodily from the dead. We will too. The resurrection is the hinge of all history and the anchor of all hope. Without it, our faith is empty. With it, everything changes — including death itself.
Want to go deeper? Our full Statement of Faith is available upon request.
Request our full Statement of FaithOur Story
Hope Chapel began with 17 people meeting in a living room in Northwest Austin. Today we're a multi-generational family of over 1,200 — but the same DNA runs through everything we do.
Pastor Mike & Susan Hartley gather 17 people in their North Austin home. The vision: a church for people who don't do church. It sticks.
Hope outgrows the living room, the school gym, and two leased spaces. The congregation sacrificially buys its first property on Burnet Road.
Hope sends out its first church-planting team to East Austin. Three more plants would follow over the next 15 years.
Hope relocates to 6701 Arroyo Seco — a purpose-built facility with space for HopeKids, small groups, and the growing congregation.
Pastor Matthew Ryniker is called as Lead Pastor. Under his leadership, small groups triple, giving to missions doubles, and a new generation of leaders is raised up.
1,200+ in Sunday attendance, 60+ Hope Groups, 4 church plants, 11 supported missionaries. And we believe the best is still ahead.
Our Team
Real people. Real calling.
Came to Austin to study math at UT. Taught high school until joining Hope as full-time pastor in 2010. Wife Mandy, five kids, active foster family.
Leads both Middle School (Wed 6–7:30pm) and High School (Sat 6pm) youth gatherings at the Lighthouse. Believes "all patterns for human interaction are refined in the Middle School years."
Worshipping God with all of his being and leading others to do the same. Also leads the N2Worship and Deeper N2Worship summer camps for the next generation of worship musicians.
"Partnering with parents to raise passionate followers of Jesus Christ." Leads HopeKids every Sunday at 10 AM — Bible study, worship, prayer, and fun for birth through 5th grade.
"Sending out disciples who make disciples." Primary focus on the Turkish people, but champions every son and daughter of Hope called to the field. Meets every other Tuesday, 7–8:30 PM.
"To encourage and strengthen foster, adoptive and reunified families." Leads FAM Fireside, FAM Mom Nights, and Sisters in Battle. Partners with Safe Families – Austin and Fostering Hope.
"Building women across generations to live out the purposes of Christ and reach those who do not know Him." Leads Books & Breakfast (Joshua / Jen Wilkin) and The MomCo @ Hope.
Born in Mexico City, met the Lord in Miami. Six years in Houston, then Austin for UT — and never left.
Serial inventor and entrepreneur. Founded Spirit Gear LLC in 1996 and Hyper Wear in 2006. Decades of youth ministry along the way.
Helps make Hope Chapel a welcoming place for everyone. Coffee, snacks, greeters at the door, and hosts at the Welcome Center — so every visitor and member feels at home.
Texas State grad. At Hope since 2002. Married to Felipe with three kids. Passionate about people growing deep in God.
"Connecting people in fun and spiritually intimate small group communities." Believes real, lasting spiritual transformation happens in informal small groups.
Preaching Team
Most Sundays you'll hear from Pastor Matt. But we are deeply grateful for the friends of Hope — staff teachers, partners in ministry, and guest preachers — who share the pulpit through the year.
Senior Pastor
Leading the current walk through Hebrews and the careful study of Romans 9–11.
Staff Teacher
Youth pastor who occasionally takes the Sunday pulpit — most recently for "The Greater Priesthood" from Hebrews 7.
Preaching Team
Recently: "Thriving During, Before and After Events" — wisdom for the storms that come and go.
Guest Preacher
Author of Seek God for the City and longtime friend of Hope. Most recently preached the Palm Sunday message.
Guest Preacher
Recently preached "Purposes of God" — the unbroken thread of God's promise from Genesis forward.
Guest Preachers
Disciple-makers who joined us for "Making Disciples" — practical wisdom from a life of it.
Ministries
Sunday morning is just the beginning. These are the ministries that carry Hope into homes, schools, neighborhoods — and across oceans.
Hala Tompkins · Director of Children's Ministries
"Partnering with parents to raise passionate followers of Jesus Christ." Bible study, worship, prayer, and fun for birth through 5th grade — every Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sarah Combs & Leigh · Community Life Co-Directors
"Real, lasting, spiritual transformation primarily happens in informal, spiritually intimate small groups." Variety of formats, settings, and times — all centered on Scripture, prayer, and shared life.
Joelene Michel · Women of Hope Director
"Building women across generations to live out the purposes of Christ and reach those who do not know Him." Books & Breakfast Bible study and The MomCo @ Hope for mothers.
Ceci Proeger · Global Operations Pastor
"Sending out disciples who make disciples." Primary focus on the Turkish people — and championing every son and daughter of Hope called to the field. Meets every other Tuesday, 7–8:30 PM.
HopeArts Team
"An Arts Collective fostering artistic experience and community engagement as we explore faith together." Gallery shows, performance events, an in-house art magazine, a shared studio, and monthly Taizé services.
Mandy Ryniker · FAM Coordinator
"To encourage and strengthen foster, adoptive and reunified families." FAM Fireside for dads, FAM Mom Nights, and Sisters in Battle (SIB). Partners with Safe Families – Austin and Fostering Hope.
Wes Neely · Middle School Youth Minister
Helping youth "grow in, live out, and explore their identity in Christ" through genuine friendships, devotional practice, and fun. Wednesdays 6–7:30 PM in the Lighthouse.
Wes Neely · Sr. High Youth Minister
"Raising up youth in the fear and admonition of the Lord" — toward a life-long commitment to Jesus. Saturdays at 6:00 PM at The Lighthouse, behind the main building.
Andy Combs · Director of Worship Ministries
"Worshipping God with all of our being and leading others to do the same." Hymns, contemporary songs, Scripture, and congregational compositions — sung with open and obedient hearts.
Tammy Kraus
Summer worship-music camps for ages 10 through adult. Songwriting, music theory, voice, and instruments — taught by long-time followers of Christ with decades of musical experience.
Lindsie · Director of Hospitality
Makes Hope Chapel a welcoming place for everyone. Coffee, snacks, greeters at the door, and hosts at the Welcome Center — so every visitor and member feels at home.
First time?
No dress code, no performance, no pressure. Just come as you are. We have a seat saved for you.
Find Us
We are in the Brentwood neighborhood of central Austin, near the 183/Anderson Lane area. Plenty of parking, and easy to find.
Hope Chapel Austin
6701 Arroyo Seco, Austin TX 78757
Questions
Come as you are
Whether it's your first Sunday or your five hundredth — you belong here. Come find out why.
