Pastor Hurmon Hamilton
Pastor Hurmon Hamilton was born in San Francisco and raised in Coushatta, Louisiana. He is married to Rhonda Hamilton, M.D., and they have two children: Jonathan and Lauren. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy and History from Grambling State University and his Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
For seventeen years, Pastor Hurmon served as Senior Pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church (RPC) in Boston, MA. During this time, he also served as an adjunct professor at Harvard Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell Seminary; a lecturer at Yale University; and a guest preacher at Princeton and Boston Universities.
In 1998, Pastor Hurmon helped found the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). For almost a decade, he served as President, overseeing its rise as a significant agent of political and moral change in Massachusetts. In 2006, GBIO was a leading force in helping pass the historic Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act, which provided near-universal health care across Massachusetts and became the template for the national Affordable Care Act of 2010.
In 2010, Pastor Hurmon and RPC were recognized for developing a groundbreaking Adopt-A-School Initiative. By building a successful partnership between churches, community organizations and Boston
Public Schools, the RPC “Dream Again Initiative” transformed The Henry
Dearborn Middle School, then targeted for closure, into one of the first early college STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) 6-12 Grade schools in Massachusetts. The Initiative also secured 50 million dollars to construct a new state-of-the-art facility.
Pastor Hurmon returned to the Bay Area in 2011 and served as the Teaching Pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship (ALCF) in Mountain View, CA for two years. Following his tenure at ALCF, Pastor Hurmon led the birthing of New Beginnings Community Church in April 2014, where he passionately serves as Senior and Founding Pastor, leading a large and rapidly growing, diverse church community.
Pastor Hurmon says, “If faith in Jesus Christ can change me from a scarred young boy on a path destined for failure into the person I am today, God can do the same for millions! My life’s mission is to share this great news, which is wrapped in the unconditional love of Jesus, to as many as I can near and far — across the street and across the world!”
Dr. Rhonda Hamilton
Dr. Rhonda Hamilton has been married to Hurmon for 40 years, and together they have raised three children. Their journey through four decades of marriage, ministry, family, and life together has given Rhonda a deep appreciation for the joys—and challenges—of building a lasting marriage.
Rhonda is a board-certified internal medicine physician who loves helping people live healthier, more fulfilling lives. She especially enjoys encouraging and supporting people as they work toward their health and weight-loss goals, including the appropriate and safe use of GLP-1 medications.
Rhonda and her husband are honored to share their story and experiences with you, and she looks forward to getting to know many of you personally throughout the retreat.
René Schlaepfer
Speaker, Author, and Pastor René Schlaepfer is known for his high-energy, practical, and deeply encouraging approach to faith and relationships. He is the Lead Pastor of Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California, where he has spent over three decades helping people build strong, grace-centered lives. René brings a unique blend of media expertise and theological depth to his teaching, making biblical principles accessible and highly relevant to everyday life. René and his wife, Laurie, met while pursuing their theological degrees, and they have been married for over 35 years. Together, they reside in Santa Cruz and are the proud parents of three adult children—Jonathan, Elisabeth, and David—and enthusiastic grandparents.
Laurie Schlaepfer
Laurie Schlaepfer is a gifted theologian, educator, and speaker known for her deep biblical insights, warmth, and engaging teaching style. Side by side with her husband, René, she has spent over three decades serving in Christian ministry at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California. A passionate student and teacher of Scripture, Laurie brings a wealth of academic knowledge and real-world relational wisdom to this weekend’s marriage retreat. Laurie and René met while pursuing their theological degrees, laying a foundation of shared faith and ministry that has sustained their marriage for over 35 years. They live in Santa Cruz and are the proud parents of three adult children and the doting grandparents of six.
Kevin A. Thompson
Kevin A. Thompson is a pastor, author, and marriage communicator dedicated to helping couples build relationships that thrive. As the Married Life Pastor and Teaching Pastor at Bayside Church in the Greater Sacramento Region, Kevin oversees marriage ministries across multiple campuses and counsels nearly a hundred couples every year. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Friends, Partners & Lovers, The Creation of Us, and Love Styles. A frequent guest on national platforms like Focus on the Family and Family Life, Kevin’s practical, biblically grounded insights help couples bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Kevin holds a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School. He and his wife, Jenny, live in Auburn, California, with their two children.
René Schlaepfer
Kevin A. Thompson