Born out of over 20 years of combined ministry experience, our pastors, Jay and Margaret Recto, felt a calling to start a church that would be real, relational, and rooted deeply in community. Jay and Margaret have been married since 2008 and have three amazing children: Sean, Emma, and Ellie. Together, they have led in youth ministry, worship ministry, community outreach, discipleship, and served in executive and campus pastoral roles.

They’ve lived in Frederick, MD since 2021 and it’s been home ever since. They fell in love the city, the community, and the life that Frederick brings. After years of faithfully serving in a variety of church contexts, they began to sense God stirring something new—a vision for a diverse, Spirit-led church in Frederick that would reach people who felt far from God or disconnected from church altogether.

Hope City was born from that dream: a place where every neighbor is seen and welcomed, where faith is lived out authentically, and where the hope of Jesus is at the center of it all. Jay and Margaret are passionate about creating a church culture that feels like family, raises up leaders, and impacts the city for generations to come.