Rev. Ashley B. Hoover

Pastor | Preacher | Community Builder | Servant Leader

Rev. Ashley B. Hoover is a passionate and purpose-driven pastor dedicated to faith, service, and community transformation. With a ministry grounded in Romans 8:28—_“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose”—_Rev. Hoover brings energy, compassion, and creativity to every aspect of his calling.

Rooted in Faith, Called to Lead

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Rev. Hoover grew up at Hughes Memorial United Methodist Church in NE Washington, DC. For over 40 years, he faithfully served in various roles—including Lay Leader, Trustee Chair, usher, choir member, and acolyte—before answering the call to ordained ministry in 2001 under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kevin Smalls.

His journey led him to serve as Youth and Young Adult Pastor at the former Westphalia UMC in Upper Marlboro, MD in 2011, before joining the church. Five months later, Rev. Hoover received his first appointment to lead Cherry Hill UMC in Baltimore, where his heart for outreach and innovation came alive.

At Cherry Hill UMC, Rev. Hoover launched impactful ministries including a Feeding Program (Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry, and Monthly Food Distribution), a Young Adult Ministry, and a Combined Choir. He also introduced creative expressions of worship such as spoken word, dance, dramatic skits, and altar visuals to connect hearts and minds to God in fresh, engaging ways.

A Ministry of Service

From 2019-2026, Rev. Hoover served as pastor of Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant UMC in Rockville, faithfully leading the congregation and surrounding community with a spirit of joy, integrity, and deep spiritual care. His ministry continued to bridge generations, grow disciples, and center the church as a hub of hope and healing.  He established the media ministry to meet the needs of the homebound and others connecting from as far as North Carolina, Texas and Japan. Under his leadership, the feeding ministry increased to two Sundays per month for those in the shelter, established the outdoor food pantry and in 2025, established fruits and vegetables food distribution monthly. The church celebrated their 190th Church anniversary with a two day festival of food, car show, games, community booths and vendors.