Valena Hoy, Associate Pastor for Worship and Pastoral Care |
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Email: valena@fpcnorfolk.org |
Valena grew up in a Christian home in the mountains of Tennessee, but loves the Tidewater area. She graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1990 with a Bachelor’s in Studio Art and a minor in Education. Before Attending Union Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, she taught art to 500 elementary and middle school age children.
She loves the church and is especially blessed to serve here at FPC. She has a passion for creating environments where people can experience and learn of the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. She also has a love for mission work and has traveled to Jamaica, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and most recently, Kenya with Tree of Lives.
In 2007, Valena was elected Vice-Moderator of the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia, then served as Moderator and Chair of Presbytery Council. She continues to be a member of Presbytery Council and also serves on the Committee on Ministry. As she serves in leadership in the larger church, her focus is on the importance of Christ-centered leadership equipping the work of the local church.
She was awarded a Louisville Institute Grant in 2010 that funded her sabbatical focused on finding rest, renewal and spiritual growth in the creative process. She rented a studio in the D’Art Center in downtown Norfolk where she was welcomed into the artist community to learn first hand about the creative process. She also traveled around the country to see great art and visit art programs in seminaries, retreat centers and congregations.
Valena’s favorite mediums are graphite and pastels. And most recently, she has found a new passion for icons and iconography. She is a trained spiritual director and in addition to creating art, she enjoys traveling to see great art, good books, good movies and a good work-out at the Y. She is married to James, who is a Chaplain at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. They have one daughter, Abigail, who brings bright hope and promise into their living. They also have two very friendly cats: China and Silver.