OUR PASTORS
OUR
PASTORS
Michael and Brooke Strickland are privileged to serve as the founding and lead pastors of Soma Church. They know God has big plans for Soma and desires to do more than they could ever dream up. The Stricklands have watched Jesus build His church over the years and they're humbled to serve the people of Soma and the greater Hickory area alongside so many amazing servant leaders.
Michael grew up in a Pentecostal Church, married a girl from the Methodist Church, they attended a Baptist Church, worked at a nondenominational church and Michael studied at a Presbyterian Seminary. He loves the local church whatever the tribe. He and Brooke attribute anything they ever accomplish to the grace of God. Both He and Brooke are committed to helping as many people as possible come to know God so they can find freedom, discover their purpose and make a difference.
Michael and Brooke have five daughters, one son, a goldendoodle and a serious love of coffee.
SOMA
CHURCH
Before we had a name we had a direction. We prayed about what kind of church we would become and the Lord told us that we were going to be a church of ‘Uncommon Unity’. Set apart with both diversity and a shared vision of unity in Jesus. The verse that this vision came from was 1 Corinthians 12:12 that says 'Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. '
Soma was launched on September 9, 2018 when it opened its doors to 403 people on the first Sunday, a day when 17 people made a decision for Christ. Ever since then Soma has seen God move in powerful ways seeing over 1700 people make a decision to follow Jesus to date. Today Soma meets in two locations and has purchased its first property which will be the future first permanent location of Soma.
Soma is a proud partner of ARC (Association of Related Churches) and has been since before the church began.