Pastor Joshua

“Life is not rocket science!” is a common phrase uttered by Joshua Stump, a man passionate about instilling the nature of God’s heart into those he encounters. Currently the pastor of the Nashville-based Anchor Fellowship, a Vineyard church, Joshua ardently tries to convey these core values, simple and complex all at once, about Christian living: God loves His creation and He accepts you as you are, He has a calling and destiny for your life and you have purpose and are becoming a new creation through the daily process of living the Christian life.Known as candid, humorous and without restraint, Joshua is constantly discovering new truths that apply to his life and therefore become key points in his weekly teachings to his church. Raw and tattooed are few words used to describe most pastors, but Joshua knew his calling early in life and let his experiences, both unpleasant and joyful, mold him into the kind of leader he is today. Growing up in rural Virginia, he left home at 18, itching to see the world and what life had to offer.After a few years in bible college, several more spent traveling, Joshua found himself in Nashville, TN. He often had dual careers, one as a successful youth pastor and the other in the music business. He spent many years using his outgoing personality to promote bands and musicians, sometimes as Radio Promoter or A&R representative and other times as band manager or club promoter, including helping to launch the most recent phase of Rocketown in 2002. His passion, however, has always been to guide people in their walks with Christ, so in 2004, he became a full-time pastor, trusting God for the people and support he needed to flourish.Since founding the Anchor Fellowship, Joshua has expanded his vision to include the launch of a Ministry School, the first semester just completed in May of 2006 with another to commence in August, preparing to write curriculum that sets forth the principles of his core teachings and to becoming an author; he has already completed two children’s books inspired by his daughter, Sophia. Many adventures lie before Joshua, but as with life so far, he will meet those challenges head on and with God granting him the wisdom and grace needed to surpass and become victorious.