Pastor Tripp was born and raised in Gastonia, NC. He is the son of Mary Lou Hord and the late Jake Hord. Upon graduating from Hunter Huss High School, he attended Belmont Abbey College, where he played tennis and Graduated with a B.A. in Sports Administration. 

Tripp was the former CPO for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Gaston. Upon accepting his call to the ministry he served as the Director of Student Ministries and Family Life Center Director, at First United Methodist Church in Gastonia. Currently Tripp is the Visitation Minister for First Methodist in Gastonia and Sr. Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Bessemer City. Tripp loves serving both churches and is working towards ordination in the United Methodist Church.

Tripp is currently enrolled at Union Presbyterian Seminary, working on a Masters of Divinity. Tripp has two sons, Jacob who attends Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and Bradley who attends Forestview High School in Gastonia. Tripp still likes to play tennis when he can find the time.