The New Hope Baptist Church was founded and organized in 1907 by Rev. J.H. Ledbetter with a few members: Deacons Watts, Austin and Minnis, Sisters Mattie Becktom, Susie Harris, Molli e Cobb, and Millie Houston—all of whom have passed from labor to reward. The Church was torn down and rebuilt in 1915 by the same Pastor. He resigned in December of 1923. In 1924 Rev. T.K. Pullum was ordained as the elected Pastor. During his pastoral tenure, the Church was moved to 4112 Boyd Street. After his resignation in 1932 Rev. P.A. Gold was called during the same year serving until 1936. During his pastorate, the Church seemed to take on a new life and the membership increased. Rev. L.O. Blathers succeeded him and served for eight months. In 1937 Rev. B.S. Simpson was called to Pastor. Under his leadership the Training Union was organized. He was a great worker with children. In 1941 he resigned, and Rev. Horace Johnson succeeded him and served until 1944. In the same year Rev. H.C. Carroll was called and served until 1948. In 1948 Rev. W.M. Thompson was called to Pastor and under his leadership the Church became very progressive. The membership increased. The Senior and Junior Choirs and the Usher Board were organized. The building was repaired, and rooms were added as well as some new pews, chairs, and some lighting. Unfortunately, in 1957 the Church split. But with God’s help the Church kept moving on. In 1963 the pastor and the officers brought forth plans for a building program which the Church members began working on immediately. From 1963 through May of 1966, more than $7,000.00 was raised. The lot on which the Church is now located was then purchased along with the adjacent property which was donated by Sisters Lena Cooley and Alberta Nevils in memory of their sister Rosetta Lawson who had been a loyal member of this Church. We also received another lot adjacent to the lot across the street. With so many blessings upon us the name of the Church was changed to Greater New Hope Baptist Church. On May 24, 1966, the new sanctuary was erected. The Cornerstone Laying Service was held on Sunday, July 17, 1966. Rev. Thompson resigned in September 17, 1967. In November 1967 Rev. W.F. Jasper was called and served as Pastor until May 1968. During his leadership nine members were added and three members were baptized. A new piano and organ were purchased for the Church. In November 1967 Rev. W.F. Jasper was called and served as Pastor until May 1968. During his leadership nine members were added and three members were baptized. A new piano and organ were purchased for the Church. The Church continued to pray and work towards completion of the new sanctuary. The walls were plastered, electrical work was done, and hardwood flooring was installed, along with paneling and a baptismal pool. Rev. A.W. Winston was called to Pastor in September 1968 and served until May 1969. The Church membership continued to increase, and six members were baptized. The Church purchased new pews, pulpit furniture and carpet. Sister Jim L. Nichols donated the Communion table in memory of her son, Wilbert Nathan Hines. During the week of October 13-17, 1969, revival services were held. More members were added, of which five were baptized. The Church continued to press forward under the leadership and guidance of Rev. C.A. Purdie. Rev. Purdie was elected as Pastor on October 20, 1969. Under his leadership Bro. Bobbie Smith was called to the ministry and ordained in an Ordination Service on June 11, 1972. On February 4, 1973, Rev. E. Dukes was elected as Assistant Pastor. He served faithfully until he was elected as Pastor of Rice Memorial Baptist Church. Rev. Purdie resigned as Pastor in November of 1981. Rev. Lemon Scott who united with the Church in October of 1981 served the Church faithfully during the months that the Church was without a pastor. Rev. Scott was ordained into the ministry in March of 1982. On April 12, 1982, Rev. George Walker was elected as Pastor. Under his leadership more members were added to the Church family. On February 14, 1988, five ministers were ordained under the leadership of Rev. Walker. The Church continued to flourish as members were added to the body of Christ. The Church purchased ceiling fans, and the parking lot was paved. Rev. Walker resigned in August of 1993 and Rev. Jesse Courtney served the Church faithfully during the months that the Church was without a pastor. On March 12, 1994, Rev. Ronald Young was elected as Pastor. Under his leadership three deacons were ordained. On February 8, 2007, Rev. Odell Strain was called to the ministry. The land on the adjacent South side of the Church was purchased and new choir robes, as well. Also, during this time the Hill family in memory of their mother, Sis. Lillie Mae Hill donated the sign in front of the Church. In April of 2007 the Church was once again without a pastor. Rev. Jesse Courtney and Rev. Odell Strain served the Church faithfully during this time without a pastor. After much prayer, Rev. Isiah Bennett, Jr. was chosen as Pastor on August 26, 2007. Under the leadership of Pastor Isiah Bennett, God has added to the Church. During his first year of service as Pastor, grant monies were awarded to Greater New Hope Baptist Church from the Oldham Little Church Foundation. Through the abundance of God, the sanctuary was renovated. Both the men’s and women’s restrooms were remodeled. Old and New Member’s Orientation classes were implemented, and the Deacon’s Ministry was reestablished. On September 7, 2008, Rev. David McFarlane became a part of the Ministerial Staff. The Usher Board has been reassembled. The Church has seen tremendous growth in our Youth Department which has allowed us to restart our Youth Bible Study Classes. New musicians were added to the ministry as well. In the years 2009-2013 the Church was able to add the Transportation Ministry as well as an additional nursing home to the Nursing Home Ministry. By God’s permissive will, we now have one nursing home that we faithfully minister to the residents and staff every 4th Tuesday of each month. The Church parking lot spaces were repaved which made them to be visible at night. In addition, some of our faithful members have formed a cleaning crew to clean the Church twice a week. God has blessed us tremendously to remodel the kitchen, fellowship hall and the business office, as well as insulate the sanctuary and we were blessed to relocate our sound room. On October 13, 2013, Rev. Kim Carter united with the Ministerial Staff. We have been blessed with the purchase of lawn equipment to help cultivate and maintain the Church grounds. The Brotherhood Ministry and the Evangelism Team were established and evangelized in the community every quarter. We are also pleased to announce that we have our new website up and running. God’s amazing Grace has also blessed us to have the Boy Scouts of America/Mohawk District-- Unit 4111 added to the Church, which meets every 4th Thursday of each month. We have had lighting assessments completed throughout the Church and aerators installed in our faucets for energy efficiency. In our Music Ministry, God had blessed us to establish a gifted Youth Choir. In addition, we were blessed with three drummers and two musicians. August 2014 Pastor Isiah Bennett appointed Sis. Amanda Massey, a faithful and dedicated servant of God to be the President of the Ushers Ministry! She is doing a fantastic job in this ministry. God blessed us to replace the old carpet with new carpet and light fixtures. In addition, our beloved Pastor was able to renovate the Pastor’s Study. More blessings from our Heavenly Father were the purchase of the 2010 Church van—PAID IN FULL and insulation of the back rooms of the Church! We are also looking forward to more phases to come in the remodeling of our Church as God bless us to continue to grow. On May 20, 2015, Pastor Isiah Bennett appointed Sis. Kamika Gaines as our Media Coordinator. What an excellent and dedicated appointee! For 2015 thus far, God has added fifty-three souls, of which thirteen were baptized and as such as should be saved! We were also able to be blessed with a new heated baptismal pool. In February 2016 Bro. Sammy A. Williams, a very faithful and devoted servant of God was voted in by the Church to become a deacon. Greater New Hope has four faithful and devoted servants as deacons! The Church has taken on a new transformation from the inside out! Thus far in the blessed year of 2016 the foyer has been completely renovated with a refreshing water fountain and restrooms. The sanctuary has been utterly renovated with a new ceiling and lighting, new pews, new choir chairs, new monitors to enhance our worship experience; the media/sound room to aid with the enrichment of our worship experience; our kitchen has been renovated as well to better serve our Culinary Staff to better serve our families, friends, visitors, and guests! The outside renovation included a completely new roof, porch, and steeple! We are positive that none of this could have been done without the goodness and faithfulness of the Omnipotent, Sovereign, and Merciful God Almighty! We shall continue to give Him praise, glory, thanks & honor for who He is! In September 2017 the Mighty Good LORD blessed us with a new sound system for the sound booth and God gave Pastor Bennett the vision to implement the following ministries: Children’s Church Ministry, Feed the Homeless Sack Lunch Street Ministry and he appointed nine faithful and dedicated members to be a vital part of the newly established “Welcome Ministry”. In addition to September 2017, Rev. James McCarther was appointed Assistant Pastor. February of 2018 Pastor Bennett enhanced the Bereavement Ministry with eleven devoted and steadfast members to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this crucial ministry. Rev. Otis Langhorn was added Associate Minister in 2018. In September 2019 Rev. Roderick Turman was added to the Ministerial Staff. October 13, 2019, Bro. La’Von Chauncey Slay went on trial as a deacon by Senior Pastor, Rev. Isiah Bennett. Rev. Otis Langhorn preached his first Greater New Hope Baptist Church sermon on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at Wednesday Night Worship Service. Despite the Coronovirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 which has spread across the United States as well as globally our Omnipotent, Almighty God never ceased to amaze us! We never had to close our doors due to the deadly virus and government warnings! Our doors have remained open to this date while maintaining compliancy with the Center of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines! October 2020 the last dinosaur of this great church was replaced! That last dinosaur was the furnace system. It lasted over 45 years—but GOD! Also, the Brotherhood repainted the parking lines for better visibility. Pastor Bennett envisioned a church sign and GNH logo to be placed on the front of the building. It’s on its way coming to fruition--to God be the glory!! November 2020 the fellowship hall was extended with monitors for those who prefer to watch and listen to the worship service apart from the congregation. In addition, a monitor which displays announcements of events has been placed in the foyer. On November 19, 2020, Pastor Bennett’s vision came to fruition. God blessed us to have a church sign installed on the front of the building! August 2021 a double-faced, LED illuminated road marquise was installed. This is the sign at the entrance of the church! We are so grateful and thankful for the impeccable leadership and vision of our pastor for Greater New Hope! And not only that! We had an LED illuminated building marquise installed in the same month! This is the sign which is on the front of the building. August 2022 the book entitled, “Keeping A Level Head of Faith in the Midst of A Pandemic” inspired by God and written by our Pastor, Rev. Isiah Bennett was published. November 2022, just a week before our 115th Church Anniversary, our stove had to be replaced and installed. In 2023 the refrigerator was replaced with a brand new one. July 2023 Bro. La’Von Chauncey Slay was appointed as Minister of Music by Senior Pastor, Rev. Isiah Bennett. August 2023 Sis. Breanna “Bree” Lanigan was appointed as Children’s Ministry Director by Sis. Cheryl Bennett with the blessing of Senior Pastor, Rev. Isiah Bennett. September 2024 Bro. Artie Tucker pressure washed the outside of the church and the baseboards in the sanctuary as a donation. Thus far, for 2024 our Heavenly Father has added 19 beautiful souls, of which 6 were baptized and as such should be saved! We are hoping and praying that God will continue to bless us to grow spiritually as we remain faithfully at the feet of Jesus and passionately learn of Him every Wednesday night during Bible Study, every Sunday morning during our Men and Women Sunday School classes, Children Church, and Sunday Morning Worship Service so that we may continue to serve this community in the Spirit of the True and Living God for many more years to come!
