About Us
New Hope Church – “A Place for New Beginnings!”
Mission
New Hope Church believes that the purpose of its preaching and teaching ministry is to bring people to the realization of their need and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It has as its goal to help people to grow in grace and love and to enable them to live as loving disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. We at New Hope profess to that faith and that task.
For more information about the beliefs of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, visit our denomination headquarters link:
History
New Hope Church was formed during the days when this part of the country was the frontier. Those who worshipped here saw the Great Revival and lived through the formation of the Cumberland Church.
In 1799 a few people from North Carolina, who were members of the Presbyterian Church, began meeting every Sunday to read the Scriptures and pray together near their homes just north of the Cumberland River in Wilson County, Tennessee. They continued to meet and were being served occasionally by circuit preachers until 1810.
In the fall of 1810, the people held their first camp meeting. This was so successful that another was held in 1811 on land bought for this purpose. In 1812, Rev. Hugh Kirkpatrick organized this group of Christians as the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served as their minister. Preaching once a month, he served this congregation until 1816.
Church records show there were 230 members by 1849. However, the growth in membership was severely affected by the War Between the States and, later, when a number of members affiliated with the newly organized Melrose Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the Cairo Bend community. By 1880, the church began to experience renewed growth and, needing more space, moved to its present location in 1886.
Classrooms were added to the back of the sanctuary in the 1950’s and a Fellowship Hall and restrooms were added in the 1960’s, which is now classroom space. In 1980, the Melrose Church closed its doors and that congregation reunited with New Hope. A new Gym/Family Life Center was built in 1989. The original frame sanctuary, structurally unsound after 120 years of faithful service, was replaced by a beautiful new brick sanctuary in 2006. God has truly blessed New Hope during its long history.
The people of the frontier were people of vision and faith. They saw the wilderness and envisioned fields and towns and good living. The church today is still on the frontier of living. We see a lost world and envision the Joy and Happiness of God’s Salvation.
Your church home has gone through a few changes…
The log structure, circa 1880, which was located on Coles Ferry Pike. Check out the horse! No one is living today that remembers this building. This is possibly the earliest photo we have of New Hope, when it was located near the New Hope cemetery…
In 1886, a new frame structure was erected on new property on Coles Ferry Pike. At right is the church in the mid-1970’s. Below is the church building as some of us here today will remember it, about 1980. The fellowship hall and two restrooms that form the L-shape were added in the 1960’s. Many fine folks have passed away the last few years who would have remembered the church like this. There are still a few of us here who do…
The old frame building after its face lift with the addition of a steeple, the foyer on the front and a new fellowship hall in the rear. This is about 1994. Many of the folks attending New Hope today miss the “little white church.”
Sadly, it was found to be structurally unsound after 120 years of faithful service, and was torn down in 2005 to make room for the beautiful new sanctuary, classrooms and offices we have today, below. The debt on the new buildings was paid off in March of 2009. To God be the glory! God has truly blessed New Hope through its long history in this community.
Our Mantra in Getting Things Done
- Find a flame and fan it
- Find a calling and confirm it
- Find a passion and support it
We believe that when a praying church asks for God’s guidance and we let it be known what the general goals are for the church, God will call people to do things. We seek to support those who are called to ministry for the advance of God’s Kingdom.
What New Hope Receives from our Denominational Heritage
- Focus on getting the gospel to the last, the least, and the lost
- Worship is not only for the edification of the saints, but for the conversion of sinners
- The church is seen as a spiritual movement, not a static institution
- Make our appeal to the Head and to the Heart
- Keep the organizational structure lean and clean (focused)
Our Working Mission Statement
New Hope Church exists to:
- Glorify God in worship and rejoice in our life together
- Share the good news of the gospel in word and deed
- Reach as many as we can with the saving love of Jesus
- Help each person grow toward Christian Maturity.
Community Building
New Hope will seek to contribute to a sense of “community” in the surrounding area, being a warm center of people to gather for worship, fellowship building, and learning to be a Christ-follower.
Community Church
- See the beginning of our mission is to be a channel of God’s love to people who live closest to us.
- We will think and act on activities that will make this a better community
- To help facilitate community activities and program that are needed
- To be seen as a catalyst around which a community comes closer together.
- Hold open the notion that God may want to make this a Regional Church
The Guiding Principles that inform us in all we say, think, or do (The four L’s)
- L – ove
- L – isten
- L – earn
- L – augh
Significant Community Ministries the Past Few Months
- Blood Drive
- Community dances
- Seminar on Finding Hope in a Hopeless Job Market
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Brought in a significant choral group called “The Bethel College Renaissance”
- Progress toward Stephen Ministry