
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church was founded in the year of 1860 on New Market
Pike with a membership of seven. Rev. H. H. Hubbard was called to pastor in the
year of 1923. The deacons were as follows: L. D. Douglas, A. Petty, H. Hambrick,
R. F. Crutcher, W. C. Jones, W. S. Baker and Jim Powell. Under Rev. Hubbard’s
Pastorate, the church grew to a membership of fifty. During this period the
pastors who served Hopewell were: Rev. Lockhart, Rev Whitman, Rev. Maple, Rev.
Cable, Rev. Tillman and Rev Hezekiah Lanier. Hopewell joined the Elk Pine
Association and later the Flint River Association.
In the 1920’s the church moved from New Market Pike to it present location. Here
the church joined the Mud Creek North Alabama and Tennessee Association. W. P.
Petty was called to pastor in 1932 and served the church for thirty-three (33)
years, longer than any of his predecessors. Under his pastorate, the church grew
in membership. Rev. Charles B. Huggins followed Rev. Petty as pastor.
During
his and Rev. Earl Scruggs pastorate, the previous sanctuary was erected in 1967.
Rev. Roy Williams was called to pastor Hopewell in 1972 and during the next five
years, the church added an education building, grew in membership and more
importantly, in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The final
worship service was held in this facility on 9 August 1998 and concluded with
the observance of Holy Communion.
The current pastor, Rev. Leroy R. Cole succeeded Rev. Williams in leadership of
Hopewell in 1978. He watered the seeds planted by his predecessors with the word
of God and the anointing of the Holy Ghost. The church has grown to a membership
of over 800. Rev. Cole also introduced the phrase, “HOPEWELL EXPERIENCE” which
is popular throughout New Market, Huntsville and other surrounding areas.
Hopewell is a church Commissioned by God, Committed by Faith and Challenged by
Love to build up the Kingdom of God. Due to the significant increase in church
membership, Hopewell erected, with the help of God, a new Worship complex. The
first service was held in this new facility on September 13, 1998, with the
observance of Holy Communion.
Hopewell’s rich history continues to grow as the church moves from one level to
another in God’s service.