How It All Began

In anticipation of establishing a new Presbyterian church in the East Brainerd area, six families began meeting in their homes on Wednesday evenings, the first of January 9, 1974, with the Rev. Willard Peak as Leader. This went on until October 1974 when the group began meeting in the home of the newly called Pastor, the Reverend William Warlick.  The pastor’s home in Holly Hills was purchased by the Presbytery of East Tennessee.  The church was officially organized on February 23, 1975 with 35 charter members.

The meetings were well attended and as the group grew, the present property on Shallowford Road was purchased by the Presbytery with the first worship service held in the house (now the McMillan Building) on March 31, 1975.  Rev. Warlick was officially installed as Pastor on April 13 1975.

Groundbreaking for the present building was on June 18, 1978 with the first worship service held on March 25, 1979.

Rev. Warlick left New Hope to serve a s missionary in Zimbabwe in 1984 and Rev. Dr. Arthur H. Jones, Jr. was installed as Pastor in July 1985.  He retired in April 2006 and Commissioned Lay Pastor Diane Stocker served as Interim Pastor July 2006 through December 2007.  The Reverend Keith Jones served as pastor from January 2008 until June 2014. Rev. Frank Jump served as Interim Pastor from then until February 2016.  Rev. Canace Worth began her pastorate at New Hope on February 7, 2016.

Of the total membership in October 2015 of 112, eight charter members still at New Hope are Sybil Bryant; Martha Hicks, Mary McMillan, Melinda (McMillan) Lowe, Anoose and Dorothy Taj, Steve O’Rear, Thomas O’Rear , and John L. and Peggy Wright.

New Hope began and continues to be a mission-minded church, supporting local and world-wide missions.

Click this link to see How it All Began.