New Hope Church began in 1999. The first service was held May 1st at the Zimmerman's Rivers Edge RV Park with 5 couples and the Church's first Pastor, Richard Gammill. The Fall of that year, services were moved to the South Fork Community Building.
In 2000, a building fund was established with a $50 donation. Within 18 months, the building fund reached $100K, due to God's provision through many generous people. 1999-2005 Several Part-time Pastors were hired during which time the Church Sanctuary and offices were built.
In 2006, Pastor Bob Schmeltekopf served as Interim-Pastor. In November the Church became warmly affiliated with the Continental Divide Association, this regions local Southern Baptist Association.
Pastor Rogan Taylor, from Zimbabwe, Africa, officially started in January 2007 as New Hope Church's first official full-time Senior Pastor. Our Youth program, TIDE, started the same month.
In May of 2009, New Hope broke ground for what was to become the new Fellowship Hall, Sunday School wing, and Nursery. God's blessings and provision for us during this time went way beyond expectation with an overwhelming number of construction volunteers (approximately 340 total) who came from all over the U.S. In September of that year, our building was dedicated and for the first time we held regular Sunday School for all ages.
June 2010, We employed our first summer interns, aiding in administration for college credit. In July our first ever Mission Team of 17 went to Wyoming to help two churches with their construction needs. We held our third annual Vacation Bible School first "Family Camp," and started hosting the AWANA program.
2011 continues to see God's hand of blessing and provision. The church paid off completely the debt owing on the building extention. In April we held our second Ladies Retreat, and in may we employed our second summer intern to lead our Youth program. We have now, as of September 2011, hired a Worhsip/Youth Pastor to be on staff year round.
New Hope runs "Children's Church" during the Sunday Morning Worship Service, and hosts the AWANA program during the school year, on Sunday afternoons. Our Youth program, meeting on Sunday evenings, is now called "Refuge" led by our Worship/Youth Pastor Cody Walls and his wife, Molly.
We are very excited about the growth that New Hope continues to experience. Both our Nursery and Children's programs have grown considerably as new families have joined the Church. New Hope also has a dynamic Ladies Bible Study in the winter and fall. Our men meet regularly, for fellowship and devotional, at a monthly Men's Breakfast as well.
