Hopewell Baptist Church was begun as a mission sponsored by the Jeffersontown Baptist Church in 1889. The church was housed in a one room schoolhouse which the Presbyterians had abandoned. Average attendance was 10-15 persons. Prayer meetings were in progress from the very beginning but were held in members’ homes.
Hopewell was admitted to the Long Run Association in 1898. The pastor was Clark Fountain of Lyndon, Kentucky, and the membership was 28. The next year our church saw 18 baptisms and a membership of 46. At this time the pastor labored 63 days of the year receiving $3.00 a month from the Long Run Board and collected $68.19 from the field.
In 1910 the pastor became H.L. Clifton and total expenses, including the pastor’s salary totaled $70. In 1911 W.H.Cutler was pastor. In 1913 T.N. Fontaine, in 1914, W.J. Williams, and the contributions had increased to $300. A new church building was constructed by the members of the community between the years of 1913 and 1914. The church and property were valued at $600.
In 1916 the pastor was W.Y. Hunt. Then followed W.E. Yates, H.B. Price, and L.T. Wright who also pastored Jeffersontown Baptist in the morning and Hopewell in the evening. Sunday School was also held at this evening time. Brother Wright was Hopewell’s pastor for 13 years. In 1934 Paul Meigs became pastor followed by RK. Bomberg, C.E. Talbert, A.G. New, Robert Holmes, and Herman Phillips. Hopewell’s membership reached 80 in 1942. Also, under Bro. Phillips leadership the educational buildings were built in 1941. In 1943 the BYPU (Baptist Young People’s Union) was organized for the youth of the church.
In 1943 J.P. (Gene) Stephens became pastor and a new church building program was begun and then was completed in 1945. The new building was dedicated in 1945 by the pastor, Thomas Reece. The church had the programs of prayer meetings, Sunday School, Training, and W.M.U. (that first meeting had 19 ladies in attendance). A budget was created for the first time. Hopewell also took an active part in the associational meetings, the Cooperative Program, mission activities, revivals, homecomings, and Vacation Bible School.
The church grew to 123 in 1946 under the pastor, A.D. Horton. In 1953 a parsonage was constructed. The total gifts were $1,770.56 at this time.
In 1953 Gene Price became pastor and was the first to live in the parsonage. While Bro. Price was pastor, the Brotherhood, Royal Ambassadors, and Girls’ Auxiliary were organized. An old church bus was purchased for transportation for Bible School, Sunday School, and Training Union Rallies. Hopewell was very active in these rallies and brought home all the banners for efficiency and attendance. During this time the Easter Sunrise services became a yearly event, and began at 5:15 A.M.
A bell was purchased for the church in 1956, and a steeple constructed. The bell could be heard over a mile away. Around this same time Hopewell built a small building behind the parsonage and named it “The Cottage”. “The Cottage” was used for Sunday School classes and youth and social activities.
In 1957 a terrible storm came and caused an oak tree to fall on the church auditorium. The church was declared unsafe and services were then held in “The Cottage”.
Tom McMillan became pastor in 1957. During his service the church auditorium was made safe for worship, and a vestibule was added to the front. This addition became a Sunday School room and a nursery. The first bulletins were distributed during the late 1950s after the purchase of a mimeograph machine. Bro. McMillan resigned as our pastor in order to become a missionary in Kenya, Africa.
Ledies Bargo accepted the call to Hopewell in 1960. In his service a new church and educational buildings were constructed. This is now the kitchen and fellowship area.
Charles Saylor pastored the church from 1962-1967. The present church sanctuary was built during his pastorate in 1965. He frequently visited the construction area to assure all was going well.
During the pastorate of Vachel Poesy, 1967-1969, the church Training Union grew to over a hundred, and a church organ was purchased.
Hopewell experienced a tremendous growth during the years 1969-1974 as Sunday School averaged an attendance of 240. Ralph Hodge was pastor. The office complex was added at this time. The mountain mission program and nursing home ministry were begun at this time, too. Hopewell’s first minister of music, Ronnie Lee, was a part of our ministerial staff in 1969.
Floyd Price accepted Hopewell’s call from 1974-1978. The new educational building construction began. The teaching and use of sign language was a new mission activity for our church.
Sam Bell was pastor from 1980-1982. It was at this time Hopewell had its first associate pastor.
In 1983 Jack Roddy became pastor.
Thom Rainer pastored Hopewell from 1986-1988, bringing to us our first Minister of Education, Festus Babalola. One of the innovative programs begun during this time was a one year study of the Bible during Sunday School.
September of 1988 brought Harry Sherrer as the pastor of Hopewell. Small groups added to our evangelistic efforts during his pastorate.
From 2001-2003 Gary Yochum pastured Hopewell. A puppet ministry as produced at this time.
Don James became our pastor in 2003 and remained until 2013. His focus on evangelism led us to become involved in several community projects and endeavors.
2014-2026 was the pastorate of Andy Thomas.