Proverbs 29:18 says – “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Pastors Joseph and Shirley Brooks received their call from the Lord to begin ministry. They accepted that call and started what is now New Hope Christian Ministries. Faithfulness to God brought together the original five members and their families, Pastor Joseph Brooks, Co-Pastor Shirley Brooks, Elder Linda Smith, Deaconess Deloris Humphrey and Sister Charleen Silver. Needless to say, we were excited about Jesus and anxious for God’s work to keep moving. There were times when the church first got started that we would become discouraged.
“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God, is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9.
These are fitting words to describe Pastor Brooks as he began to preach the gospel. The Lord was with him; he was a young pastor with a young church. Pastor Brooks preached the word of God strong and with conviction. As he has grown in the Lord, the church has grown. God has blessed New Hope, spiritually and financially.
In October of 2001, they gathered together each Wednesday night in a circle just outside of the kitchen in the Brooks’ home and began having bible study. Here is where the churches foundation began.
We believed at conception and continue to believe that “A New Hope Brings A New Beginning,” and that is our standard. We have prayed together, worshipped and praised the Lord together, fasted together and worked in the vineyard – together!
After much prayer, the decision was made to organize New Hope Christian Ministries. We had some wonderful services in the home, but soon Pastors Joseph and Shirley Brooks realized that we needed to seek a permanent place to worship.
God led Pastor Brooks to the building at 106 Cambridge Street in Fredericksburg. This building eventually became our home.
Negotiations began with the realtor, and within a few weeks with much prayer and sacrifice, we began the renovation on our building. The bank was very apprehensive about loaning money to such a new church with no financial record, but God had other plans.
Mr. Jones came and built, covered and installed the pulpit, and we hung the sign on the outside of the building, we knew this was our home. Elder David Hughey joined us as the chairs were delivered into what was just an empty room and became our sanctuary.
We cleaned, mopped, dusted, vacuumed and decorated and when we finished and finally looked around —- it was well, yes it was well with our souls!
We officially opened the doors to our church on Sunday, December 8, 2001, and what a day of rejoicing! We worshipped and praised the Lord on that day, and we continue to be thankful and grateful unto the Lord for all that He has and continues to do for all of us!
The coming year became a year of many firsts for our young congregation. We had our first four families join in with our original members, we held our first ordination service (preached by Elder Otis Smith from Unity Tabernacle in February 2002) where we officially licensed and ordained our Elders, Deacons, and Missionaries; we held our first Women’s Day Service in May 2002 (preached by Elder Trina Samuels of Mt. Zion Full Gospel), our first Men’s Day Service in July 2002 preached by Pastor Marvin Scott, and our first anniversary service close-out service in December 2002 (preached by Pastor Kevin Mihlfeld from Strong Tower Ministries) and had more than 100 worshippers in attendance during our celebrations.