About Us

Our Story

Centered in the heartland of Mississippi, our small church boasts a rich heritage.

In the late 1950s, Hopewell Missionary Church detached from Old Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church (Founded in 1865) due to escalating theological surrounding the Old Hopewell Church building renovation in 1957 and the expansion of Hopewell School.

At the height of the tensions, the Church voted to silence some Deacons. Bufford Booth stated, “I’ve been waiting to do this a long time!” As the Church conflict grew, members would brandish knives and threaten each other over issues. Some say that Bubba Beasley and one church member were tussling due to the conflict, and Bubba was grazed in the leg when a gun inadvertently fired as they were wrestling.

The “silenced” families decided to leave and restore the peace. They coordinated with the Covington County School Superintendent to hold services in the rear portion of the Hopewell School Agricultural Building each Sunday. They adopted the 3rd Sunday as the Worship Service. Many people left Old Hopewell Church at that time; however, many later returned after tensions subsided.

Some of our plank owners were Deacons Ellis Keys, Deacon Troy Fountain, Deacon Ledrew Booth, and Deacon James Barnes. Our founding Pastor was Rev. Shelby.

The Hopewell Church congregation held church in the Hopewell School Agricultural Building for several years until a fateful day when Joe Knox, principal of Hopewell School, began storing hay for his livestock in the building. Although the school superintendent later ordered Joe Knox to remove the hay bales, the Hopewell Church leaders sought to build their new church building.

Ellis Keys donated land to build a new church, which would later be called Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. The leaders hired Rev. G.G (Gig) Booth as the Master Carpenter. Everyone else was a volunteer working under his direction. Bro. Ivy Lee Barnes, a youth at the time, was the master carpenter's helper.

The Church building was completed just in time for the homegoing celebration of Mrs. Virgie Barnes, the wife of Bro. Leon Barnes (parents of Levaster Barnes and Mellie Barnes Wheeler). On the 3rd Sunday, July 21, 1968, the Church held its General Opening Service. At 2:00 pm, the congregation marched from the old building (Agricultural Building) to the new edifice, making history.

Our Pastors include Rev. Shelby, Rev. Griffin, Rev. Louis Gardner (1994), Rev. Alan Henderson (1996), and Rev. Roderick Posey (1997 - Present).