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 differences 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 of the most vocal Deacons. Bufford Booth stated, “I’ve been waiting to do this a long time!” As the Church conflict grew, church members would brandish knives and threaten each other over various issues, including claims that the Old Hopewell Church Pastor, Rev H.L. McKnight was practicing witchcraft and sprinkling dust from a bag. Some say that Leroy "Bubba" Beasley and one church member were tussling outside of Old Hopewell Church due to the conflict, and Bubba was grazed in the leg when a gun inadvertently fired as they were wrestling.

LEAVING TO BRING ABOUT PEACE...

The “silenced” families decided to leave and restore the peace. Some of the silenced Deacons coordinated with the Covington County School Superintendent to hold services in the rear portion of the Hopewell School Agricultural Building each Sunday, which was merely several hundred yards from Old Hopewell Church. They adopted the 3rd Sunday as the Worship Service, to contrast from Old Hopewell Church's 4th Sunday's Worship Service. Although many people left Old Hopewell Church in the late 1950s, many later returned after tensions subsided. Some even attended Worship Services of both Hopewell Church on the 3rd Sunday and Old Hopewell Church on the 4th Sunday because both edifices were adjacently located.

Some of our church plank owners were Deacon Chairman 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.

Deacon chairperson Ellis Keys donated land to build a new church, which would later be the new edifice known as the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. The leaders hired Rev. G.G (Gig) Booth as the Master Carpenter. (Rev G.G was the father of Geveion Booth and Mildred Booth Beasley.) 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).

Several renovations were made since 1968. The Sanctuary modifications and Fellowship Hall construction was primarily funded by Mrs. Lillie Dawson and the Church Building fund. Deacon Chairman George Dawson and his sons (Oliver L. Dawson and George J. Dawson) executed most of the construction.

Our Church adapted during the COVID-19 phase with Facebook Live Services and Zoom Bible Study/Sunday School Services. Our Church is forward-looking and excited for what the future holds. Find us on Facebook Live each 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11:30 am or join us on Zoom!