New Hope Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about New Hope Baptist Church in Lubbock County. Now settle in, because this is a story about a community that refused to stay small. It starts, as so many good Texas stories do, with a disagreement.

Back in 1926, a group of African American worshippers organized a new congregation, splitting from Caldonia Baptist Church and setting up at 18th Street and Avenue B. They called it Mount Calvary Baptist at first. But names, like congregations, can grow into something bigger.

Under the tenure of Rev. G. H.

Washington, the church picked up and moved to East 20th Street and Birch Avenue, which folks had formerly called East Avenue B. That move happened in 1929. And somewhere around that time, the name may have changed too.

Mount Calvary becoming New Hope Baptist Church. The marker is careful to note that the new name didn't actually appear in newspapers until 1933, so exactly when the change took hold is one of those details history kept to itself. During the years that followed, Rev.

Richard E. Jones led the congregation, and under his tenure something significant came together: the New Zeal Baptist Association was formed, and for many years several New Hope preachers served as its moderator. The church wasn't just tending to its own.

In the 1930s and 1940s, New Hope figured prominently in community activities, Juneteenth celebrations, Armistice Day observances. The congregation hosted the Junior Welfare League Baby Clinic right there on the premises, helping provide health services for young children. When Rev.

S. M. Meters took the helm, the current church sanctuary was built, in 1949, and the congregation celebrated that milestone with every bit of the pride it deserved.

Then came Rev. A. L.

Dunn. He served for 29 years, from 1952 to 1981, and the man was busy. An educational building went up in 1957.

A new parsonage was added. And he served for several years as moderator of the West Texas Association. Twenty-nine years of spearheading, building, and serving.

Now today, New Hope doesn't just hold Sunday services and call it done. The church purchased a radio transmitter and has been broadcasting its morning worship and a Sunday evening program called New Hope Gospel Time for over 30 years. The Deacon Family Ministry Plan, means for care, outreach woven right into the week.

They describe themselves as a church where people care, and everything on that marker backs it up. Started with a split. Built something that lasted a century.

That's New Hope Baptist Church.

What the marker says

Originally known as Mount Calvary Baptist, the historically African American New Hope Baptist Church organized in 1926 at 18th street and Avenue B, following a split from Caldonia Baptist Church. Under the tenure of Rev. G. H. Washington, the church moved to east 20th street and Birch Avenue (formerly called East Avenue B) in 1929. The church's name may have changed to New Hope Baptist church at the time of the move, though the new name did not appear in newspapers until 1933. Over the years, the church has continually seen many building improvements and growth. During Rev. Richard E. Jones" tenure, the New Zeal Baptist Association was formed and for many years several new hope preachers served as its moderator. In the 1930s and 1940s, the church figured prominently in community activities such as Juneteenth and Armistice Day. The church hosted the Junior Welfare League Baby Clinic to help provide health services for young children. Under the leadership of Rev. S. M. Meters, the current church sanctuary was built in 1949, which the congregation proudly celebrated. Rev. A. L. Dunn served for 29 years (1952-1981), spearheading additional improvements, including an educational building in 1957 and a new parsonage. He also served for several years as moderator of the west Texas association. New Hope is greatly involved in its community, initiating many outreach programs such as the Deacon Family Ministry Plan and means for care. The church also purchased a radio transmitter and has been broadcasting the morning worship services and the "New Hope Gospel Time" on Sunday evenings for over 30 years. Today, New Hope Baptist remains an active and vibrant congregation, "a church where people care."