Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church

Our local church was founded in the fall of 1928 on Booth Street, in Dallas, County Texas, at the home of Sister Mable V. Ector. She is a pioneer and charter member who is credited with naming it Hopewell – “hoping it well.”
Other charter members/pioneers are Deacons:
Black, Dave Clark, George Ford, Jessie Jones and Vickers:
Sisters: Othella Burns Drawhorn and Cleo Jones.

The following pastors have served here at Hopewell:

1928-1939
Rev. Lewis, Rev. Johnson, Rev. Lyons, Rev. Beatty

1939 – 1961
Rev. Alexander A. McKnight Jr.

1961 – 2001
Rev. Tommy Earl Brown Sr.

2001 – Present
Rev. Michael Ray Hubbard Sr.

The church note was resolved (4826 Dolphin Road) and the present facility and acreage, located at 5144 Dolphin Road, were purchased on February 20, 1972. During the mid-eighties, the building was remodeled and in 1992 our library was named in honor and memory of our beloved, the late Sister Faustyne Gipson who was a special Hopewellite.

In the spring of 1997, a new van was purchased. In 1998, praise be to the Almighty God our church note was resolved! Earlier this year, remodeling began in several areas of the church. Some are completed and others are still in progress. God continues to bless Hopewell with the following ministries: Transportation Ministry, Support Group, In-House Institute and Traveling Institute, where God’s Word has been taught to many and continue to go forth. Our Jail & Prison Ministry is faithful in evangelizing and discipling those in confined areas through praise and worship service as well as preaching and teaching of God’s Word, from Dallas County Lew Sterrett Justice Center to Anderson County’s Tennessee Colony, Texas Department of Correction, (Beto, Coffield, Michael units).

On August 6, 1998, Hopewell was granted a charter. “Trinity Outreach Jail & Prison Ministry, Inc. our motto is “It’s Worth the Trip”. Our Women’s Ministry has become an instrumental part in the Prison Mentoring Program at the Gatesville Unit. This committed group of saints commute to Gatesville each 2nd. Saturday. In the summer of 2000 Hopewell purchased a 42 passenger bus for our youth. “Hopewell Youth for Christ”. The word of God continues to be dispersed to believers and unbelievers. To God Be The Glory, for all the great things He has done. On February 27, 2001, The Lord called His servant Rev. Tommy Earl Brown Sr. home. Our beloved Pastor gave 49 years of impeccable service to God and his flock. His legacy lives on. His training and teachings are evident in the many ministers he mentored and some have become pastors themselves. Pastor Brown was a teaching preacher and allowed time for his flock to be trained to do the work of the Lord decently and in order.

August 19, 2001, the Lord placed a new shepherd here, Rev. Michael R. Hubbard , He walks in the foot steps of Pastor Brown; he also has the vision of the wellbeing of Hopewell. Pastor Hubbard envisions Hopewell as being a beacon for the neighborhood. This is evident by the success of the Second Annual Neighborhood fellowship which was held the second Saturday in October of 2002. In the summer of 2003, The Family Care Unit was opened where food and clothing are distributed to needy families. Remodeling of the fellowship hall has been completed. On October 5, 2003, the fellowship hall was dedicated and named The Tommy Earl Brown Fellowship Hall.
In the summer of 2004, the center window panes and the stained glass circle window over the front doors were installed. Two new vans and new uniforms for the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church Marjorie Durham Drill Team were purchased. Plans for our playground are in progress. Our third Annual Church Anniversary Community Fellowship was a success and the Family Care conducted a clothes give away and The Lord is continually adding to the church.

In 2005, we completed the playground for our children. The education center and church renovation plans were unveiled and the capital funding program has begun with the membership at Hopewell. We selected the firm DITKA to manage the development and construction phase of this great project. We are concentrating on the basic upkeep of the church and its properties. As the years pass we are progressing steadfastly in the word of the Lord. The Mark Edwin David Brown Scholarship Fund has assisted many of our college students, in the amount of $ plus. We believe it is important to invest in their future. Our own Hopewell Marjorie Durham Drill Team competed for the first time at the National Baptist Sunday School & Congress in Nashville, TN. We are preparing for next year.

The new ministries here are the Single’s Ministry, Marriage Ministry, the Senior’s Ministry and the Wednesday noon day Bible study. For our drive for the Hopewell Development Achievement Center (HDAC), we had two main capitol events, a banquet /silent auction and an ice cream social. HDAC is our main focus and together it is a mission possible. In early 2007 we organized a foundation which was deemed “The Well of Hope” for the purpose of reaching out to the community in a variety of services. Also through the Well of Hope, we reorganized our Children and Youth Department ,Seniors Ministry and the Mime Ministry. We also have “The Basket of Hope” which will provide food and clothing to the needy. The Senior Citizens Ministry is very active and took their first road trip to South Padre Island. Much fun was had by all. Within the growth we were able to implement new enhancements to our existing ministries, such as a monthly newsletter which is mailed out to the sick and shut-in. We have also been blessed with a webmaster who has redesigned our website. In May of 2008, Our Pastor Hubbard was elected Man of the Year and in August was inducted into the Elite News Religious Hall of Fame.
June 2009, our Children & Youth Department participated in several national competitions at the National Baptist Congress. HDAC has become the Mission Possible.

In June of 2010, Sister Paulette Cary was elected Woman of the Year and Brother Billy Brown as Man of the Year.

In June 2011, the Marjorie Durham Steppers for Christ Drill Team were the first place winners of the Intermediate Elite Award 4-7 competition at the National Baptist Congress. Also in 2011, Pastor Hubbard was invited by Representatives Eric Johnson to reside as Pastor of the day at the Texas State House of Representatives, where he delivered the opening prayer for the meeting. The Mark Edwin David Brown Scholarship Fund awarded 6 students scholarships this year. We had 11 to graduate from high school and all went on to college. We also had one college graduate. Hopewell Development and Achievement Center is up and running with 20 students strong.

Our Senior Saints were on the move and made their annual trip of 2011 to Destin, Florida. Sister Dymris Williams was elected Woman of the Year and Deacon Terrance Wade as Man of the Year. God blessed Hopewell with a new roof as well as a water tower cooling unit. We were overjoyed in celebrating A Decade of Excellence honoring our Pastor Michael Hubbard Sr. and First Lady Tonya Hubbard for 10 years of service here at Hopewell.

In 2012, Hopewell remodeled the choir gallery and were able to complete additions and changes to the Audio/Video equipment. In June of 2012, Sister Dianne Lloyd was elected Woman of the Year and Brother Tommy Earl Brown Jr. as Man of the Year. Also, in 2012, iHope Ministry was formed for all our young adults ages 18-35. This ministry would bring a social environment for our young adults who are wanting and thriving to be examples of Christ. The Mark Edwin David Brown Scholarship Fund awarded 5 students scholarships this year.

Presently in 2013, we added a Defibrillator AED, and in addition to this, the pulpit has been extended and the front foyer has been renovated. The Women Ministry traveled to Conroe, Texas for a Women Retreat with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Yet again, this year, The Mark Edwin David Brown Scholarship Fund awarded 6 students scholarships. In June of 2013, Sister Ila Kilgore was elected Woman of the Year and Brother Johnny Morris as Man of the Year. In August of 2013, Hopewell began streaming its morning worship services live via internet.

We have journeyed and have been blessed thus far to celebrate 85 years of service to God, and The Lord is continually blessing Hopewell and add to our church.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!