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Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.
OUR MISSION
New Hope Baptist Church is a family of baptized believers who worship the Lord our God in spirit and in truth, teach the saved to reach the lost and minister to the needs of others, while encouraging one another through acts of love and living in obedience to God's Word.
OUR VISION
New Hope Baptist Church under the guidance of a Spirit-led leader, envisions a spiritually mature, family-oriented, multi-generational church whose foundation is Jesus, equipped and empowered to share the Gospel through the Word of God and through acts of service, utilizing facilities that will impact today's society.
OUR HISTORY
The New Hope Baptist Church, with its seating capacity of 200, was organized at 1385 North 46th Street on Sunday, September 28, 1947, under the leadership of the late Rev. J. S. Wicks. The original fifty members ventured in faith to make an impact on the community. Adult Organizers and/or Adult Early Laborers who affiliated with New Hope in its earliest decade of 1947-1957, who have gone on to glory, include: Bro. & Sis. Exter & Nazarine Burrell, Sis. Mildred Chambers, Sis. Aszalee Chase, Sis. Mellene Dawson, Sis. Christine Jackson-Fisher, Sis. Jessie Ford, Sis. Georgia Foster, Bro. Samuel Gray, Bro.& Sis. Nelson & Irene Hills, Sis. Susie Hughes, Sis. Louvilla Lewis, Bro. Henry & Mamie Leonard, Bro. & Sis. Moses & Virginia Richard, Bro. & Sis. Lolo & Luella Rogers, Sis. Mary Shoals, Bro. T.C. Wicks, Sis. Theresa Wicks, and Pastor-Teacher J. S. Wicks. Presently, there are no living Adult Organizers. Together, they secured governmental services and educational resources that were beneficial to the Eden Park community.
This concern touched others, thus New Hope grew numerically and spiritually with Church Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, evangelistic efforts, and the formation of the Adult Music Ministry. Musicals and culinary endeavors were plentiful, and along with trips to beaches, funds were garnered to meet needs. Pastor Wicks served as the under-shepherd for twenty-nine (29) years, when in the spirit of love in 1976, the second of only two pastors, Dr. Leo Daniel Cyrus, Sr., was installed on the fourth Sunday, August 22, 1976. The first sermon of this now forty-two (42) year under-shepherd was entitled, “Give Me This Mountain.” During Pastor Cyrus’ first revival, twenty-two (22) souls accepted Christ, thus the membership continued to grow.
The first Children’s Choir was formed, Bible study began, the usher ministries increased, and the deaconess ministry was organized. As a consequence of spirit-led sermons and worship experiences, the North 46th Street sanctuary could no longer accommodate the increasing numbers. Pastor Cyrus, along with a Relocation Committee, set out to find a new site to house the growth. The Relocation Committee included: Sis. Cleotha Alexis, Bro. George Brumfield, Bro. Eugene Davis, Sis. Christine Jackson-Fisher, Bro. Nelson Hills, Bro. LeRoy Hollins, Bro. Robert Knighten, Sis. Debra Martin, Sis. Mae McGuffrey, Bro. Ernest Piper, Bro. Moses Richard, Bro. Lolo Rogers, Sis. Luella Rogers, and Bro. Perkins Stewart. Several sites were explored, and the majority selected the current 5856 Greenwell Springs Road site. With Pastor Cyrus serving as General Contractor, New Hope began to construct the current edifice in 1985. Relocation and dedication services were held the week of November 27-December 3, 1988.
Today, the membership continues to strive to keep the vision of the Church. When acquiring the Hope Center building, located at 5837 Greenwell Springs Road, several rooms are named after key New Hope families such as the Jackson-Fisher, Rogers, Hills, and Richard Rooms. The Nursery Room is named after the late “Mother of New Hope” and mother of our Pastor Leo Daniel Cyrus, Mrs. Alice G. Cyrus. There is no indebtedness for the Sanctuary, Educational Center, HOPE Center, and Parking Lots. New Hope’s community involvement includes membership in the Community Association for the Welfare of School Children and East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Partnership in Education through the adoption of Capital Middle. New Hope is a consistent contributor to and supporter of Southern University. The New Hope’s mission and vision statements focus on worship, fellowship, ministry, evangelism, and discipleship. As the New Hope Family grows in grace and in application of God’s Word, the membership will continue to serve the community that for 76 years after the organization on North 46th Street, still needs NEW HOPE.
Pastor Cyrus, since his establishment of a 2010 Strategic Planning Committee, had the forethought of pastoral retirement and succession to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. Notwithstanding, he brought in Rev. Samuel Calvin Lofton, Jr., a DeRidder native and an ordained minister at the Good Hope Baptist Church of Lafayette, Louisiana to preach and teach before or by the Great August 2016 Flood with an assignment to teach Wednesday night Bible study with his first yearlong series in January 2017 entitled, “How to Effectively Study the Bible.” It is no secret that the Holy Spirit illuminated His Plan for and to New Hope with obvious clarity with Rev. Lofton’s serving almost nine years as Assistant to the Pastor. On the 2ndSunday, April 13, 2025, with only one name presented via official electronic voting stations, Rev. Samuel Lofton, Jr., was unanimously elected as Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. Pastor Cyrus preached his last sermon taken from Philippians 3:12-14 “I Rest My Case“ on Fourth Sunday, May 25, 2025. Later on that same day, the third of only three pastors since New Hope’s establishment was installed with Good Hope Baptist Church Pastor, Dr. Ricky E. Carter, delivering the Installation Sermon and the newly designated Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Leo D. Cyrus, Sr., passed the mantle of leadership after 48.5 years to Pastor Samuel Calvin Lofton, Jr.
For the second time in the history of two separate congregations, New Hope shared the pastoral leadership with Second Baptist Church, where Pastor Lofton was unanimouslyelected and installed on June 22, 2025. In his first sermon as Pastor on Youth Sunday, June 1, 2025, Rev. Samuel C. Lofton, Jr. preached his first pastoral sermon taken from Joshua 14:6-13, entitled “Big Moves Only [Run-It Back Give Me This Mountain].” This sermon, continued also in a Part Two on 2nd Sunday, June 8, 2025, echoed the text of the first sermon of Pastor Emeritus Cyrus in August 1976. Pastor Lofton demonstrates his commitment to a multi-generational church as evidenced through periodic input from College/Young Adults (18-39), Visionaires (40-59), and Seasoned Citizens (60+).
