About Us

CHURCH HISTORY

1928-PRESENT

Our local church began in the fall of 1928 on Booth Street, in Dallas, County Texas, at the home of Sister Mable V. Ector. Sister Mable V. Ector is a pioneer and charter member who is credited with naming our church, Hopewell  "hoping it well." Other charter members/pioneers are Deacons: Black, Dave Clark, George Ford, Jessie Jones, and S.E. Vickers: Sisters: Othella Burns Drawhorn and Cleo Jones. Here are pastors that  served here at Hopewell:    

Pastors 1928 through 1939

Rev. C.L. Lewis, Rev. W.L. Johnson, Rev. I.H. Lyons, Rev. J.W. Beatty

Rev. Alexander A. McKnight Jr. 1939 through 1961

Rev. Tommy Earl Brown Sr. 1961-2001

Rev. Michael Ray Hubbard Sr.  2001-Present

The church note was resolved (4826 Dolphin Road) and the present facility and acreage, located at 5144 Dolphin Road, were both 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! Throughout the years, remodeling began in several areas of the church. Some were completed, and others are still in progress. God continues to bless Hopewell with the following ministries: Transportation, Support Group, In-House and Traveling Institute, where God's Word has been taught to many and continues to go forth. Our Jail & Prison Ministry is faithful in evangelizing and disciplining 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 Corrections (Beto, Coffield and 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 commutes 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 has continued 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 Brown 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 Sr.  Pastor Hubbard walks in the footsteps of Pastor Brown. Pastor Hubbard also has a vision of wellbeing for 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.

The Mark Edwin David Brown Scholarship Fund has assisted many of our college students, amounts totaling $6000.00 plus. We believe it is important to invest in their future. The Hopewell Marjorie Durham Steppers for Christ Drill Team competed for the first time at the National Baptist Sunday School & B.T.U. Congress in Nashville, TN. New ministries were added to Hopewell: Single's, Marriage, and Senior's Ministries, as well as the Tuesday noon day Bible study. For our fund drive for the Hopewell Development Achievement Center (HDAC), we had two main capitol events, a banquet /silent auction and an ice cream social. HDAC was our focus, and together it became a mission possible. On September 17, 2005, the Fellowship of Churches hosted their first Fashion Share held at Hopewell. 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, the Seniors, and the Mimes Ministries. We also established  "The Basket of Hope" which provided food and clothing to the needy.

The Senior Citizens Ministry is very active and took their first road trip to South Padre Island. All had much fun. Within our growth, Hopewell had implemented new enhancements to our existing ministries, such as a monthly newsletter which is given to members, each first Sunday, as well as, mailed out to the sick and shut-in. We were also blessed with a webmaster that could redesign our website. In February of 2008, The Elite News elected our own, Pastor Hubbard as Minister of the Year and later that year Pastor Hubbard was inducted into their Religious Hall of Fame. June 2009, Our Children & Youth participated and won 2-3 yr. old Junior Superior Award competitions at the National Baptist Congress. April 2011, State Representative Eric Johnson invited Pastor Hubbard to reside as Pastor of the day at the Texas State House of Representatives, where he delivered the invocation prayer for the meeting. In June 2011, The Marjorie Durham Steppers for Christ Drill Team were the 1st. Place winners of the Intermediate Elite Award 4-7 competition at the National Baptist Congress.

The Mark Edwin David Brown Scholarship Fund awarded 6 students scholarships that year. Hopewell Development and Achievement Center (HDAC) is up and running 20 students strong. God blessed Hopewell with a new roof as well as a water tower cooling unit. In 2012, Hopewell remodeled the choir gallery and completed additions and changes to the media equipment. The iHope Ministry was formed for all our young adults ages 18-35. This ministry served as 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 additional students this year. In 2013, a Defibrillator AED was added to our Nurses Guild Ministry and in addition to this, the pulpit was extended, and the front foyer was renovated. The Women Ministry traveled to Conroe, Texas for a Women Retreat with the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas. The Mark Brown Scholarship Fund awarded 6 students this year. On September 1, 2013,  Hopewell began streaming its morning worship services live via internet. On December 13, 2013, Pastor Hubbard graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity Degree and is now in pursuit of his Doctorate.

 In the year 2014, iHope Ministry celebrated their first Annual Day, our church was blessed with a very elegant podium in our sanctuary, Forney Avenue Baptist Church celebrated their 90th Church Anniversary Reunion, here at Hopewell, in Tommy E. Brown Fellowship Hall. Also in 2014, our new church marquee was installed on the front of the church and  HMBC33 was established for the young men ministry ages 12-17.  In June, for yet another time, the Marjorie Durham Steppers for Christ Drill Team were winners of the Intermediate Elite Award 4-7 competition at the National Baptist Congress. Hopewell Development & Achievement Center Summer Program enrolled 35 students. In 2015, The Senior Saints Ministry received a handicapped accessible van and The Marjorie Durham Steppers for Christ Drill Team once again brought home The Superior Elite Award from the National Baptist Congress session in Atlanta, GA.  January 2016, the sidewalks in the front of the church were widened and the handicap ramp was redone. The northside church parking lot was stripped & asphalted, in addition to southside being improved as well. Also in 2016, Wings of a Dove Jail Ministry was established to minister locally to inmates, a new projector and screen was installed at the back of the church over the balcony. We have journeyed and have been blessed thus far to celebrate 89 years of service to God.  The Lord is continually blessing Hopewell and adding to our church. As of September 17, 2017, Hopewell had donated $50,000 to the Mark Brown Scholarship Fund.

 In 2018, there were six graduates from college, the senior ministry took a trip to Oklahoma, and we celebrated ninety years which was a milestone. In 2019, four Mark Brown Scholarship recipients graduated from college. Also in 2019, Pastor Hubbard became the co-chairperson of the Foreign Mission Board, with the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, and HDAC received a Three-Star rating from the Texas Rising Star Organization. This is the highest rated Center in our area. We are working to become a Four-Star center which is the highest rating.

While in 2020, through trials of a World Pandemic (COVID-19), God still blessed us to team with Mayor Eric Johnson of Dallas, to give back to others within the community, through the Milk Imitative Program. We were blessed to also renovate the administrative office and the church foyer, as well as resurface the parking lot.  God is still moving in 2021, as we have continued to do the will of the Lord, 93 years later.

2022 was a year of adversity, yet as we look back, we have focused on the development of our spiritual walk with God through reestablishing Baptist Training Union virtually. The Pandemic is slowing down in Dallas County. Although the COVID-19 virus is still in the community, we have partially reopened to phase 3 and praying for guidance to continue our out-reach ministries in what many are calling the new normal. We increased amount awarded through the Mark Brown scholarship to help young adults further their academic goals.  The 95^th anniversary, 2023 we received special recognition from Vice President Kamala Harris, House Representative District 100 Venton Jones, County Judge Clay Jenkins, and Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes, pastor of Friendship West.

 In 2024, our Minister’s Wives sponsored the a women conference, “Empower Her”, which was a blessed to all that attended. The Mark Brown Scholarship Ministry hosted a Youth Summit and over 280 attended the summit. The Mark Brown Scholarship Ministry also sponsored a back-to-school rally and we were blessed to give out over 300 school packets and 100 backpacks. The church added gates on the parking lot, and exterior lights around the church as well as, thankful to be able to upgrade our video system for sanctuary and streaming use.  

 The year 2025 has truly been a year of blessings. We were once again honored to give out approximately 300 school supply packets and backpacks to children within our church and the surrounding community. On May 4, 2025, we celebrated the ordination of six new deacons: Christopher Anthony, Damarcus Offord, Andre Johnson, Ronald Dawson, Marcus Hubbard, and Roy Fleming. We also rejoice with Dink (Sasha) Pate, a member of our church, who signed with the New York Knicks in the NBA. Dink previously made history in 2023 as the youngest player to sign a contract with the NBA G League. In addition to these wonderful milestones, we completed the remodeling of the men’s and women’s restrooms upstairs. Our God continues to do great things!

 To God be the Glory!!!