The second Sunday in May, across all fifty of these United States, is a day set aside each year to honor mothers. Here in our little corner of Northeast Texas, New Hope Baptist Church did just that on May 12th.

Our pastor, Bro. Tony Pierce, began the morning worship service by sharing a few words of gratitude for his own mother and acknowledging the immeasurable impact she’s had on his life.  He then welcomed and recognized all the mothers present that morning: mothers of long-standing, well-practiced and richly experienced; brand-new mommies just beginning the motherhood journey; the adoptive mothers who love and cherish another woman’s child as their very own; moms who briefly carried a child within whom they never got to raise; in short, all those ladies who proudly wear the badge of motherhood. The church family presented each mother with a small gift of appreciation.

A special recognition was given to the mommy with the youngest child, the mother who has most recently adopted a child, the mom whose own mother has most recently gone home to Heaven, and the mother who has been a Christian for the most years.

The Sunday morning message also honored mothers reminding us that they are a vital, irreplaceable component of God’s perfect design for the family unit. The love connection between a mother and her child is like no other in its depth, its fierceness, its selflessness, its persistence, and its permanence. A mother’s love is God-originated, and many generations of moms’ prayers, fueled by that matchless love, have gone ahead of their children on life’s unpredictable path.

As we exited the building after the service ended, we emerged into a day transformed. What had begun as just one more of many gray, cloudy, sloppy, unsettled days had ripened into a day of bright sunshine and white cloud puffs chasing each other across a triumphantly blue sky. . .God’s way of saying, “Happy Mother’s Day, ladies!”

Easter Sunday

All of creation seemed to be rejoicing on Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day. A world green and growing, soft breezes, bird-song, and cloudless blue awaited the flock of children who gathered, after the morning worship service, for the Easter egg hunt at New Hope Baptist Church.

Justin Hart, our youth pastor, assisted by several of our New Hope teens, brought organization and instructions to the excited prospective hunters and gatherers assembled in the Fellowship Hall. Then the crowd exited through the back doors into the bright sunshine and beheld, behind the church, the large, open, freshly-mowed field dotted with pink, purple, orange, blue . . . some 2000 plastic eggs.

Those who were present merely to watch the fun found observation posts at the top of the sloping hill. The participants  congregated at the base of the slope, the starting line, where they eagerly awaited Bro. Justin’s orders to begin the hunt. With a “Ready? Set? Go!”, a wave of boys and girls charged ahead and began plucking shiny eggs from the ground and depositing them into baskets, bags, and buckets. Within not very many minutes, the field, once bejeweled with multi-colors, returned to an unadorned green.

The returning searchers, laden with the fruit of their labor, climbed back up the slope to meet waiting parents, grandparents, and other assorted relatives. One little boy whose basket was literally overflowing  was heard to announce, “I need another basket!!”

In advance preparation for this event, church members had volunteered to buy individually wrapped candies, to take charge of as many empty plastic eggs as they could corral, to insert a piece of candy into and to put together each of the afore-mentioned 2000 eggs. These volunteers filled each egg, not only with a piece of candy, but also with a slip of paper bearing one of a number of different Bible verses.

Every child who proudly carried home a collection of eggs carried a treasure of candy, but a treasure that, by its very nature, is short-lived and brings only a few moments’ pleasure. Every child also took home the true treasure, God’s Word, which stands forever, never fails, and brings with it a lifetime of pleasure and peace.

By Julie Kirk

On April 7th, a slate blue, gray, and gorgeously multi-hued green, but rather wet Lord’s Day, the youth of New Hope took charge of the morning worship service. They handled it all ably and well from beginning to end and everything in between.

A short video in which several of the teens shared their thoughts about their Christian walk elicited both smiles and tears from those who watched.

The teen praise band and singers made good use of their talents in leading the congregation in songs of worship and in providing the special music as well. Their preparation and hard work were evident, and the Holy Spirit made His presence felt.

The welcome and announcements were given by younger and, dare I say, sweeter voices than those to which New Hope folks are routinely accustomed. An opportunity for the congregation to send a group “Happy Birthday” greeting via live video to Pastor Tony Pierce, who is traveling in Israel and who apparently aged a year while there, was thoughtfully provided.

Our youth pastor, Justin Hart, shared a timely and urgent message outlining the vital importance of having a relationship with Jesus to guide us, kids and adults alike, through the chaos and confusion that the world throws at us every day.

A group of young men took on the job of both asking a blessing upon and gathering our tithes and offerings. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who observed that these youngsters were noticeably better-looking than those old guys who usually pass the plates around.

I think all those attending would agree that New Hope has good reason to be proud of and thankful for our young folks and their desire to serve God and make a positive impact as they navigate their growing-up years.

All Sundays are special because it’s the Lord’s Day, a day set aside from the hectic haste of the week to worship our Creator and offer Him praise and thanksgiving. Sunday morning, 3/31, had some more specialness added in several different ways.

Bro. Tony Pierce and his lovely wife, Rachel, were in New York boarding a plane to take them to the Holy Land. For the next week, they will be walking ground that Jesus walked. In their absence, Ryan Thorn and Jacob Hoing stepped up and ably filled their spots on the Praise Team. Bro. Scott Frank delivered a thought-provoking and instructive sermon, its message designed to help us recognize and avoid the cunning traps set for us by our adversary, Satan.

At the conclusion of the service, the congregation joined in a prayer to bless the large collection of gift items donated by church members for the residents of Wesley House, a nursing home in Gilmer, TX. These items will be delivered this week. A large box of school curriculum materials will be sent to the Fulfers, a missionary couple, to aid them in their work and ministry in the Philippines. Prayer was also offered for this mission outreach.

Venture onto an uncharted island where kids survive and thrive. Anchor kids in the truth that Jesus carries them through life’s storms.

Join us for VBS 2018, June 25-29. A light meal will be served Monday thru Thursday at 5:30pm followed by the Shipwrecked program from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Thursday night activities will include a giant water slide. Please have your child wear clothes they can get wet in and bring a change of clothes and a towel.

Saturday, October 28, 2017, 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

The Ore City Fall Fest is a faith-based event that is dynamic fun for the whole family. Join us at the Ore City Pole Barn for carnival games, food, bounce houses and more. Faith based and non-profit organizations are welcome to enter an information booth and games. For more information call 903-968-4114. Click here to download an entry form.

UPDATE 07/18/13

Project Date               Project Name

Currently                      Framing
July 22                         Metal building repairs/fixes
July 29                         Steel supports for balcony
Aug. 5                         Upshur Rural Electric to add/upgrade electrical service.
Aug. 19                       Electrician to start
Sept. 2                        19 first-floor doors to be delivered.

We are approximately $282,000 of finishing.  We are building debt free as the Lord supplies the funds. Praise Him for all He has provided. Follow this link to see a 360 panoramic view of the interior thus far.

Groundbreaking May 16, 2010

A/C units relocated

A/C relocated, upgraded

View the architectural plans in pdf format:

First Floor A

First Floor B

First Floor C

First Floor D

First Floor lighting

Fellowship Hall

Fellowship Hall & Kitchen

Fellowship Hall outside

Left & Rear Elevation

Roof Plan

3-D Rendering

After nearly ten years of negotiations with the State of Texas we have purchased some surplus right-of-way property near Hwy 259. We now have property on which to raise a sign which can be seen from the highway. Below is a pdf of the sign concept we are currently considering.

Sign Concept 

Groundbreaking Flyer pdf