New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, New Jersey First Street and Berdan Place, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Office: (201) 343-9449 Fax: (201) 343-2066 Web: www.newhopebaptistchurch.org Email: nhbchack@earthlink.net Then Now
Mission Statement Our mission is to be a fervent worshipping Church, called by God under the headship of Jesus Christ, as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, where the love of God is shown in word and deed. Vision Statement Our vision is to preach and teach the infallible Word of God so that Church members become Disciples and Disciples become Spiritual Champions who use their spiritual gifts to do the work of the ministry. We will also seek to help them discover and develop their God given potential that they may live the abundant life promised by Jesus Christ. - 1 -
Who We Are Overview of Our History New Hope Baptist Community Church was established in July 2, 1920 after a split with Mount Olive Baptist Church. It was recognized by the North Jersey Permanent Council on July 18 of that same year. Three years later on July of 1921 at Holt s Hall Berdan Place, the church became incorporated and adopted the official name New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, New Jersey. Reverend James P.E. Love was named President with Frederick Himmed as Secretary. Trustees John L. Washington, Albert L. Washington, Edward White, William Russell and Samuel Walker served as the first five Trustees at the newly founded church. For the first two years of the church s history, services were held in Holt s Hall on Berdan Place and Railroad Ave with a few faithful members who remained steadfast in their service to God. Pastor Rev. J.P.E. Love had a vision for a new church building and in 1921, under his direction aided by the official Board, the property at First Street and Berdan Place was bought. Black carpenters were brought from North Carolina to erect the original edifice, which still stands today. Construction of the structure was fully completed in 1922 after many financial challenges. Serving faithfully and tirelessly for 19 years from 1920-1939, Pastor Rev. J. P.E. Love retired and was elected Pastor Emeritus in May of 1939. After his departure, Reverend Fred Harris served as interim Pastor until Reverend Leonard E. Terrell of Washington D.C. was selected as Pastor. Many improvements were made under the leadership of Rev. Harris, including the purchase of apartments in the rear of the church known as Terrell Annex. These apartments now serve as church offices. Rev. Terrell served New Hope for seven years until he accepted another position as Pastor of Bethel Institutional Church in Jacksonville, Florida. - 2 -
Who We Are Overview of Our History (continued) Reverend Charles Guthrie served as interim Pastor until June of 1947 when the Reverend W.H.E. Smith from Congdon Street Baptist Church in Providence Rhode Island was appointed as Pastor. Under his guidance, The Children s Church, The Men s Club and The Helping Hand Guild were formed. He served faithfully until his death in December of 1961. After the death of Rev. Smith, Reverend Richard H. Puryear was called to Pastor New Hope. In April of 1963, under the leadership of The Rev. Puryear, a children s choir called the Sunbeam Choir was formed. He was also responsible for the initiation of the Vacation Bible School program and the remodeling of the parsonage. He served until the termination of his pastorate in April 1970. The Reverend Moses A. Knott, Jr. of Hackettstown, New Jersey assumed the office of interim minister in September of 1970. He was later installed as Pastor on April 13, 1975. Under his pastorate the following properties were purchased: 204 Berdan Place, Hackensack New Jersey 310 First Street, Hackensack New Jersey 312 First Street, Hackensack New Jersey 322 First Street, Hackensack New Jersey He was also responsible for several major renovations in the sanctuary of the church. As membership grew, several ministries were created and the church became more involved in community affairs and local government. The Junior Choir for persons 6-12 was founded and the Young Adult Choir was reorganized as a teen choir or persons age 13-17. Also under his leadership The S.H.A.R.E. (Self Help and Resource Exchange) was formed. F. L.O.C. (Future Leaders of the Church) was formed as well as a program to feed the homeless. After two decades of faithful service Rev. Knott respectfully resigned. - 3 -
Who We Are Overview of Our History (continued) Reverend Vivian A. Williams (the first woman to be ordained by the New Hope congregation) served as Associate Minister until Reverend John W. Brown was selected to serve as interim pastor until March of 1990. On April 16, 1990, the Reverend Christopher R. Battle, Sr. of Bowling, Green Kentucky was called to be pastor of New Hope. He initiated the anniversary for the recognition of members serving over fifty years, as well as The Golden Gems of Wisdom which was a group for seniors and retirees. Reverend Battle resigned in 1992. On May 7, 1993 New Hope Baptist Church voted unanimously to call The Reverend Dr. M. Frances Manning Fontaine as the seventh pastor. She was installed on September 19 of 1993 and became the first African- American Female to pastor an American Baptist Church in Northern New Jersey. Rev. Manning-Fontaine focused on equipping the Body of Christ. In light of this, several ministries were established that focused on praise and worship, mission and evangelism, service, community affairs and outreach, learning, fellowship, stewardship, and administration. After 23 years of service Rev. Manning Fontaine retired on August 31, 2016, leaving a fiscally sound, spiritually nourished and civically involved church. Due to her unwavering dedication and hard work, the saints experienced tremendous spiritual growth to the extent that we are ready for our next spiritual leader to continue the work in the Body of Christ. - 4 -
Who We Are Overview of Our History (continued) New Hope has led the way in pioneering many ministries and initiatives which other churches now emulate. A few of those initiatives include: Judah, a Liturgical Dance Ministry Female Deacons School of Discipleship Training New York Theological Seminary Satellite /Certificate Program Feeding the Five Thousand Outdoor Tent Revival Joint venture with the Center for Food Action New Hope Economic Development Ministries a 501c3 organization Debt Free Program Mercy Ministry/ HIV/AIDS Ministry G.L.O.W- God leading our way. A youth based ministry Presently the Church is comprised of 256 members: 218 are African American. 30 are Caribbean/West Indian- descent. 4 are African 2 are Caucasian 2 are Hispanic - 5 -
Who We Are New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack, NJ - Membership by Age and Gender - 6 -
What We Believe God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack worships the triune God of the Bible, who is eternally one God in three persons, God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This one, true God is most clearly revealed to us in the incarnate Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack affirms that God is sovereign overall and that this sovereignty is expressed and realized through Jesus Christ. Therefore, we affirm the Lordship of Christ over the world and the church. We joyously confess that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. The Bible and its Use New Hope Baptist Church of Hackensack proclaims the Good News of the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, knowing that salvation (forgiveness of sins, release from guilt and condemnation, reconciliation with God) and eternal life are granted in grace to all those who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead. This Gospel is the central message of the Bible. We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired Word of God, the final written authority and trustworthy for faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the community of faith. The primary purpose of the Bible is to point to Jesus Christ, the living Lord and Savior of the Church. We hold the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as our final authority. We accept no humanly devised confession or creed as binding. - 7 -
What We Believe The purpose, place and mission of the church in today s society We are called in loyalty to Jesus Christ to proclaim the power of the Holy Spirit, the Good News of God s reconciling grace, and to declare the saving power of the Gospel to every human being and to every human institution. We celebrate Christ s charge to make disciples of all nations and to bear witness to God s redeeming reign in human affairs. We are summoned to this mission in common with all Christians. With the whole body of Christ, we also believe that God has been revealed in Jesus Christ as in no other, and that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:18). We anticipate the day when every creature and all creation, on earth and beyond, will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). We believe that the Church is a gathered fellowship of regenerated believers, a sign of the coming universal reign of God; and that to be a witness of Christ is the ongoing task of every Christian and of every church. - 8 -
We believe that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be: What We Believe A Redeemed People who claim a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ; who follow the Lord in believer s baptism; who gather as a believer s church; who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the Lord s Supper; who honor the priesthood of all believers; and who live their faith as visible saints. A Biblical People who affirm the centrality of Scripture in our lives; who pursue the study of God s inspired Word as a mandate for faith and practice; and who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the understanding of Scripture, while respecting the common interpretation of Scripture within the community of believers. A Worshipping People who gather regularly to praise God; who receive nourishment by communion with the Risen Christ; who share an open and public confession of faith; and who believe that personal devotion brings vitality to corporate celebration. A Mission People who strive to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples; who invite persons to receive salvation and follow Christ; who engage in educational, social, and health ministries; who seek justice for all persons; and who provide prayer and financial support to sustain a worldwide mission outreach. - 9 -
What We Believe We also believe that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be: An Interdependent People who affirm the Church s unity as given in Jesus Christ; who gladly embody in our practice the ministry of the whole people of God; who recognize God s gifts for ministry and honor all offices of pastoral ministry; who live and work together in association; and who bring the free church tradition to cooperative and ecumenical Christianity. A Caring People who care for the needy, the weak, and the oppressed; and who care for the earth and for all its creatures. An Inclusive People who, gifted by a variety of backgrounds, find unity in diversity and diversity in unity; who embrace a pluralism of race, ethnicity, and gender; and who acknowledge that there are individual differences of conviction and theology. We further believe That God has called us forth to such an hour as this; That we live with a realizable hope; That all things are held together in Christ; That all creation will find its ultimate fulfillment in God; That we shall see the One whose we are; and That Jesus shall reign forever and ever. - 10 -
Our Vision for Ministry We are the 97-year-old worshipping church on the corner with global outreach, called by God under the headship of Jesus Christ, filled with families who care! We are a praying church with a variety of ministries that keep us connected to God s word and His work. After 97 years, there are definitely some traditions we like to adhere to, but we are always looking for new ways to think out of the box, have fun, and get in tune with our spiritual gifts in order to carry out God s will. Where We Are Going As we move forward, our strongest priorities are Continuing to build up our youth by including them in more parts of our worship service, creating afterschool and Bible Study programs for them, and encouraging them to join in different ministries in our church. Reaching out to members of our local Hackensack community so they know they are always welcomed at New Hope. Strengthening our visitation and fellowship with other churches in the communities surrounding Hackensack to encourage the unity among our fellow believers. Practicing Health, Nutrition, and Fitness. Enhancing our website and social media presence to promote spiritual growth, communications of events, and outreach efforts to our members, friends, the community and the world. - 11 -
Our Vision for Ministry New Ministries Some immediate ministries we would like to see are The revitalization of SODT (School Of Discipleship Training) The revitalization of FLOC (Friends Leading Others to Christ) our evangelism ministry. A cultivation of programs or a ministry for single moms who can offer each other support, perspective, and encouragement. A ministry serving members between the ages of 35-45. A ministry which explores African American History from a Biblical perspective A care-givers ministry to support those in our congregation who are sick. A ministry for our elderly to exchange wisdom with our youth and our youth to exchange thoughts ideas and concerns with our elderly. Where We Can Improve We also recognize that we are not perfect and are constantly being molded. Here are some areas where we can grow Introversion We love each other. We are truly a church that feels like a family. However, we need to work on showing our love outwardly and not containing it within ourselves. That is why we need more fellowship with other churches, and we need to be more vocal with welcoming our surrounding community. We want to accelerate our forward thinking and not just talk about ideas for too long. We want to continue to ask God for vision, stay prayerful about what he reveals to us, and then act on it and not stand still. In other words Just Do It. We would like to see more ministries host events together which would strengthen the outcome, as well as build stronger internal congregational bonds. We also think we could benefit from a Ministry Fair where all the ministries are present and share what they are about so that every member of the congregation can see where their gifts can be best utilized. - 12 -
SERVICE MINISTRIES Beautification Business & Empowerment Culinary Deacon Assistants Deacons Feeding the 5000 Global Missions Health and Healing Multi-Media Nurses S.P.I.R.I.T. Trustees Usher Ministries of Our Church OUTREACH MINISTRIES Center for Food Action (Community Partnership) Cyber witness F.L.O.C. (Friends Leading Others to Christ) Market Place New Hope Community & Economic Development Public Relations - 13 -
Ministries of Our Church FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES Birth Month Fellowship Fitness Club Men s Ministry New Member Fellowship Women s Ministry Women's Ministry Members Get in Shape with it's Fitness Club - 14 -
Ministries of Our Church Men's Ministry in Worship at New Hope - 15 -
Ministries of Our Church GENERATIONAL MINISTRIES Children & Youth Development Network Elders Council G.L.O.W. (God Leading Others Our Way) Scouting New Hope Baptist Church Youth Serving and Learning - 16 -
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY Educational Assistance Fulfillment Hour (Church School) New Membership Orientation School of Discipleship Training Vacation Bible School Ministries of Our Church WORSHIP MINISTRIES Hands of Light Hope Ensemble Judah Dance Mass Choir Master s Men Prayer Warriors Youth Choir Worship Ministry - 17 -
Ministries of Our Church Judah Dance worshipping during Resurrection Sunday - 18 -
Our Worship Life Our Mission is to be a fervent worshipping church, called by God under the leadership of Jesus Christ, as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, where the love of God is shown in word and deed. Every Sunday We begin with our Fulfillment Hour, which is Church School and New Members Orientation, at 9:30 A. M. Sunday Morning Devotion begins at 10: 45 A. M. Sunday Morning worship starts at 11: 00 A. M. Our Adoration begins with an invitation of the Holy Spirit into our hearts and minds followed by the Hymn of the Month. We highlight critical issues, events on the church calendar and the community during Pastor s moments. We are lead in our praise by the Ministry of Music. Intercessory Prayer for the congregation, community and our government are offered by the Deacon Ministry. The worship of Giving is supported by our Trustee Ministry and Usher Ministry. We welcome our Guest and engage in a Community Greeting. We proclaim the Word of God through Responsive Reading of the Bible, followed by the Sermon from the preacher of the hour. The preacher extends the Invitation to Discipleship. Together we sing the closing Hymn, followed by the Benediction Every Wednesday Through the Bible in five years is taught by an Associated Minister. Prayer Meeting is conducted by rotating ministries and begins at 7:00 P.M. Bible Study starts at 7:40 P.M. - 19 -
Our Worship Life Every First Sunday All new members are given the Right Hand of Fellowship, the official welcome to NHBC. Congregational Prayer Requests are taken, followed by Intercessory Prayer led the Prayer Team and the Deacon Ministry. We are led in responsive Reading of the Church Covenant. The Church Family participates in Holy Communion, and the Deacons go out to serve those, who are unable, to attend church. Every Fourth Sunday We celebrate the ordinance of Baptism by immersion. A selected Ministry leader is given a specific amount of time to describe the purpose and work of his/her ministry. - 20 -
What We Want Our Pastor to Do We are seeking a pastor to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:12, 13 We the New Hopians would like for the next Pastor to posses skills that are in tune with all the members, regardless of their age level in conjunction with their previous experience. There is no age preference for the new pastor Theological Perspective/Spiritual Qualification: Posses the ability to share the salvation story Maintain what they believe about the Trinity. Spend time in prayer and meditation Administration and Leadership: Work closely collaboratively with the church office Have a general knowledge of finances and a slight degree of building and operation Demonstrate experience in budgeting and cost analysis as it relates to income and disbursement Be a visionary leader who offers innovative leadership & can incorporate new ideas related to church ministry and church growth Possess strong communication skills, excellent conflict resolution management with members Possess ethical characteristics, a nurturing spirit, and an encouraging heart Develop and promote stewardship Have experience in counseling, whether personal or spiritual Personal and Professional Lifelong Learning: Pursue personal growth and spiritual development through various forms of continuing education (e.g., workshops, conferences, and reading) and general community at large Possess many evidence of formal education (i.e., Bachelor s Degree, Master s Degree, and/or Doctorate, as well as certificates) - 21 -
Preaching/Teaching/Pastoring: What We Want Our Pastor to Do Use of anecdotes for to apply everyday, present examples to demonstrate Biblical Text. Offer sermon series that will help congregants transform their lives to align more with the Word of God Spend ample time in preparation of sermons Demonstrate the ability to interpret the Bible in a way that helps congregants understand how to respond to life s situations, especially in light of a changing society. Able to deliver a clear and precise message. Provide counseling to individuals by providing a Biblical Perspective for their unique situations. - 22 -