Because of the rapid population explosion, many of the 110 churches in Fayette County currently have expansion projects underway and New Hope Baptist Church is no exception.

In fact, it has a South Campus that is only two years old. At that time, it accepted the former Glen Grove/Starr's Mill Baptist Church into its fold and quickly discovered the need for a new sanctuary.

A bid for 62 acres just across the road on Hwy. 74 was given and the entire congregation of New Hope Baptist Church was asked for a pledge.

According to associate pastor, Rev. Barry Thompson, “we had hoped to raise half the $550,000 needed on that day. Instead the entire amount was pledged and in one day we had the cash needed to purchase the South Campus acreage.”

Thompson is the overseer of planning and construction currently taking place at both campuses.

The South Campus facility will cost $3.5 million and construction began last spring. The move-in date has been set for the end of January, 2000. The sanctuary will hold 700 persons. The former Starr's Mill church facility will become the youth complex and its exterior will be changed somewhat to reflect that status.

The North Campus is on a setting of 94 acres and the congregation dates back to the 1880s and is about to begin a $6.2 million dollar expansion by way of a multi-purpose building that will contain 12 new Sunday School rooms, dining for as many as 700 persons, a new gymnasium, an orchestra rehearsal room, a media center/library, a 24-hour prayer room, and mission training rooms.

The church hopes to have a mission established on just about every continent on Earth and is very close to that now. It has many members who go on short-term mission assignments around the world and these training rooms are where they will received their education to do just that.

The North Campus is located at 551 New Hope Road. Sunday morning services are: 9:15 a.m., Bible Study and 10:45 a.m. for Worship Service.

The South Campus is located at Hwy. 74 and South Hwy. 85. Sunday morning services are: 9 a.m. for Worship Service and 10:30 for Bible Study.

“We are,” said the Rev. Thompson, “one church with two locations.”

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