Founded in 1979 Hope Presbyterian Church stands as a testament to faith and community. It began as a small Bible study in the home of Hadley and Mary Stephens. This humble gathering blossomed into a thriving congregation. Their early Sunday services were held in the Jolly Land Day Care Center. The church quickly outgrew this space. In 1981 Hope Presbyterian Church purchased a vacant building on Steinhauer Road. This allowed them to expand their ministry.
The congregation experienced significant growth. They continued to need more space for their expanding services. In 1985 Jim Powell became the church’s pastor. A remodeling campaign improved the existing facilities. The name Hope Presbyterian Church was officially adopted in 1986. This reflected their aspirations for the future. Adding two modular buildings in 1987 provided further relief. Curt Gardner joined as an intern becoming their first Assistant Pastor in 1989.
The church’s journey continued. The desire for a larger more permanent home persisted. In 1988 Hope Presbyterian Church purchased an 8.4-acre property on Sandy Plains and Wigley Roads. The last service at the Steinhauer Road location was held on July 15 1990. Worship temporarily moved to Mabry Middle School. Groundbreaking for the new building on Sandy Plains Road occurred on June 23 1991. The dedication service was held on January 19 1992.
Hope Presbyterian Church navigated leadership changes. Pastor Powell left in 1995. Rev Bob Sweet served as Interim Pastor until 1996. Rev John Ragland then became the new Senior Pastor. The church experienced growth in programs and membership. This led to the addition of more parking and a modular educational annex in 2001. This was achieved without incurring additional debt. Rev Ragland retired in 2004 after eight years of dedicated service.
Martin Hawley became the new pastor in 2005. He and his wife Shari had been members of the church. He accelerated the church’s mortgage payments. Hope Presbyterian Church became debt-free. Rev Ted Lester became Assistant Pastor for Family and Educational Ministries in 2005. He assumed full-time responsibilities in 2006. Hope Presbyterian Church played a vital role in establishing Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Woodstock Georgia. A new digital sign was installed in 2020. In 2023 Hope Presbyterian Church celebrated its 40th anniversary. Hope Presbyterian Church stands as a testament to God’s faithfulness and its community’s dedication. Their story continues to unfold.