Community: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church

Pastor Leroy Mitchell served at the North Avenue Baptist church in 1986. A year later, he became the founding pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. This church was the first predominately African-American congregation established and sustained in DeKalb. On April 5, 1998, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the church’s permanent home at 1201 Twombly Road in DeKalb. The church continues to grow and prosper. New Hope serves as one of the sponsors of the “Beloved Community” dinners. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, the dinners and conversations offer “opportunities for people from all walks of life to get to know and appreciate one another, to commit themselves to ‘seek first to understand and then be understood,’ and to collaborate for the common good of our community.” [1] The conversations are often serious as difficult topics are discussed, including tension among police in the minority community, as well as perceptions of crime, race and poverty.

Photos of New Hope Church.

This short video by Bryan Campen summarizes the New Hope’s history and the important role plays in the Black community.

[1] Daily Chronicle. March 15, 2016.