Our History
New Hope Baptist Church has a long and rich history of worshiping and serving our Lord. New Hope’s origins reach back into the 1850’s. During that time William A. Dunkin moved to Texas from Mississippi and bought a plantation called Spring Hill across the Brazos River about 8 miles east of Waco. He set aside 5 acres of land adjoining the plantation for a cemetery, school/church, and parsonage. This place became known as the New Hope Community.
In July 1869 Rev. B. H. Carroll was invited to conduct a revival here. After a successful revival meeting, the Waco Association decided to charter a Baptist church in the New Hope community called the Baptist Church at New Hope. Rev. Carroll was promptly called to his first pastorate. The little country church grew to a membership of 70 in its first year under his guidance. In the Fall of 1870, Rev. Carroll would move on to pastor First Baptist Church in Waco and keep that position for 28 years. He would come back from time to time and preach at the little country church down by the Brazos. One of the church’s most famous members was Civil War General James E. Harrison, who served as a deacon at New Hope. Many great men of God in Texas Baptist history have served at New Hope. These men include Rev. Rufus C. Burleson who baptized Sam Houston and was twice president of Baylor University and
Rev. Richard B. Burleson who was one of the fathers of the Waco Association. Of course, Dr. B.H. Carroll who would become a legend in his own right founding Baylor Bible Department that would become Southwestern Theological Seminary, the largest seminary in the world. Another faithful and loving pastor that is synonymous with New Hope’s history is Brother Frank Barnes. Rev. Barnes was ordained in 1922 at Spring Street Baptist Church in Waco and soon after that became pastor of the Baptist Church at New Hope. He left for some time but returned to serve God as pastor of New Hope for almost 50 years, until he was 95 years old.
Many of the Lord’s faithful men and women have been chosen to serve at New Hope throughout the years. As servants have come and gone, God has remained committed to the little country church set in the beautiful trees down by the Brazos.
Bro. Robby Kirby was ordained at Bosqueville Baptist in 2012. Later that year, he became the Pastor of New Hope. Robby ended his tenure as the New Hope Pastor in November 2023.
Today, the church is active and serving its surrounding communities faithfully and is still spreading the gospel message to all who have ears to hear.New Hope is a member of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Waco Reginal Baptist Association, and the Riesel Community Ministerial Alliance. New Hope is always trying to join with other churches of all denominations to make a more significant impact for God’s kingdom.
New Hope is a very diverse, multi-cultural, and generational church that is focused on its future, while fondly remembering it’s past.
New Hope is currently on the search for a new Pastor. Our prayer at New Hope is that God will continue to use this little country church down by the Brazos to serve Him with passion as we trust Him to guide us into our future.