History of New Hope
Please click on the Thumbnails to read.
From the June 2008 issue of "Covenant Companion," (c) 2008 by Covenant Publications, used by permission
A few, selected milestones in NH's history . . .
Decades of Prehistory:
1960's- Olive Freeman reaches out to students at Lazear Elementary School
1970's - Harbor House organized
1980's - Bill Squires and Barbara Franzen minister at Harbor House
1989 - Dan Schmitz moves into the Oak Park Apartments
1992 - Several future NHers intern at Harbor House and move into the NH neighborhood
1994 - "Oaks" ministry organized; prayer and conversation continue about starting a church focused on Harbor House youth
1995 - Bill & Cathy Squires are the first to buy a house in the neighborhood
A Decade of History:
1996 - First formal event of "New Hope East Oakland Fellowship"
1996 - First baptisms: Sarah Squires, Viet Tran, Ky Luu
1997 - First NH wedding: Nic and Maurine (Hart) Bekaert
1998 - NH incorporates
1998 - Dan Schmitz and Bill Squires pick up leadership from Josh (Kaufman) Horner
1999 - NH affiliates with the Evangelical Covenant denomination,
takes its new name, "New Hope Covenant Church"
2000 - Oak Park lawsuit won (started 1998)
2003 - NH's 1st building project completed
2003 - Kid's Cell begun
2004 - Renovation of Oak Park Apartments completed
2005 - First Children's Minister hired (Cindy Garcia)
2006 - Sunday worship at Youth Employment Partnership begun
The New Hope Building
In 2001 New Hope bought a duplex in front of the Oak Park Apartments for $220,000, then spent $260,000 to have Mustard Seed Neighborhood Development Corporation lift the duplex and build the downstairs ministry center, preschool and offices. NH has a mortgage with National Covenant Properties (lending branch of our Evangelical Covenant denomination).
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness."
(Psalm 115:1)
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