"We are one church in two locations," said Dr. John Avant,

senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. "We have a facility just

outside Fayetteville and one in the Starr's Mill area. But we are all one

church with one common purpose."

Dr. Avant splits his Sunday mornings between the two locations;

he preaches at the Starr's Mill campus at 9 a.m., then drives to

Fayetteville for the main location's 10:40 a.m. worship.

The church he serves has a rich history, dating back to the

1880s. Ten families met to organize New Hope Baptist Church, and a

year later it was accepted into the Fairburn Baptist Association.

In 1883 the first church building was built by the men of the church.

It was a rough, unpainted structure. Twenty years later it was

replaced by a new, white frame building with a seating capacity of 250

members. This building still sits on the grounds.

Groundbreaking for a new 2,100-seat worship center was held in

1983. Those participating were given a balloon, which were released into

the air at the time the first shovelful of dirt was removed. A new office

and adult education space was added in 1988. A groundbreaking was

held again in 1990 for a new 40,000-square-foot

education/multipurpose building.

At this time, architectural plans are underway for yet another

building program both at the North Campus in Fayetteville and the

South Campus at Starr's Mill.

Plans at the Fayetteville location are to add an additional

education/multipurpose building.

The South Campus was formed less than two years ago when

New Hope merged with the approximately 50-member Glen

Grove/Starr's Mill Baptist Church, thus creating one church in two

locations. New Hope at Starr's Mill has experienced rapid growth,

and has outgrown the current location, which seats about 150.

The South Campus is currently meeting at Starr's Mill

High School, with roughly 500-600 in attendance, until a new

facility can be built on the site of the old Glen Grove church. The new

facility will be able to seat 1,000 people.

New Hope's combined church membership is at 5,300 members.

Dr. Avant says he feels God has called the church to be a

unique one, and feels privileged to be on hand to help bring that about.

Avant, 38, has been with the church for two years. Though

born in St. Louis, (his father was in the military), he was reared in

the North Carolina mountains.

At the age of 15 he was asked by his local minister to preach at

the next Sunday evening service. It was at this time he realized it

was God's way of calling him into His service.

He decided to attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas

and thought he would be spending four years there. Instead, he did

not leave until 18 years later. After majoring in Religious Studies

and Greek at Baylor, he entered the Southwestern Baptist

Seminary in Ft. Worth, from which he not only graduated but returned

over the next few years to earn his Ph.D.

During his tenure in Texas he served four churches, the first

one when he was only 19.

He met his wife, Donna, while at Baylor, and they are the

parents of three children Christi, 14, Amy, 11, and John Paul

"Trey" III, 7. "We love being in

Fayette County," Avant stated, "and look forward to rearing our

children here."

New Hope's vision is "to be a people in relationship with

God, experiencing His reviving presence, enabling us to

supernaturally impact our community, nation and world."

The church's outreach ministry includes Bible study, a new

resident ministry, invitation counseling, and an in-depth

evangelism/discipleship ministry.

The North Campus is located at 551 New Hope Rd.,

Fayetteville, and the South Campus is at 1592 South Ga. Highway

74, Fayetteville.

Sunday service times are: North Campus Sunday school,

9:15 a.m., worship, 10:40 a.m.; South Campus worship, 9 a.m.,

Sunday school, 10:40 a.m.

Call 770-461-4337 for further information, or you can check

out the church's Internet web site at

www.fayettecounty.com/new_hope.

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