Not too many churches can say

that they are situated in two locations at the same time.

New Hope Baptist can make that

statement with one location, known as the North Campus on its original

site on New Hope Road, and the South Campus on Ga. Highway 74 south.

It has grown from its 10 original

members in 1880 to over 5,000 members. Between the two locations Sunday

morning worshipers will total over 2,300.

The second church building,

constructed in 1903, served the group for 73 years and has been preserved

on the grounds.

Several building expansions

have taken place: in 1976 a 550-person sanctuary was built; in 1978 an

education building was completed; in 1983 a new 2,100-seat worship center

was launched; in 1988, new office and adult education space totalling

40,000 square feet was completed; and April 8, 2001, a 65,000-sq. ft.

expansion will be dedicated at the North Campus. It contains additional

adult Sunday School rooms, a 500-seat dining room, a youth/student center

that will seat 600 persons, and a full gymnasium.

Renovations will be made to

an existing building to create 11 preschool rooms, 18 new grade school

rooms and add eight additional adult rooms. The project is expected to

be completed in August.

According to Barry Thompson,

assistant pastor, members of New Hope are not ones to sit still. Not too

long ago, five members went to Southeast Asia and 20 are going this summer.

They will be passing out literature and sharing Christ. About a dozen

members will be going back to Belarus where they will be conducting prayer

walks, which is walking in the street and sharing Christ, and visiting

a children's hospital.

There they will visit terminally

ill children born during or right after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Previously they brought back 20 children for medical attention and treated

them to an Atlanta Braves baseball game.

About 40 will be heading to

England where they will perform in concerts and dinner theaters. The group

will consist of choir members, orchestra members and

drama team members.

The youth will be heading back

to New York where they will conduct Bible clubs and work with inner-city

children.

A new sports program, Upward

Basketball, is a weekly league that attracts 300 youth. Call the church

for more information.

Preparation is being made for

a big conference for Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14. The Rev.

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, president and founder of Walk Through the Bible,

will give a presentation on his book, "The Prayer of Jabez."

Because of his reputation in the field, an initial printing of 80,000

were thought to be enough. To date, more than two million have been printed

with a current back order of two million.

As found in I Chronicles, 4:9&10,

Jabez was someone who kept praying to God until God granted his requests.

"We are one church in

two locations," senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. John Avant, has said.

"But we are all one church with one common purpose."

Worship hours at the North

Campus are 8 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., with Bible Study at 9:15 a.m. It is

at 551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville.

Worship at the South Campus

is at 9 a.m. with Bible study at 10:30 a.m. It is at 1592 Hwy. 74 south

at Starr's Mill.

Both campuses can be reached

at 770-461-4337 or at the church's Web site at www.newhopebc.org .