OUR History

In May of 1998, Elder Elam was coming from Galveston after taking his uncle to the doctor.  As he was driving GOD gave him a vision---It was the name New Hope GOD gave him a vision for this church, and Elder Elam followed as the vision unfolded.  Prior to his departure and starting New Hope, Elder Elam was in a brotherhood meeting at Saint Chapel when he told Pastor Gilbert that GOD has given him a mission to start his own church.  GOD was already paving the way: Sis Barnes was closing her home health business that was in a little pink building on Railroad Street.  Sis Barnes told the Pastor she thought the building could be used for a church.  Pastor came and looked at the building and was undecided. He went home and discussed it with Missionary Elam. She told him she thought the building would make a good start. Pastor Elam decided to go take another look at the building. When he arrived there, he started talking to Sis. Martindale, who also thought the building would make a good church. They walked through the building as discussing taking down paneling and immediately Pastor started telling her the layout for New Hope. He told Sis. Martindale where the choir stand, pulpit and his office would be. Pastor told her as they were discussing the paneling God revealed to him this was the place for him to start New Hope. minor renovation were made, everyone worked as a family as walls were taken down, Pastor Elam, Miss Elam, the children, and Sis Barnes began to bring wood, nails and hammer and GOD led their work. They were so excited… Everybody that could was extending a hand to help and if they couldn’t help they knew someone that could. Mr.Thomas Tyler Sr, knew a man in Sour Lake and he said he knew this man would be glad to come and help the church. So, in the first week of July 1998, Dale Freeman and his nephew came and they built a choir stand and a pulpit.  And when it was all done he said NO CHARGE—just pray for me.  Once this was done New Hope Church OF God in Christ had the complete church look. New Hope had paneled walls, choir stand, the pulpit, storage room, bathroom, kitchen area, separate class room, two entrances, and pastor had an office. Pastor Elam had everything already in his office that was needed plus some.  He didn’t have to go to OfficeMax or Office Depot for anything. Everyone wanted Pastor Elam at ease.  That little pink building was in GOD’s plan.  On July 19, 1998 two months after GOD gave Pastor the vision) Pastor called Supt. Robinson and he donated microphone and amplifier, and that Sunday morning everyone was excited to worship in the House of the Lord everyone entered with their own seat in thier hands; and lawn chairs. It was the first service in that little pink building.  And the spirit of God had been waiting on everyone arrival. It was  a Holy Ghost time… It was no longer called New Image Homecare but New Hope C.O.G.I.C and that building was still helping the sick.  Within some week other things were donated: members donated drums, computer, copier, and while Miss Elam was talking to Sis Arline about our first Sunday service she told her they had some old pews and she would talk to Pastor Chapman about them.  Pastor Chapman donated the pews and thanks to The House of Prayer family, we went from lawn chairs to pews. We stayed in that little pink building from July 19, 1998 to August 2001. We then moved to a Methodist church on 12th street.  The pastor we rented from said that was the first time for a holiness church to be held in a Methodist building. We stayed there from August 2001 to 2002. New Hope had lots of good times and sold many dinners to help us on our mission.  A year later, GOD open another window and told pastor to move to Faith Temple’s old church.  The Lord had blessed them with a bigger and better church and the Lord blessed new hope to have church in that building.  They left everything in the church so we were able to move right in.  Thanks to Supt. Arthur Smith and the church family.  The New Hope family sold lots of dinner to help on our mission.  And from the pink building on God continues to add to the membership.  And from the pink building on… GOD blessed NEW HOPE with souls, finances, equipment, talents, with a mind to work, and with land.  The New Hope family was working toward the vision GOD gave to our Pastor.  We stayed at the New Faith building from 2002 to May 2003.  Missionary often said Pastor looked down the road and would say “I’m looking at the promise land” Pastor called Billy Robinson When we were ready to build, to see if he would build our church. He first said No because he had never built a church from a metal building. Pastor Elam prayed about it and God lead him to call Pastor Robinson again. This time his reply was Let’s try it. Pastor Elam and Pastor Robinson got together and fulfilled the vision God had given Pastor Elam of NEW HOPE. Thanks to Pastor Billy Robinson’s willingness to accommodate us and help cut cost NEW HOPE was built.  June 01, 2003, we moved to the promise land and started having services here at our own home.  We started out bringing chairs and once again GOD brought us from chairs to pews. On June 21, 2012 God took Pastor Elam from labor to reward. Thank the Lord he had a ram in the bush. On May 3, 2013 Bishop C.L. Bryant announced in our State Minister Workers meeting that Elder Terrance Elam Sr. was to be the new Pastor of New Hope C.O.G.I.C. Pastor Terrance Elam Sr. is devoted to continuing carrying out our late Pastor’s vision and keeping New Hope the church “Where Everybody is Somebody’. Pastor Elam has labored faithfully as the watchmen on the wall. Pastor Terrance Elam Sr was a young man when God gave him this assignment with a young family. We often see first hand the sacrifices that are being made and we are firm believers that what he has done and doing in secret that God is going to reward him openly, Knowing that his labour of love is not in vain in the Lord. In 2014 God Allowed New Hope to pay the church off in about 10 years instead of the Full pay off term. We know if our last Pastor D.C. Elam Sr., was here he would say “HE DID IT AGAIN”.