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We began in 1976 as 26 people from Forest Park Baptist Church who wanted
to build a new church that would honor God and value families and children.
That group sacrificed, mortgaged homes and laid the groundwork for what is
now Living Hope Baptist Church.
From various temporary sites, including a funeral home, a park, a school and
a basement, the ball was rolling and the groundwork for the Hope was in place.
The first service actually was on July 4, 1976, at Heady Funeral Home.
Meanwhile, the church was looking for land.
In early 1977, the church voted to buy 10 acres on Westen Avenue for $50,000.
Ground was broken and the building completed for a group of 90 people to worship
in 1978.
Growth continued with expansions in the 1980s with Dr. Billy Compton as
Senior Pastor. By the early 1990s, under the leadership of Dr. Brad Johnson, the
church blossomed at an accelerated pace.
On March 1, 1992, the church broke ground once again for a new worship center,
office and music suites. The first service at the new sanctuary was Feb. 7, 1993.
“I faced the prospect of building with great hope and enthusiasm because of the
sacrificial spirit of this amazing congregation,” Johnson said recently, reflecting on his
time as Senior Pastor of Living Hope. “There were times when I found myself wondering
if we were doing the right things, then I remembered our evangelistic task. There was
no way we could reach all the people we were supposed to reach with the facilities we
had at the time. Then I knew ... WE MUST MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH!”
By the summer of 1997, the worship center balcony was completed. Parking
space was added for 200-plus vehicles in 2000.
Most recently, a new children’s wing for hundreds more children was dedicated
in August 2003.
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