Youth Group beginnings at Hopewell Baptist Church were one of evolution. It all started with Esther Land and her insight to get the youth of Hopewell Baptist Church more involved in the form of a Youth Choir. Esther approached Judy Turner and Patsy Richards with her idea. Bud Sutton, Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church at that time, later approach the group about expanding the Youth Choir into what became Hopewell Baptist Church’s “Youth Group”.

The original Youth Leaders were Patsy Richards and Judy Turner. In the beginning the Youth Group met each Sunday night.  The older youth met upstairs and the younger youth downstairs in a Sunday School room. Each meeting would consist of devotion, associated activity, and end with the younger youth joining the older youth for a time of music and singing.

There are two things at the heart of every Youth Group and is true today as it was almost thirty years ago. First being Fund Raisers, secondly spending the proceeds from those Fund Raisers on Youth Group Ski Trips, Youth Group outings to Gatlinburg, TN, Ringling Brothers Circus, and Christian Concerts. There is one fund raiser from the beginning that stands out even today, the famous Rock-A-Thon. Youth, as well as parents, signed up to actually “Rock” in a rocking chair for an entire night. This added a new meaning to the term “Rock-Around-The-Clock”.     

Today, as well as in the beginning, the ultimate goal of our Youth Group at Hopewell Baptist Church is to nurture the spiritual growth of each of our young people, and assist in equipping them for a productive Christian life.

Ephesians 6:11 

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”