In 1972, Hopewell Baptist Church
started in a living room on 3rd Street as an *independent Baptist
Church. The first pastor stayed six years and led the church to purchase the Valley Methodist Church on Linda Vista. When he moved, Pastor Guzman
pastored
the church
for the
next six years. Bro. Guzman moved to Indiana to further his Bible college education and Pastor Mike Ray
became the third and final pastor. Through the years, many young people
have surrendered
their
lives to serve God full-time.
We currently have
people out of our
church
who are
serving
in the
following
Godly
capacities: pastor's wife in Washington, pastor and wife in Wisconsin, pastor in Colorado, Christian school teachers in Illinois
and Oregon, and Missionaries in Bolivia, Cambodia, Hungary,
and China. We also have many young people serving in ministries right here in California. God has blessed us through the years and our prayer is that God will continue to allow us to see much more done for the honor and glory of God.
*Independent Baptist churches are Christian churches
generally
holding
to
Baptist beliefs.
Baptists are characterized by being independent from the authority of denominations and church councils.
However; the reason for the distinction, "Independent
Baptist," is that they eschew even the Baptist conventions or associations in which other Baptist churches participate. They remain autonomous and are fundamental in teaching. They hold to the following beliefs: the Bible is the only authority, perseverance of the Saints - eternal salvation, two ordinances - baptism
and
the
Lord's Supper, two offices - pastor
and deacons, and separation from the world.
