OUR STORY
This is Our Story
We Began As New Hope Pentecostal Church
As was the custom in the early days when the Pentecostal message was first preached in Mississippi, preachers would take the Pentecostal message to a new location. As a result, it was in the New Hebron area. Pioneer ministers like Johnny Magee, Buford Miller, and Jimmy Miller traveled to various locations and preached wherever they could find anyone who would listen.
The Methodist organization was much older than the Pentecostals in the area and already had church buildings. In 1912, New Hope Pentecostal Church was established as a Methodist church in Shivers community. However, their ministers were scarce and often circuit riders who only came by occasionally.
In 1939, Pentecostal minister Johnny Magee came preaching for months in the New Hebron area under a brush arbor. While the circuit rider Methodist preacher was away, Johnny Magee preached in the New Hope Methodist church as the Methodists welcomed a minister. A revival boomed in the Methodist church and many received the Holy Ghost and accepted the new message of Pentecost. When the Methodist minister’s circuit brought him back, many of the congregation had received the Pentecostal experience of baptism in Jesus Name and were filled with the Holy Ghost. The Methodist minister and the New Hope Methodist assembly agreed to rename the church the New Hope Pentecostal Church. Jerry Sullivan’s mother was one of Johnny Magee’s converts in 1939.
Various ministers came and went in those days: Bufford Miller, Jimmy Miller, Troy Evans, Oliver Self, John Davis, and others. Ministers Lee and Bounds (first names not recalled) also served.
It was common for a pioneer minister to complete a revival in a location, leave new converts and travel to another area for revival. So it was at New Hope Pentecostal Church, until 1948 when Earl Carney was elected pastor. He continued to preach the message preached by Johnny Magee years before. Later that year, Mrs. Josie Crawford gave timber for a parsonage to be built. He resigned in 1950 and the congregation elected Clyde Wilson as pastor. Clyde Wilson built a block building in 1950, then tore down the old Methodist Church.
James (Jim) Mason served as pastor from 1950-1956. Tom Marshall served as pastor for less than a year in 1956, but during his pastorate it was quoted that “in March of 1956, Peggy Richardson preached a revival and 39 received the Holy Ghost. Among those who received the Holy Ghost were Jerry Sullivan and Bill Sullivan. Con Sullivan was in that number who received the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost delivered him from smoking. He had been smoking so long that he couldn’t remember when he started” (To God Be the Glory, by Tom and Leila Marshall, p. 22).
Others who pastored New Hope Pentecostal Church were C.B. Wiley (1956-59), T.J. Mahoney (1959-60), L.J. Ivy (1961-62), Clifton McManus (1962-65), William “Bill” Moore (1965-70), Mike Dykes (1970-73) Louie Davis (1973-78), G.C. Killingsworth (1978-80), and Louie Davis (1981 until the consolidation of New Hope and New Hebron Pentecostal Church).
New Hebron Pentecostal Church
C.B. Wiley met on August 24, 1969 with a few church members from the New Hope Pentecostal Church, desiring to move the congregation into the city limits of New Hebron. For their first service, they used the Springhill Baptist Church. The assembly acquired the land for a new church on September 15, 1970. The building program was underway. On December 21, 1970, the congregation purchased the beams, and laid the brick by March 26, 1971. They purchased the pews on November 18, 1971, and the new facility was complete. C.B. Wiley resigned in 1971. Randy Mathis pastored the church from 1971-72.
In 1972, James King was elected pastor and served until 1975. During his tenure, new Sunday school rooms, a kitchen, and a small fellowship hall were added. He also built a new parsonage and opened a church daycare center. Upon his resignation, Don Sterling was elected in 1975 and served until 1978.
While Mack Roberts was pastor from 1978-1981, David Edwards preached a six week revival and 27 received the Holy Ghost. In 1981, Louie Davis became pastor. During his tenure, the remaining congregation from New Hope Pentecostal Church combined with the New Hebron Pentecostal Church. Louie Davis resigned in 1984.
Gary Erickson became pastor in 1984. During his tenure, the combined group continued to hold family reunions, weddings, and other events occasionally at the New Hope church building; however, with building conditions beyond repair, the historic New Hope church building was demolished in 1993 by Fonzie Hux.
During Gary Erickson’s 13.5 year tenure, the congregation enlarged the New Hebron sanctuary in 1989, added a new fellowship hall in 1990, and added a family life center in 1997. Gary Erickson sent many preachers across the state prior to his resignation in 1997 when he accepted his new role as UPCI Sunday School Director.
Other ministers who served as pastor of New Hebron Pentecostal Church were J.B. Yelverton (1997-1998) and Dennis Davis (1998-2008). Dennis Davis was later elected Mississippi District Secretary where he currently serves. Steven Andrus served as pastor from 2008-2011, and Ryan Vanderford served from August 2011-January 2015.
The congregation elected Cliff Hilton pastor on April 26, 2015 where he has served with defined leadership and distinction. In April 2019, the church adopted a significant modern building project consisting of a new main entrance, including new restrooms, foyer, nursery, sound booth, and enlarged sanctuary consisting of new platform, carpet, and furnishings.
The Pentecostals of New Hebron continue to experience growth by receiving new believers into their assembly, developing them through discipleship, and equipping them to reach others through their specific calling and gifting.
[Archived documentation curated o/a 1995 by Shannon Sherman Teddlie, eldest daughter of Guy & Pat Sherman who are charter members of New Hebron Pentecostal Church. Revised by Ron Spikes, April 2021]