Visitors

How do I get to New Hope Baptist Church?

From downtown Lancaster, travel south on Main Street which will become Lynwood Dr. Two miles after crossing South 200, turn left at the light onto Airport/McIllwain Rd. At next light, turn right (back on Lynwood Dr.) New Hope will be about 2.5 miles on the left, where Lynwood Dr. ends.

From Heath Springs, turn on New Hope Rd. Travel 6 miles, New Hope will be on the right.

What happens when I get there?

You will be greeted by members who will assist you with directions, give you information about our Sunday School classes and assist you in answering any questions. Our greeters will welcome you at the door and will assist you in any way, particularly getting your children to Sunday School classes.

What childcare is offered?

We offer childcare for preschoolers from birth through 5 years of age in the Preschool department for all worship services. Children's Sunday School is available at 10:00 a.m. Preschoolers can stay in the same classroom during both hours, to allow you to go to Sunday School. Your older children, age 5 through grade 6, are invited to sit with you in church. We have many Christian men and women that volunteer their time with the children, providing them with activities, lessons and snacks. We also provide a pager service that we can use to contact you if you child is not feeling well. we do ask that you inform the nursery/pre-school staff if you child has any allergies when you drop them off.

 

What do I do before the service starts?

If you arrive before the service starts, you will notice that our worship center is an auditorium filled with rows of pews. There are no reserved seats, so you may sit anywhere you like. Each pew has a book rack with song books and a Bible. Many people will be greeting each other during this time. As you enter the Worship Center you will receive a bulletin and a visitor's bag, which gives you information on the many happenings at New Hope Baptist Church. Don't worry if you arrive just a little after the service has started, an usher will assist you in finding a seat.

What is the worship like?

Services generally last just over an hour. Our worship services are a time of joyful worship and praise, with a variety of traditional and contemporary Christian music provided by our Choir, Praise Team, Soloists and Ensembles. The Baptist Hymnal is located in the back of the pews and are the song books from which we sing most congregational hymns.  The words to the songs are also projected on screens at the front of the Worship Center. (We encourage a "joyful noise.") We believe that God will lead you in the worship style you feel most comfortable with. There may be special announcements or features during the service.

How will I know when to stand?

The pastor or the music minister will ask the congregation to stand or sit. Generally we stand during congregational singing, during the short Bible reading, and during the invitation song and prayer. The bulletin also has * at times to let you know when to stand as well.

 

How are guests greeted?

Before the service, our greeters (and many of our other members) will extend a friendly greeting to you. Please let us know you are a guest. You do not have to register or sign your name to anything if you do not wish to; however, we would like to know you were our guest and ask, if you wish, to fill out the C.A.R.E. card provided in your visitor bag you received upon entering the worship center. Please drop the card in the offering plate as it is passed during the service as your only offering to us. If you are visiting from out of town and plan on moving to the Lancaster area, we would love to know that.

How is prayer used at New Hope?

During the worship service, the pastor may open the front of the worship center as an altar and invite those who have specific prayer needs to come forward. He will pray for those unspoken needs. He may just have prayer without an "altar call."

What is the pastor's message like?

Our pastor gives Bible-based, expository messages lasting about 40 minutes. He asks that we stand during the brief Bible reading to honor God's Word. His messages are timely and often sprinkled with appropriate humor.

Do you have a crying room available?

We have an audio monitor in the foyer of the Worship Center if you have a baby who is uncomfortable. We want you to feel comfortable using the church nursery and pre-school departments.

Do you give invitations at the end of the service? What are they like?

At the end of his message, the pastor will usually offer an invitation. The invitation is to anyone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to accept Him. He will also ask those who would like to become part of our church family or would like to be baptized to make that known. This is also a time for Christians to come pray for needs in their life or simply to come and praise the Lord through prayer. The hymn that is then sung while the congregation stands is an opportunity for those people to come to the front of the Worship Center and talk with the Pastor about their needs. Decisions that can be made for membership: 1. BY PROFESSION OF FAITH - If you are not yet a Christian but would like to be, or if you are a Christian but have never been baptized by immersion as a believer, which the Word of God commands, our pastor will pray with you and guide you in your decision. 2. BY TRANSFER OF LETTER - If you are a Christian and a member of a church of like faith and order, we will write to the church where you are a member and request that a letter of transfer be sent. 3. BY STATEMENT - If you are a Christian and have been baptized as a believer according to the scriptures, and do not either have current membership in a church or are currently a member of a church that does not grant letters of transfer, you can receive membership by your affirmation of the above.

What happens after the service?

During the closing prayer, the pastor will go to the entrance doors in the Lobby and greet the congregation as they leave. There are various exit doors located in the Sanctuary so you do not have to leave through the Lobby. The pastor will gladly stay after the service to greet you on a more personal level. If you have children in one of the nurseries, you will need to go and pick them up at this time. As the congregation leaves, you may find several people mingling within the pews. Feel free to stay as long as you would like and fellowship.

Do I need to donate money when I visit?

New Hope Baptist Church does encourage tithing. However, our guests are not expected to give anything. During this time,we ask that you take a "C.A.R.E" card from the basket  passed, fill it out, and turn it in at the end of our service.

What Sunday School classes are offered on Sundays?

We are a lot of small churches within a large church. We encourage people to check out our Sunday School classes in order to get to know other people just like you. Classes are offered for all ages at 10:00 a.m.