New Hope Family Worship Center was birthed on September 1st, 1990. It’s original name was East New York Wesleyan Church.
The founding Pastors were Rev. Louis H. Goodman, Senior Pastor and Rev. Dr. Anthony M. Graham, Assistant Pastor.
The first service was conducted in a building owned by Lutheran Church of Our Savior, located at Linden Boulevard and Milford Street. Core members came from Jamaica-queens Wesleyan Church and First Wesleyan Church of Brooklyn. Those twelve founding members included Rev Louis and Phyllis Goodman, Rev Anthony and Leslie-Ann Graham, Gary and Maureen and Winifred Graham, Reuben and Lillian Aghedo, Glenda Figuero, Steve Howell and Pauline Jordan.
Several believers soon followed that made invaluable contributions like Angela Whittaker, Candy Duncan, Rev John and Naomi Williams, Noel Norton, Rev Holly and Ramanan Chowtie.
In April 1993, Rev Goodman felt the call of God to St. Thomas and Rev. Graham was installed as pastor on May 16, 1993. In the months to follow, the congregation would move again this time to 736 Glenmore Avenue, where we held our first service on Good Friday in 1994.
As the congregation grew, and as new ministries evolved from the varying needs of an expanding congregation and the surrounding community, new church owned space was continually being sought.
The building at 334 Ashford which was leased with an option to buy, was purchased in 1997. Renovations began immediately to accommodate the expanding ministries. By 1998, even with two Sunday morning worship services the building was straining to adequately hold the congregation. After much praying, an aggressive two-phase building fund program was implemented and the membership responded willingly and generously.
This resulted in the purchase of the present worship center at 817 Livonia Avenue in October 2000. We endured many physical challenges in the new building project, but kept seeking God’s guidance, and completed the Fellowship Hall area in late February 2001 for temporary occupancy as a sanctuary. In September 2001, we moved into our current sanctuary.
Key believers continued to be added to the assembly that would add to the effectiveness of the ministry such as Rev Sylvanie Charles, Sis Irma Anderson, Deacon Courtney Hinckson, Rev Pearl and Don Glasgow, Rev James and Sharon Samuel and Rev Errol and Maria Richards.
New Hope continued to grow. Increasing from the original twelve to a weekly average attendance of 850 plus. In addition, New Hope has three daughter congregations; Canarsie Holinesss Tabernacle located in the heart of Canarsie. World Impact International Ministries located in Bushwick and House of Prayer Community Church, located off Atlantic avenue in Brooklyn. These are thriving congregations that continue to grow and declare the timeless message of the Love of God.
New Hope also has two campuses, one in Coney Island and one in the Bronx. Both churches are in beautiful brick buildings and have become the hub of the community for many families.
New Hope has a myriad of ministries, including a Social Services Program which provides assistance to all in the area of Housing, Job Fairs, Immigration and other social concerns. In addition, counseling is available for those struggling with Substance Abuse; A thriving After School Program meets in our Fellowship Hall daily.
New Hope ministers to the total person through our Soup Kitchen and Compassion Ministries program. Our soup kitchen operates four days every week from Tuesday through Friday and feed over four hundred families weekly. Bags of groceries are shared every Saturday morning and two hundred seventy five families and more are blessed through this avenue weekly. Clothing is provided five days to the needy.