History of New Hope Fellowship
Our Story Is His Story
Valley Park, MO is where our story begins.
Rev. Thomas J. Farris 1931-1932
In March of 1931, the Reverend Thomas J. Farris founded the First Assembly of God Church in Valley Park, MO. He was a pioneer AG minister, as he founded several other AG churches in the Southern Missouri District.
Pastor Farris came to St Louis in 1929 to conduct a revival meeting. He had already founded the Bourbon Assembly of God Church three years earlier. After six weeks of revival, he received a request to come to Valley Park, MO and preach the funeral of Lee Wideman's baby. While ministering to this family, he caught the vision for Valley Park. He felt that God directed him to this town. So he began the search for a place to hold a revival. However, he did not receive a warm welcome from the mayor when he asked to use City Hall. Mr. Wideman then offered his home to Pastor Farris. Mr. Wideman was not a Christian but sent his kids throughout the town to announce the revival. The revival was attended by large crowds and eventually moved to the First Baptist Church, also known as "The Colored Church." Pastor Farris was able to use this church for free and received 15 cents in his first offering.
In those early days, great persecution arose against the revival but Pastor Farris remained steadfast. There were no lights in "The Colored Church" and insects were everywhere since it was located near the river. It was hard to keep the lanterns going because of all the bugs but God met the needs of the church one by one. God controlled the dangers that came against the church and Pastor Farris, He provided electricity through the faithfulness of Sister Edwards and He answered the prayers of Pastor Farris for music and singing by leading him to Pastor Heady's church in St Louis. Together they faced many trials but in the days to follow many people came from all around the area to the revival meetings.
The church, officially called Faith Chapel 1st Assembly of God, was set in order on February 29, 1932 with 62 Charter Members. Pastor Floyd Heady, the Presbyter for the AG St Louis Section, set the church in order. Those elected to the first Board of Deacons were: Milton Beckett, Cecil Whitaker and Brother Schallenberg. Brother Whitaker served as Church Secretary.
As time went by, prayer meetings would break out in homes, many people gave their lives to Christ, were filled with the Holy Spirit and were baptized in water.
A number of evangelists and speakers came through Valley Park during that first year. Pastor Farris left Valley Park in 1932 and founded the Assembly of God Church in St James, MO. He later founded the Church at Oak Hill. Pastor Farris retired to Bourbon, MO and went home to be with the Lord on March 6, 1971.
Rev. Dean Heady, sr. 1932-1933
Pastor Heady came to Valley Park in 1932 to help Pastor Farris with revival meetings. He was a former heavy weight boxer. He preached here for about three months, commuting back and forth from St Louis. Around this time a Valley Park citizen was injured at the Fisher Body Company and many of the townfolk blamed it on the "new religion". Tensions were running high and Pastor Farris and Pastor Heady both decided to leave Valley Park and go to Bourbon. Soon after Cecil and Pearl Whitaker drove down to Bourbon and asked them to return. Pastor Farris was willing but Pastor Heady said "I'll go if you'll allow me to protect myself." They agreed and he obtained a six-shooter from the Bourbon blacksmith and returned to Valley Park. From then on he preached with the gun in his pocket.
Shortly after Pastor Heady became the full time Pastor, the factory in Valley Park closed and the town struggled but God always met their needs. It was during this time that the vision for a church building was born. Pastor Heady received $13 a week and pastored here for one year. He passed away on February 25, 1964 at the age of 59.
Rev. Frank Engley 1933
Not much is known about Pastor Engley. In attempts to find information about him through the Southern Missouri District no records were ever located. We do know he was unmarried and from Oklahoma. Sister Pearl Whitaker recalls this memory of Pastor Engley: "It was a warm sunday morning and because of the heat rays of the sun, he suggested everyone move to the other side of the church for comfort. During his message he stopped preaching and sent some brethren out on the street to see if someone was mocking him. As it turned out, he was hearing his echo."
Rev. Dorothy Brooks 1933-1934
In 1933 the church called its first lady minister. While here, Sister Brooks lived in the apartment over Cecil and Pearl Whitaker's home at 711 Benton Street. She was single and acquired Sister McDunn from St Louis as a traveling companion. Several revivals were held while she was there and one time neighboring church musicians came to play in the orchestra. Sister Brooks was also active in the District CA work.
Rev. W.G. Workman 1934-1936
The Workman family is remembered as the "motherly-fatherly type". They lived on Benton Street in the Gilbert's home. Pastor Workman started over 30 AG churches in Missouri and Illinois. His ministry consisted of evangelistic work and pioneering new churches.
After leaving Valley Park, God told him to start a church in Vulcan. The townspeople offered him thousands of dollars to make it a community church but he refused. He went home to be with the Lord in February 1962.
Rev. W. E. Atkinson 1936-1937
"We had some good meetings and the Sunday School increased some, as well as the church. The lots at 5th and Vest were bought and paid for. The foundation was in and some other work had been done while we were there. A church in Old Orchards (Shrewsbury area) was taken apart and transported to Valley Park. The church building at 5th and Vest was built using those materials. During that time, a storm came and blew the walls down. With the studs still lying on the ground, remarks were made around town that the AG Church was falling down." - from the accounts of Sam Adams and Pastor Atkinson's widow.
During Pastor Atkinson's time in Valley Park, he performed two weddings at the Colored Church. On June 14, 1936, Elzie and Mabel Adams were married. And on June 20, 1936 Ray and Imogene McCulloh were married. Pastor Atkinson died on January 7, 1959 in Mt Vernon, MO.
Rev. L. C. Ramsey 1937-1940
"It was in the year 1937 that I accepted the pastorate of the Valley Park Church. We were worshiping in the Colored Church, which was, ofcourse, very small. We had church services three sundays in the month and the 4th we left after Sunday School to let our colored friends have service. The frame of the new church was erected at 5th and Vest, with no roof, no floors, no windows and no doors. In fact, the interior of the building contained nothing. First we purchased a pretty two-toned green shingle roof. Then with ten dollars a month payments we bought celotex for the wlls. Using old flooring and some new to complete, the building was made ready for service. Almost all work was donated, with several sinners helping all the way through.
"The day of dedication came with Rev. Henry Hoar as speaker. The building was completely paid for within two and a half years from the time we began. Opera seats were bought for 25 cents each from a St Louis theatre and my trailer hauled them to Valley Park.
"A Nazarene preacher donated the work of building the chimney, which caught fire during the first revival meeting. When smoke was seen coming out of the wall during a service I told the congregation to be calm, that I would go after the fire department. I asked them to remain seated and continue the service. When the Chief of Police and the Mayor arrived with me, the Mayor cried out, "There's people in that church and it's on fire. Don't they know it's on fire?!" I said, "Yes, I told them there was no danger and they believed me and that's the reason they are all seated." Soon however, we all went outside.
"Those were great days indeed. It seemed everyone helped all they could to see things go over for the Lord. After the church was all paid for and no debts held against anything, I felt free to resign and accept the church at Chaffee, MO.
"Our three years in Valley Park were times of hard work, under some definite disadvantages because of WWII, but they were also times of great spiritual blessing and times we remember." - from the account of Pastor Ramsey
Rev. N. Cleo Tapp 1940-1944
Rev. Melvin Brewer, jr. 1944-1945
Rev. E. L. Green 1945-1964
Rev. John Eller 1964-1969
Rev. T.R. Shepherd 1969-1976
Rev. Steven Bookout 1976-1979
Rev. Dale Shoup 1979-1984
Rev. Duane Goforth 1984-1990
Rev. Ed Hawkins 1990-1994
Rev. Bobby Weber 1994-1998
Rev. Jeff Cox 1998-2001
Rev. Dan Ross 2001-present