Pentecostals of New Hebron

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. Thus, 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 and already had church buildings. In 1912, New Hope was established as a Methodist church. However, their ministers were scarce, and often their ministers would be circuit riders who only came by occasionally. So, it was in the New Hebron area.

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 on the circuit, Johnny Magee preached in the New Hope Methodist Church, as the Methodist welcomed a minister. A revival boomed in the Methodist church, and many received the Holy Ghost and accepted the new message of the Pentecostals. Among them were Mrs. Josie Crawford and Mr. R.T. Robbins.

When the Methodist minister's circuit brought him back, many of the congregants of New Hope Methodist Church received the Pentecostal experience of Baptism in Jesus' Name filled with the Holy Ghost. The Methodist minister and the New Hope Methodist Church assembly proposed a new name, 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: Buford Miller, Jimmy Miller, Troy Evans, Oliver Self, John Davis, and others. Also served were two ministers, Lee and Bounds (first names not remembered).

It was common for a pioneer minister to complete a revival in a location, leave new converts, and travel to another area for a revival. So, it was at New Hope Pentecostal Church. Several ministers came and went until in 1948, Earl Carney was elected pastor and continued to preach the message preached by Johnny Magee years before. Later in 1948, Mrs. Josie Crawford gave timber for a parsonage, still standing at the last report. Bro. Carney 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 in 1956 for less than a year, but during his pastorate, "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 Pg22

Others who pastored the New Hope Pentecostal Church are C.B. Wiley 1956-1959, T. J. Mahoney, 1959-1960, L.J. Ivy 1961-1962, Clifton McManus 1962-1965, William (Bill) Moore 1965-1970, Mike Dykes October 1970- 1973, Louie Davis 1973-1978, G.C. Killingsworth 1978-1980, and Louie Davis in 1981 until the New Hope Pentecostal Church consolidated with the 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. The first service used the Springhill Baptist Church. The land was purchased in New Hebron for a new church by the assembly on Sept.15, 1970. Soon the building program was underway, and on December 21, 1970, the congregation purchased the beams. The bricks were all laid by March 26, 1971. The assembly purchased pews on November 18, 1971, which completed the new facility. C.B. Wiley resigned in 1971. Then, Randy Mathis served as pastor 1971—1972.
In 1972, James King was elected pastor and served until 1975. During James King's tenure, the assembly added new Sunday school rooms, a kitchen, and a small fellowship hall. 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 1978-1981, David Edwards preached a six-week revival, and 27 received the Holy Ghost. In 1981, Louie Davis became pastor, and during his tenure, the remaining congregation from New Hope combined with the church in New Hebron. He served until 1984.

Gary Erickson became pastor in 1984. The combined group continued to hold family reunions and weddings occasionally at the New Hope church building in the rural area. In 1993, the congregation agreed to tear down the New Hope Church building that had deteriorated beyond repair.

The congregation enlarged the New Hebron Sanctuary in 1989, added a new fellowship hall in 1990, and a family life center in 1997. Gary Erickson resigned in 1997 after serving for 13½ years.

Other ministers served as a New Hebron Pentecostal Church pastor include J.B. Yelverton served for one year in 1997-1998. Dennis Davis served ten years from 1998, and during his tenure, the mortgage on the church was retired, the congregation purchased a church bus, and upgraded the parsonage before he resigned in 2009. Steve Andrus served 2½ 2009-2011, and Ryan Vanderford served from August 2011-January 2015.

The congregation elected Cliff Hilton pastor in 2015. In 2019, the New Hebron Pentecostal Church underwent a significant facelift, consisting of enlarging the sanctuary, restrooms, foyer, nursery, and sound booth. The New Hebron Pentecostal Church continues to experience a tremendous outpouring of the Spirit of God.