House of Hope Atlanta: Beliefs, Service Times, Location, And Pastors

The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church was founded in 1876 by a Sunday school and prayer meeting group under the direction of the first pastor, Rev. Sam Stinson. Rev. William Tillman (Father Tillman), pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church, organized the church in May 1876.

Rev. T. T. Gholston, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Sandy F. Ray, Dr. J. W. Tate, Dr. Leonard Ashbury Pinkston, and Dr. Hubert Floyd Shepherd are just a few of the former pastors.

In 1957, Rev. Hubert Floyd Shepherd received a call to serve as the church’s pastor. The church’s membership grew rapidly in Atlanta, Georgia’s Edgewood neighborhood, to the point where the ministry had to relocate from 119 Mayson Avenue to 2589 Tilson Road in December 1973.  A ground-breaking ceremony for a new building was held on Sunday, March 20, 1994, to celebrate the Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church’s continuous growth. The church relocated and dedicated its $8 million, 2,200-seat sanctuary at 2600 Whites Mill East (later renamed H.F. Shepherd Drive) in Decatur, Georgia, on September 29, 1996, two years later.

The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church (Now The House of Hope Atlanta) started looking for a new pastor on March 26, 2003, after Rev. H. F. Shepherd announced his retirement as pastor.  A new pastor was sought after an eight-month search that was started by the pulpit committee.

God sent Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr., a man who was filled with the Spirit, in November 2003, and on December 21, 2003, he was ordained as the church’s 22nd pastor. The church has had extraordinary growth in terms of membership, attendance, and money under Dr. Smith’s direction. The membership had more than doubled by the time Dr. Smith was in his fifth year as pastor.

In 2009, the church made a purchase and moved to a 60-acre property with seven buildings including a 7,000-seat Neo-Gothic cathedral.

Numerous major upgrades, additions, and investments in the neighborhood have also been made.
The church is in a good position for opportunities to grow and further the Kingdom with this acquisition.

Beliefs

The House of Hope Church hold the following Belief namely;

1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God

2. The evidence of  Salvation

3. The ordinance of Baptism 

4. Faith and Works

5. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

6.  Holy Communion

7. Man’s redemption is through the blood of Jesus Christ

8. The church is the Body of Christ

9. Tithing & Giving

10. Dedicating children

11. Jesus Is Coming Again!

Location

Atlanta Church