It All Started In The Livingroom
Hopewell Baptist Church, established in 1972, did not get its start in a church. Instead, the first sermons were preached from a livingroom. The pastor at that time opened his home to those who wanted to worship with him. He was finally able to find the church a permanent home in Napa Valley, California. The church’s pastor stayed with the church for six years before being called to serve elsewhere. Pastor Guzman was the second pastor of the church, and he served for six years before heading to Indiana to further his education.
The third and present pastor is Pastor Mike Ray. Pastor Ray and his family made their way to Napa Valley in 1986. Pastor Ray actually drove a 42-year-old church bus containing the family’s belongings from Louisiana. During his first year of service at Hopewell Baptist Church, he made a vow to knock on every door and meet each family personally.
The church family continued to grow throughout the years. Hopewell Baptist Church is popular among the youth members. Many youth members have continued to serve as Pastors, Sunday school teachers, and Christian missionaries, serving in China, Hungary, Bolivia, and Cambodia, and in California.
Original source to learn more: https://hopewell.thechurchonline.com/