New Hope’s Missionary History 

From 1955-2025

The New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Inc. began as Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church in 1955 under the leadership of the late Rev. George W. Wilborn. New Hope held its first organizational meeting in June 1955 at Rev. Wilborn’s home, attended by his wife, Everlena, and their six children: King, Lena, Florida, Regina, Areina, and George Jr. The Wilborn children organized the first choir, and King Wilborn was the president; Lena Wilborn became the Church Secretary.

During the first year, as God provided, the church membership grew. Willie and Jewel Weaver, Rube and Marian Warren, Lonnie and Melinda Birch, Bennett and Lillie Hudson, Walter and Mary Jenkins, Dell and Ethel Dexter, Samuel Coleman Sr., and Reverend W. C. and Grace Huffman all joined the growing congregation. With this growth, the Flat Rock family relocated from the Wilborn home to their new place of worship located at 421 Harrison Street in Syracuse.

In October 1959, the church’s name changed from Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., with the incorporation that year. The Board of Trustees and Deacon Board were organized. Wilborn became the Church Secretary, and Rev. W. C. Huffman was elected as assistant pastor.

During this time, a steady increase in membership continued, leading New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Inc. to relocate to a larger place of worship at 219 Lexington Ave. As God saw fit to add to the church daily, the progress didn’t stop there, and the church later moved again to Catawba St.

On August 8, 1967, God blessed New Hope Missionary Baptist Church to purchase our current location at 241 W. Lafayette Ave., which has remained our house of prayer and worship ever since.

Pastor Wilborn, advancing in age and failing in health, retired in February 1989, after 34 years as Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. On September 15, 1994, Rev. George Wilborn was called from labor to reward.

In 1990, Rev. Leslie Gilmore was called and served as pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., until 1992.

Rev. Roy Bell became the Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Inc from 1993 until 1996, when Rev. James E. Young Sr. became Pastor of New Hope He served as the pastor of Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. from 1996 to March 2003.

Rev. Leamon Dowdell was elected as Pastor in April 2003 and served faithfully until the Lord called him home on March 19, 2013.

Rev. Ashanti Dickerson was elected Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. on March 18, 2015. Rev. Ashanti Dickerson served as Pastor until he resigned on September 14, 2020.

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Inc. has prospered in many ways with the leadership of all the Pastors God has blessed us with over the past 69 years. The creation of the George Wilborn Memorial Choir, the renovation of our sanctuary, which included new pews, the purchase of the house next door to the church, which currently serves as the Church Annex, and the adjacent lots, which provide additional parking. The current property holdings include 223 through 241 West Lafayette Avenue, among other notable accomplishments.

As God has blessed us, and as an established Missionary Baptist Church, we continue to share the Word of God with our Missionary efforts through giving financial support to various agencies. We have had clothing giveaways, as well as given food to various charities, both locally and abroad. This includes the homeless members of the Syracuse community who are in need.

Through the 69 years, the Chairman of Deacons have guided the church during troubled times as Pastors came and went. Remaining steadfast in their leadership, some of our past deacons were Deacon Lonnie Burch, Deacon Willie Manning, and Deacon Samuel Coleman; they have been called from labor to reward. Deacon Bobby Hudgins currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He has maintained this role for over 25 years.

During the Global COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2021), New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., continued to remain steadfast in keeping the unity of the Church Family and praising God. Under the leadership of Pastor Ashanti Dickerson, our Social Media Ministry was established.

The Bible Study Ministry continued to be maintained primarily by our Associate Minister Angelo Coker after the departure of Pastor Ashanti Dickerson. We also Live Stream our Sunday School and our Sunday morning worship services.

Deacon Jimmie Jackson was a member of the Trustees Board for numerous years, and then he was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2006, a position he continued to serve in until 2022. As of this writing, he has been called from labor to reward.

On December 4, 2022, Minister Mickey Davis Sr. began serving as Pastor- Elect. After appropriate deliberations, on September 10, 2023, Pastor-Elect Mickey Davis Sr. and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. parted ways.

The history of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. would not be complete without thanking God, in Jesus’ name, for the continued guidance of committed Pastors, Deacons, Trustees, Deaconesses, Missionaries, Choir Members, Ushers, and, most of all, our dedicated Church Family members.

As we continue to be about our Father’s business, we continually pray that New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. will continue to grow to unimaginable heights, proclaiming the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

On May 30, 2024, the Church Family of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Inc. voted to elect Bishop Frederick Douglas Robinson from Orlando, Florida, as the new Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Inc.

Eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard of the blessings that await our Church in the glorious years ahead, in the name of Jesus, Amen.