Belonging to New Hope- Our History

Our history began in 1880 when 19 people became members of what came to be known as "The Little White Church on Baldwin Street." From these modest beginnings, Albright United Brethren Church began. A new building was constructed in 1915. With the union of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Episcopal Churches in 1968, the church became known as Albright United Methodist Church. In 1988 the decision was made to reorganize as a new church in the rapidly growing north side of Elkhart. The new church was named New Hope United Methodist Church.

New Hope was birthed in November of 1988. Pastor Joe Baunoch, the founding pastor, held the first service at the Brookdale Club. New Hope began with a core group of members from the Albright United Methodist Church and those who responded to a telephone campaign to reach unchurched people in the community.

Two years later, Mike Saddler became the pastor and relocated the church to a warehouse building on County Road 6 in June of 1991. The property on the corner of County Roads 4 and 5 was purchased in July of 1994. The first facility was built in the summer and fall of 1995 and the first worship service was held on December 3, 1995. In our first year in the building, the church doubled in size and has continued to grow.

The Saddlers received an opportunity in another community in October of 1996 and Lee Campbell became the pastor in November of 1996. The church has continued to grow physically and spiritually under Pastor Campbell's leadership. In October of 1997, the church purchased an additional 16 acres of land. Through the generous donation of a family and their friends, the John Abel Memorial Softball Field was constructed. Additional projects that have been completed are: the paving and expansion of the parking facilities, installation of the parking lot lighting, improvements, landscaping and lawn seeding, playground equipment, outdoor basketball court, construction of a storage building, improvements to the sound system, artistic banners for the auditorium and an upgrade of office equipment. In March of 2003 we dedicated the new Office and Educational Wing.

In addition to these projects we have grown in staffing. We have a full time office manager, part time maintenance and full time youth and children's ministry pastor. God continues to bless us as we seek to see lives changed by the power of God's love revealed to us through Jesus Christ. The future looks bright as we continue to seek opportunities to impact our community and the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.