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A complete history of New Hope Baptist Church is not possible to record, due to the loss of records at the death of the late Deacon Andy Harris. But, according to the late Miss Mabell Hawkins, The Church was founded in 1871 and first named ‘The African Baptist Church,’ the name given to most Negro churches after Civil War. The congregation met in a building located a block off South Hamilton and Emory Streets and after a few years, moved to the corner of South Hamilton and Emory streets. The name was then changed to ‘New Hope’. Rev. W. M. Munns, a native of Alabama, was the pastor at the time. He served both the church and the North Georgia Missionary Baptist Association for fourteen years.

Ms. E.M. Dunwoody aided in the recovery of some of the church’s lost history when she provided the following list of the ministers who succeeded Rev. Munns. They are Howard Black, C.H. Maxwell, W.L. Johnson, R.B. Hall, R. McClusky, and W.J. Burns, all deceased. Some of these ministers had a long tenure, and others short, but each contributed to divine plans that God had for New Hope Baptist Church.

The Rev. P.H. Head followed Reverend Burns and served New Hope for twenty-seven years, longer than any pastor up to that date. Rev. Head carried out several remodeling programs. He would often bring his own tools and do some of the tasks at hand. He was also a very talented and capable minister. When Rev. Head’s failing health prevented his active service, he sent the Rev. C.J. Johnson, the son of his close friend, the Rev. Emmett Johnson. The younger Rev. Johnson was admired and served the church until July 1961, when he was called to a church in Johnson City, TN. In November of that same year, the Rev. Walter M. Brown and his gifted wife Ruth accepted the call to serve.

After Rev. Brown united with the New Hope family, the church made steady progress. A significant step in that progression was the erection of a new facility. Under his tenure the Church adopted the theme “The People Had a Mind to Work”

On August 15, 1971, the churche's 100^th Church Anniversary, the real estate was paid for and congregation marched to Roan Street at Fields Avenue to break ground for a new building. In October of that same year, the engineer and contractor had all the plans and began the erection of the new building. With great joy, on August 6, 1972, Chairman C.T. Gay handed Rev. Brown the keys to the New Hope's new bulding.

1982 and 1983 the auxiliaries of New Hope were expanded wih the addition of the Joe Pinson Usher Board, The Young Men’s Club, The Pastor’s Aid Club, the Beautification Club, and the Inter-Fellowship services. The old bell, which had hung at the Old New Hope building was re-hung at our new facility.

As the result of much prayer and consistent hard work, on Easter of 1983, the mortgage on the Church's rental properties was retired. A brick marker board, a beautiful memorial gift from the estate of one of the church's past members, was constructed on the outside of the Church while another member financed the entrance enclosure.

In 1984, 1985, and 1986 our church continued to grow both in membership and acquisition of property. Several new members were welcomed into New Hope by confession of faith, and/or transfer by letter. Property on the corner of Fields and Roan Streets was purchased. Rev. Brown ordained three members who heard the call into ministry, namely Robert Reed, Clinton Wright, and Rodney B. Weaver.

In 1988, the Royal Ambassadors, under the leadership of Deacon Henry Allen Parks, Deacon Ivy Lee Macon, and Brother Tommy Pinson, was restored as a viable ministry to male youth in our community. Oliver “Marty“ Cobb organized a church softball team, which placed second overall in the Dalton Parks and Recreation’s Introductory League.

In this same year, The Walter M. Brown male Chorus was organized and named for the Church's beloved pastor. It enhanced the worship services musically with inspired singing from the “old school” tradition of gospel/spiritual music. The church was also blessed with the purchase of its first church van, and several trips were made to various cultural and religious affairs. As a result, a Travel Club was organized . In addition to these great venture, the Sunday School experience continued growth with the additional of a new class, which was comprised of teenage males and females. It was named the “Joe Pinson Class.”

Through the insight of the pastor, in 1989 a drug-awareness group was organized at the church to address the substance abuse problem in the community. The program was named CADA (Community against Drugs and Alcohol). CADA sponsored a Youth Olympics was and founded a chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The 1990’s not only brought a new decade but a new look to our building. To enhance the beauty of the building, stained glass windows were installed, the sound room was equipped with a state of the art public address system and all proceedings were recorded.

New carpet was installed; the baptistery was beautified by an artistic expression placed on the wall behind it. A television combination video cassette recorder was donated to the Christian Education Department.

The year two thousand marked the end of an era. Following forty years of pastoral service the Reverend Walter M. Brown ended his tenure as pastor due to illness. He and his wife Ruth had instilled in the congregation that they “were a people who had a mind to work,” and had dutifully lived out the meaning of the theme they had impleminted so many years before.

In the spring of two thousand one the Holy Spirit led the New Hope Family to call the Reverend Nathan Nance of Atlanta Georgia. Reverend Nance and his wife Demeatrice brought a flurry of new energy to the congregation. During his seven year pastorate many souls were lead to Christ as others were reclaimed by rededication.
In addition, the following ministries were formed: The Voices of Hope Adult Choir, The Hope Foundation, Whole Truth Tape Ministry, Women of Wisdom Ladies Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Men of Isaachar Ministry, Shepard’s Care, the Evangelism Ministry, the Beautificationministry and the Barnabas ministry. Mrs. Nance also worked cheerfully, having lead the Women of Wisdom (WOW) Ministry, the Hope Foundation, teaching Sunday School, and rendering service wherever she was needed.

In two thousand seven renovations were made to the sanctuary and the multipurpose room. In early June of two thousand and eight the Reverend Nance announced that he had accepte a call to Cleveland, Ohio.

On the sixth of December two thousand eight New Hope extended the call to the Reverend Kenneth Franklin Scaife. Reverend Scaife assumed the pastorate on January third two thousand nine following a six month pastoral search after which the church was nearly evenly divided. Since accepting Gods call, Reverend Scaife has sought to restore unity to the Church.

Since January of two thousand nine the body has increased as the Holy Spirit has moved several souls to unite with Christ as candidates for baptism and others by Christian experience and restoration. A Children’s Choir has been formed. The W. M. Brown Male Chorus has been reorganized.Various ministries have been created or re activated.

In addition the Congregation continues to add to the Beauty of the House of Worship. The Pastor’s study was refurnished. A new Lectern and chairs have been placed on the pulpit.