- Pastor & Mrs Eugene Whelan
In February 1964, New Hope Baptist Church was founded with seventy-six charter members and was located at the Elm Grove School in East Lexington Road in Independence, Missouri.
Following a fire, which destroyed the Elm Grove School, the church relocated to an old church building at the present location in 1965.
The congregation grew and responded with expansion efforts that included the dedication of a new auditorium in 1978 and construction of a gymnasium in 1983.
Interim Pastor Jimmy Kolar served the church at the outset and yielded to Reverend Chester Ware who pastured from 1964 to 1966.
Reverend Eugene Whelan became pastor in the fall of 1966 and served until June of 1999.
Pastor David Love first preached at New Hope Baptist Church on February 28, 1999, was voted to become pastor on March 28, 1999 and assumed the duties of pastor on July 4, 1999.
