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OUR HISTORY
The Hope Community Church (Formerly GSJ)
OUR STORY IS OUR HISTORY
Bishop B.F. Jackson was ordained by Rev. Buckman at Zion Baptist Church Avon Ave. Newark, NJ in 1956. He then led the congregation for one year at St. Jude Church in Paterson, NJ. In 1957 he moved the church to Jones St. in Newark, NJ. In 1966 the church changed its name to Faith Chapel soon after that he moved to Belmont Ave. Newark, NJ.
In 1967 the church joined the charter of the St. John Methodist Episcopal Reformed Church in Elizabeth, NJ incorporated in 1951 under the leadership of the late Bishop Estus Quincy Ransom Taylor.
Early during Bishop Jackson's pastoring at St. John M.E.R. Church 515 E. Jersey St. Elizabeth, NJ, God gave Bishop a vision for a new location where the sanctuary would be located on the second floor. When Bishop saw the location, he saw what God had shown him in the vision. Bishop worked four years on renovations along with a team of three dedicated men and the late Betty Jackson hauling supplies for the new building.
In 1978 Bishop's vision had been completed, the church marched from 515 E. Jersey St. and he was elevated to Senior Bishop & Pastor. In October 1982 the church burnt the mortgage; the mortgage is paid in full.
March 28, 2010, Bishop Jackson's son Rev. Earnest Jackson was installed as Pastor of St. John M.E.R. Church. Under the leadership of Rev. Earnest Jackson, on September 16, 2010, the church name was changed to Greater St. John Church.
In 2021, we changed the name of the church to The Hope Community Church.
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WHAT WE BELIEVE
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
We believe that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. We understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very word of scripture. We believe in the complete inerrancy of the original manuscripts of the whole Bible and that they serve as the only rule of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16; Peter 1:21)
We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as one God existing in THREE persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit distinguishable but invisible. (Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 48:16)
We believe in the creation, test, and fall of man recorded in the book of Genesis; his total depravity and inability to attain divine righteousness. (Romans 5:12, 18)
We believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25)
We believe in the bodily Ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal, and bodily return the second time for the Church. (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12, 22; Romans 5:11)
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to salvation, with the scriptural evidence; namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (Acts 1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Galatians 3:14-15)
We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14, as was manifested in the Early Church.
We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world and perfecting holiness on the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith. (Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:10)
We believe in the healing of the body by Divine Power or Divine healing in varied aspects as practice in the Early Church. (Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14)
We believe in the table of the Lord, commonly called Communion or the Lord's Supper, for believers. (1 Corinthians 11:28-32)
We believe in eternal life for believers (John 3:16; 5:24) and eternal punishment for unbelievers. (Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thess.1:9; Revelation 20:10-15)
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and the eternal judgment of Satan and his angels. (Matthew 25:41; Rev.20:10-15)