Gospel-Centered,
Mission Driven.
Mission Driven.
Sunday School – 9:00 a.m.
Worship Service – In-person and online
10:15 a.m. on campus
10:15 a.m. on our YouTube channel
Worship Service – In-person and online
10:15 a.m. on campus
10:15 a.m. on our YouTube channel
Hope Church has a diverse history dating back to 1841.
Through just short of two centuries, Hope Church has seen the foundations of a city, the innovation of flight, and the richness of God’s love. Year after year, Hope’s congregation has faithfully sought after God, taught the Scripture and served it’s community. Its rich heritage has included three mergers bringing together faithful believers in their pursuit of God.
Hope Church has been in ministry in various locations and under various names since 1841. Hope began as a Sunday School class in Dayton with 21 German-speaking members and was organized and taught by Absalom Shafer, a circuit rider. The Methodist movement and the beginnings of Hope Church was influenced greatly by leaders such as John Wesley, Francis Asbury, Phillip Otterbein, Martin Boehm, and Jacob Albright.
The history of Hope Church has been one of twists and turns but also one of having an impact on its members and community. Hope Church grew from two East Dayton churches – Wayne Avenue and High Street. In 1884, the Wayne Avenue congregation bravely switched from a German-speaking church to one that spoke English; in 1946 the Evangelical Church merged with the United Brethren Church to become the EUB church. In 1960 a fire destroyed the High Street church; In 1962 the High Street Church relocated to its current Wilmington Pike location and became Christ Church. In 1968 the EUB and Methodist Church merged to become the United Methodist Church. Finally, in 1968 Christ EUB became the Hope UMC. In 1971 the Wayne Avenue Church relocated and merged with the Hope United Methodist Church. In 2022, Hope Church ended affiliation with the United Methodist Church and joined the Global Methodist Church.
Despite the many changes, Hope Church, in all its iterations, has honored and fulfilled this Wesleyan tradition and has upheld the Wesleyan beliefs and values. Our Statement of Faith still honors this tradition and will remain the foundation of Hope Church.
Indeed, Hope Church has experienced a lot: the foundation of a city, the innovation of flight, a mighty flood, and the richness of God’s love. Year after year, Hope’s congregation has faithfully sought God, taught the Scripture, and served its community. Hope Church is still making an impact on its world. Our annual Christmas With A Cause campaign has built a birthing center in Zambia, assisted in constructing cottages in the Philippines to minister to displaced women, helped with the founding of Brigid’s Path, just to name a few. While our rich heritage has brought together faithful believers in their pursuit of God, we sincerely believe that through Hope, our best days are yet to come.
To God Be the Glory!
What We Believe
We believe that the Scriptures, consisting of both Old and New Testaments, are the inerrant word of God in the original manuscripts. They are the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and are the divine and final authority for all matters of Christian faith and life.
We believe that there is one God, the Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, co-equally and co-eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for believers as a High Priest and Advocate.
We believe that the Holy Spirit presently glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ by convicting people of sin, regenerating believing sinners, and indwelling, leading and empowering believers for godly life and service.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but sinned and therefore is now lost. Only through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit and the atoning sacrifice of Christ can salvation be attained.
We believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and His bodily resurrection from the dead are the only provision of salvation for all who believe; all and only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and become children of God by grace through faith alone.
We believe in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus and this has a vital bearing upon the conduct and service of the believer.
We believe in an end time, bodily resurrection of all the dead; of the believer to everlasting joy and blessedness in the presence of the Lord, and of the unbeliever to an everlasting and conscious punishment.
Hope Church is a Global Methodist Church. Hope Church’s bylaws are available for review in the church office Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. Please call the church office to arrange a time.
Our Values
Changed Lives, Changing Lives.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”
Hebrews 10:24-25
Our Staff
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Jason Bunger Lead Pastor
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Vicki Thompson Missions Ministry Director
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Dawn Redenbaugh Director of Operations
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Carrie Witt Music Worship Leader
Our Leadership Team
- Clay Hendrixson, Chair
- Bill Ewry
- Pam Griffith
- Kara Hitchens