About Us

Our History

2002

Our Beginning

In the fall of 2002, a group of families began meeting together to pray and explore whether God was leading them to start a church on the westide of Spartanburg. After many coffee and prayer meetings, God provided the opportunity for a group of men to meet with a gifted Bible teacher who was serving as an interim pastor at a small church in Boiling Springs, SC. This group of men explained how God was leading them, along with several other families, to start a church on the westside of Spartanburg. The interim pastor informed the men that he was not interested in starting a church. However, God had other plans. After several more meetings, the interim pastor felt God was leading him to join these families to start a church. These families called Richard Smith to be the pastor.

Early '03

Early in 2003

That same group of men began meeting with Richard to develop the vision, mission, and beliefs for the church. During a dinner meeting at Denny’s restaurant, God provided a name for the church through a random conversation with a waitress. The church name would be Hope Point. Just as a lighthouse provides guidance and hope to ships at sea, we wanted the church to be a place where people like this waitress could find the hope of Jesus – Romans 15:13.

Spring '03

Our Birth

During the spring of 2003, Richard, along with several families, met on Wednesday evenings in the Boiling Springs church where Richard had been the interim pastor. Interestingly, several months earlier, the leaders of that church had asked Richard if he would be their pastor. He told them he was meeting with a group of families on the westside of Spartanburg to start a church. The leaders at the church told him if he could not become their teaching pastor, he could use their church to launch this start up church. They handed him the key to their building which provided a place for Richard to teach through the vision, mission, and beliefs that would guide the launch and direction of Hope Point.

July '03

Our First Service at Oakbrook Prep School

In July 2003, Hope Point launched its first worship service at Oakbrook Preparatory School. During the process, we realized that several organizations gave us a key to use their facility for free to help us launch Hope Point.

Give Away the Key

Because of their generosity, we came up with the phrase “give away the key” which has served as an inspiration for us to give away many of our resources to further God’s work in Spartanburg, the country, and the world.

July'19

Hope Planted

By God’s grace, he has enabled us to purchase and renovate an existing building on Asheville Highway. Our first service in our new building was on July 14th, 2019.

Meet Our Pastors

Richard Smith

Senior/Teaching Pastor

John (Phud) Chambers

Executive Pastor

Caleb Crittendon

Missions and Discipleship Pastor

Dillon Medlin

Student Pastor

More Elders & Staff

Our Doctrinal Beliefs

MAN
We believe man was created with the ability to recognize the supreme value of God. He was designed to enjoy and honor God, but has failed to do so through sinful actions and attitudes that are hostile to God. (Gen 1: 26; Rom 1: 21; 5: 12)

THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is a perfectly inspired revelation of God’s character and purposes and therefore serves as the ultimate foundation for all belief and behavior. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

GOD
We believe that there is one God who exists and expresses Himself through the three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While God fulfills different purposes through these three members of the Trinity, He is always one God and the only God. (Gen 1: 26; Deut 6:4, Isaiah 45:18; Matt 1: 20-23; 28: 16-19; John 10: 30; Acts 5: 3,4)

CREATION
We believe the universe was created by God’s command, is sustained by His power, and is guided by His sovereign control over all things. As a result of man’s sin, the world has experienced significant damage and thus contributes to man’s suffering on earth. (Gen 1: 1; Jn 1: 1; Prov 21: 1; Is 45: 7; Heb 1: 1-3; Gen 3: 17-18; Rom 8: 20-21)

JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus is the Son of God who has existed in equality with God throughout all eternity. He lived for thirty-three years on earth. He was conceived in the womb of a virgin and lived a sinless life that was characterized by great teaching and miracles. At the end of His life He willingly died on a cross to absorb God’s wrath for our sin. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven to affirm His triumph over evil. (Jn 1: 1-4; Matt 1: 22-23; Phil 2: 5-11; Heb 1: 1-4; Jn 19: 30; Acts 2: 22-24; Rom 4: 25; I Cor 15: 3-4)

SALVATION
We believe God enters into a relationship with all individuals who place their full trust and hope in Jesus Christ. This saving work of God frees the believer from sin’s guilt, sin’s dominance, and eventually sin’s presence. (Eph 2: 8-9; Matt 1:21; Jn 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 6:11-17; 8:1; 10:9-11; I Pet 3:18; I Jn 3:2)

THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe salvation occurs as the Holy Spirit persuades man to receive Christ and empowers him to honor God through obedience and service. (Jn 16: 8; Lk 12: 12; Rom 8: 9-11, 26-27: I Cor 12: 7-11)

THE CHURCH
We believe that all Christ followers are connected invisibly through their faith and visibly in the local church. It is through the body life of the church that believers experience maximum growth as they celebrate and serve the Lord with one another. ( Rom 12: 4-8; I Cor 12: 12-27)

LAST THINGS
We believe Jesus will return from heaven for the purpose of reward and judgment. The church will be brought into the Lord’s presence and live with Him forever. The unbelieving world will experience the painful existence of eternal separation from God’s goodness and beauty. (I Thes 4: 16-17; II Thes 1: 5-9; Rev 20: 11-15; I Cor 15: 51-57; Rev 21: 1-4)

FULL DOCTRINAL STATEMENT