
WHO WE ARE
Quick Facts About Us
South Hope Community Church started in 1963 in Hope, Maine, by people burdened to have the Word of God shape them through a church in their area.
​
Pastor Jamie Bickel served as assistant pastor since October 2008 and since August 2011 is the lead pastor. The former pastor, Norman Finnemore, retired at the end of July 2011. Pastor Finnemore was given the honorary title Pastor Emeritus.
The church meets at 142 Main Street, Hope, Maine 04847 on Sundays at 10:45am.
The church office can be reached at 207-785-4426 or by email below.

OUR BELIEFS
South Hope Community Church exists to see every neighborhood in Knox County become a beachhead for the Good News of King Jesus.
Here's Why:
WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS?
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
​
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
We believe in the Good News or the announcement from God through His prophets (kerygma). And this Good News is the foundation of all we believe: the promise of a savior from sin and death. He dwelt among us, died as a sacrifice for our sins, rose again, ascended to His throne, and will return to judge the living and the dead. In other words, the Good News is what God did in, to, and through his Son to reconcile our rebel humanity to a right relationship with Him.
HOW DO I RECEIVE IT?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
​
Romans 1:16-17
What does this mean for me? God chose to judge His Son as a sinner in order to treat sinners as though we were righteous. When we repent and believe the Good News of His Son, by grace through faith He justifies us: He doesn't just forgive our sins, He expunges them completely. Where we were enemies, He now gives us the right to be called sons of God along with Christ.
HOW DO I LOVE GOD?
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
​
Galatians 2:20
In response to such an awe-some love, we hand over all that we are, all that we have, and all that we dream of to Him. We receive Him as Lord of our lives in every detail because we know we have a glorious and loving God who does not just change our behavior, but gives us a new heart and a new life. We have a God who desires to progressively transform us from the inside out to become more like His Son. To love God is to cherish our relationship with Him above all else because He has freely given us all we are, all we have, and all we will be.
HOW DO I LOVE MY NEIGHBOR?
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
​
Romans 12:15-17
As God transforms us to become more like Jesus, we will love those around us as Christ has loved us. Our new life in Christ bears external fruit in loving our neighbors. God's purpose for us is a faith lived out in the world and visible to those around us. The more we walk with Jesus, the more the outside will resemble the inside as we let His light shine through us.
WHY BE PART OF A LOCAL CHURCH?
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
​
Acts 2:46
​
Ekklesia, the Greek word for Church, literally means "assembly" or "gathering." God not only saves us as individuals, but also saves us into community. The local church is the living family of God coming together and the Body of Christ moving in the world. When Christ's love flows through our local Church, we become a beachhead for His Gospel in our neighborhoods.
​
Though He has a great purpose for us, we do not have to wait until we feel "cleaned up enough" or "worthy enough" to meet Jesus. If the first step for you is coming to South Hope this Sunday, we invite you to come as you are. Jesus will meet you where you're at and transform you through His power. He has promised as much, and He is faithfully doing so for all of us.
WHAT ELSE DO WE BELIEVE?
1. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. "God . . . hath . . . spoken . . . (Heb. 1:1 & 2). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Tim.3:16 & 17).
​
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Ps. 110:1). “And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s busi¬ness?" (Luke 2 :49). "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14). "God was manifest in the flesh . . . (I Tim. 3:16). "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come." (John 16:13).
​
3. We believe that man was created in the image of God; “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . (Gen. 1:26). That he sinned, and thereby incurred, not only physical death, but also that spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature; and the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word and deed. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. " (Rom. 5: 12).
​
4. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 1:18).
​
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. "...The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7). "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).
​
6. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Advocate. "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." (Job 19:25 & 26). “. . . And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Rather, Jesus Christ the righteous:" (I John 2:1).
​
7. We believe in the personal, pre-millennial and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. “. . . Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven. " (Acts 1:11). "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (I Thess. 4:16 & 17).
​
8. We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of the just and the bodily resurrection and judgment of the unjust, and everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost. “And these go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matt. 25:46).
​
9. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are born again, and thereby become children of God; baptism and the partaking of the Lord’s Supper should follow. "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8 & 9). "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, 5ee, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him. (Acts 8:36 to 38). "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." (I Cor. 11:28).
​
10. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and that He is the Comforter and Guide of all who receive Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (Rom. 8:9) "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:16 & 17).
​
11. We believe the Church of Christ to be an elect company of believers, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood..." (I Peter 2:9), baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism..." (Eph. 4:4 & 5. Its mission is to witness concerning its Head: Jesus Christ, preaching the Gospel among all nations. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt. 28:19 & 20). It will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed..." (I Cor. 15:51). "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. " (I Thes.4:16 & 18).
​
12. We believe that the program of this church should be evangelical and evangelistic. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16).
WORSHIP



ADULTS
Our adult Sunday school begins at 9:30am and is followed by Sunday service at 10:45. But our worship does not end on Sundays. We do life together, serve our community, and build each other up to live out our faith in all areas of our lives.
TEENS
Our teen group is self-motivated and focused on service. We serve in various ways, ranging from traveling up to Allagash in support of a budding local youth group, to putting on a play for our local community at Christmas.
JUNIOR CHURCH
Sundays at South Hope are kid-friendly. We have junior church for children during the teaching time. While adults are having Sunday school, for kids we have bible lessons, singing, crafts, snacks, and memory verse learning!