Hope Baptist Church in Olive Branch
Hope Baptist Church sits on Center Hill Road in Olive Branch, Mississippi, just south of Memphis, and its members like to describe themselves in a way that goes straight to the point: "We are not the church you came from." The front of their materials reads LOVE - GO - SERVE, and that single line captures nearly everything they want visitors to know. The church's mission is "to reach people and empower them to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ," and its vision is to become "a family of friends striving to create an environment of acceptance and belonging." People who drive up on a Sunday morning will find a friendly team of parking attendants, greeters at two entrances, and a worship service designed to feel accessible rather than performative.
Sundays at 10:30 AM
The Sunday worship service begins at 10:30 AM in the Worship Center. The service typically runs an hour to an hour and a half and blends contemporary music with teaching from the Senior Pastor, Mike "Burr" Lovett. A team of singers, musicians, and audio/visual technicians leads worship, supported by Worship Director Billy Walgenbach. Guests are encouraged to arrive about fifteen minutes before the start so the welcome team can help with parking and seating.
For those who want to dig deeper, Sunday morning Life Groups meet before the worship service. Adult Life Groups start at 9:00 AM and include the Charles Hall class for senior adults, the Tom Hurley class for empty nesters, and the GAP class for college students and young professionals. Children's Life Groups for kindergarten through fifth grade meet at 9:15 AM. No child Life Groups or nursery are offered during that pre-service hour.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Hope takes a practical approach to first-time guests. Reserved guest parking spots sit on the front row of the lot, marked with signs, and attendants direct drivers into them. Two main entrances lead into the building, each flanked by greeters ready to point families toward the Worship Center or the children's wing.
The dress code is simple: there isn't one. Some people wear suits and ties, others show up in casual clothes, and shorts and t-shirts are common. The church calls this "Come as You Are." Inside the worship center, ushers and greeters help seat visitors and answer questions about ministries or upcoming events.
The preschool area, which serves infants through kindergarten, is open during both the worship service and the Wednesday program. First-time nursery guests fill out a guest card. Children's Church is available during the school year for first through third graders and is located upstairs; a guest team member can walk families to that space when it is in session.
Wednesday Nights: Dinner, Then Groups
Wednesday evenings are built around the church's Fellowship Family Dinner, served from 5:30 to 6:15 PM. The meal is free for first-time attendees and otherwise costs $5 per adult and $2 per child. After dinner, the building fills again with Connect Groups that meet from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. These small groups cover men's studies, women's studies, topical studies for couples, and groups for singles. Nursery care through kindergarten and children's classes (RA's and GA's for first through fifth graders, meeting upstairs) are provided during the Connect Group hour. Hope Students also meets on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 PM with a meal, games, and a teaching message.
Life Groups and Connect Groups
Small groups are the backbone of discipleship at Hope. The church teaches that "small group Bible study is a primary avenue in making disciples," and members are encouraged to join a Life Group or Connect Group suited to their life stage. Each group is designed to teach, show, share, and serve the Word of God together, building community around shared study and prayer. Groups typically follow the school calendar, beginning in August with a Hope Family Cookout and running through mid-May.
Preschool, Children, and Students
Hope invests heavily in its next generation. The Preschool Ministry, led by directors Michelle Hays and Amy McRae, is open every Sunday and Wednesday to give little ones a warm, safe, age-appropriate environment. The goal of those early years is rooted in three truths: God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever. Older preschoolers take part in Sprouts Story Time during the worship service, with an owl puppet named Ollie and friends who lead songs, Bible verses, and crafts. All preschool volunteers complete applications and background checks, which are repeated annually, and preschool doors stay locked until dismissal.
The Children's Ministry, directed by Greg and Julie Reno, serves kindergarten through fifth grade and meets on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM for Life Groups and at 10:30 AM for Children's Church (kindergarten through third grade during the school year). On Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM, children take part in Mission Kids, which includes RA's and GA's. Throughout the year, the children's ministry hosts Vacation Bible School, a Fall Festival, an Easter Egg Hunt, and Happy Birthday Jesus events.
Hope Students, led by Associate/Youth Pastor Garrison "G" Harbin, is the middle and high school ministry. Students meet on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 PM with a meal, games, and a message, and on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM for Life Group classes. The ministry's purpose is "harnessing Hope Students to become fully devoted followers of Christ," and its annual calendar includes service projects, summer Beach Week, water and amusement park outings, a Christmas Party, and a New Year's All-Nighter. College students are also a recognized group on campus, with the GAP Life Group on Sunday mornings designed specifically for that season of life.
Worship and Music
The music ministry is built around a team of singers, instrumentalists, and audio/visual technicians whose aim is to lead people "into the presence of God" through song, prayer, and the Word. The team's approach is grounded in John 4:24: worship in spirit and in truth. Members who feel called to join the worship team are encouraged to reach out to Worship Director Billy Walgenbach to find the right place to plug in.
What Hope Believes
Hope Baptist Church operates under the doctrinal statement known as the Baptist Faith and Message, adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention on May 9, 1963. Its cooperation with the SBC supports worldwide church planting and missions through the Cooperative Program. The church holds to classic evangelical convictions: one God in three persons, the virgin birth and substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith, the eternal security of the believer, the bodily return of Christ, believer's baptism by immersion, and the autonomy of the local church. Hope also affirms a believer's direct access to God through Christ and a Bible-based view of the relationship between church and state.
Serving and Missions
Hope teaches that every believer has at least one spiritual gift and that there is a place for everyone on a ministry team. The church runs volunteer teams for Ushers, Security and Parking, Welcome/Greeters, Preschool, Children's, and Kitchen. Beyond the building, Hope maintains a steady rhythm of outreach. Each fall the church participates in Operation Christmas Child, with a kick-off and a Sunday dedicated to packing shoeboxes. Around Thanksgiving the church hosts Feed 200, preparing a community meal for the wider Olive Branch area. Other regular outreach touchpoints include Vacation Bible School, a Community Fall Festival, an Easter Egg Hunt, and Serve Days set aside for practical projects around the community.
Becoming a Member
Joining Hope follows a familiar Baptist pattern. At the end of each worship service, the pastors stand at the front during what the church calls "the invitation." Anyone interested in joining simply walks forward and speaks with a pastor. Members are received by public profession of faith and baptism, by letter from another Southern Baptist church, by statement of a previous profession of faith (when already baptized by immersion), or by baptism after a prior profession of faith.
A House of Prayer
Prayer undergirds everything at Hope. Members can submit prayer requests through the church's prayer page, view the prayer wall, and join the Prayer Team, which assigns individuals to pray on a specific day each week. The church also offers resources to help guests explore the Christian faith, including a simple "A-B-C" outline (Admit, Believe, Confess) and a sample prayer for anyone wanting to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Hope Baptist Church meets at 6800 Center Hill Road in Olive Branch, with worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM, Life Groups earlier in the morning, Wednesday family dinners at 5:30 PM, and Connect Groups and student ministries at 6:30 PM. Services are livestreamed for those unable to attend in person, and giving is available online.