New Hope Baptist Church sits along Rosemar Road on the north side of Parkersburg, West Virginia, where the congregation has gathered for a quarter of a century. The banner across the home page reads "25 years Growing And Praying," and that cadence of growing and praying shapes the entire rhythm of NHBC: a steady weekly pattern of Sunday School, blended worship, shared meals, and small groups meeting in homes and classrooms around the city.
The church is dually affiliated with the West Virginia Baptist Convention and the American Baptist Convention, and the mission is stated plainly: "to worship God and to win the lost to Christ." A second summary on the home page distills the work into four words - Know, Show, Grow, Hope - each anchored in a familiar verse. Know rests on John 3:16. Show rests on Matthew 20:28, the Son of Man who came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Grow rests on Ephesians 4:12, the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. And the whole is summed in Hope: "Our hope is in Christ."
Sundays at NHBC: School, Service, and Supper
The Sunday rhythm at New Hope begins at 9:00 AM with Sunday School for every age. Children ages three and four gather in the PreK class led by Martha Wright, where Biblical lessons come alive through play and crafts. Kindergarten through fifth graders join NHBC Kids with Student Pastor Justin Blankenship for Bible lessons and hands-on activities, while students in sixth through twelfth grade head to NHBC Youth for Bible lessons and discussion about how to apply them to everyday life. Adults spread into Open Door (a verse-by-verse study through the book of Revelation, led by Pastor Troy), Scripture Seekers (in-depth scripture study with Myla Amsbary), and the Glass Class (Carrie Nesselrode leads this study through Revelation alongside Open Door). Nursery care, staffed by background-checked volunteers, is available throughout the morning for children from birth through PreK.
At 10:00 AM the congregation moves into the Sanctuary for the Sunday worship service. Music is blended - "traditional and contemporary" - and the invitation is wide: "anything from singing, clapping, and raising your hands to quietly reflecting on the lyrics and music." Each week Pastor Troy Nesselrode preaches from the NKJV Bible, and the sermons are posted afterward to the YouTube channel.
The day isn't over at the benediction. At 5:30 PM the Fellowship Hall fills for Pray.Eat.Fellowship. Volunteers provide dinner, and Bible study follows - built around questions submitted in advance to Pastor Troy. From there, students in grades 6 through 12 head to Youth Group at 6:00 PM for Bible study and engaging activities with Student Pastor Justin Blankenship.
Planning a First Visit
New Hope anticipates the questions first-time guests tend to ask. Arrive ten to fifteen minutes before worship, grab a snack from the cafe, and meet the Sunday greeters. The dress code is simple: come as you are. "Some wear suit and tie/dresses while others dress more casually - all are welcome." Children's classes for birth through fifth grade run during both Sunday School and worship, and every volunteer who works with children has been background checked.
Adults looking to get connected can stop by the Connect Wall just inside the entrance, where small groups, ministries, and committees are listed for those who want to join. Anyone with additional questions can fill out a contact form on the Plan A Visit page.
Children, Students, and Young Adults
Three coordinated tracks make up NHBC's next-generation ministry. NHBC Children covers birth through PreK, with screened volunteers caring for little ones during both Sunday School and the worship service. Grades K through 5 attend Sunday School at 9:00 AM and then Children's Church during the 10:00 AM worship hour. NHBC Youth, led by Student Pastor Justin Blankenship, gathers at 9:00 AM for Sunday School, joins the congregation at 10:00 AM for worship, and reconvenes at 6:00 PM for Youth Group.
Young Adults - ages 18 and up - meet at 6:00 PM Sundays in the Worship Center for fellowship and Bible study with Young Adult Pastor Ethan Tawney. Children's Small Group, also known as Sunday Night Kids, runs through the summer for kindergarten through fifth graders, working through the Bible book by book with Worship Pastor Brian McClure.
Small Groups and Bible Studies Across the Week
The church's small-group calendar fills nearly every evening of the week.
- Mondays at noon: Grief Share meets in the Ministry Center Cafe, led by Linda Sines and Martha Wright. The next session begins in the fall.
- First and third Mondays at 6:00 PM: Bible Journaling gathers in the Fellowship Hall - part creativity, part community, part digging into God's Word. No artistic skill is required; Carrie Nesselrode leads a short Bible study, then supplies are provided for $5.
- Tuesdays at 11:30 AM: ROMEO's - Retired Old Men Eating Out - meets for fellowship and a meal.
- Tuesdays at 12:30 PM: HELLO, the women's counterpart to ROMEO's.
- Tuesdays at 4:00 PM: Fair Weather Women's Bible Study (Myla Amsbary) and the Men's Small Group (Bob Parks) meet side by side in the Worship Center.
- Sundays at 6:00 PM: The Acts 2:42 Small Group meets at the home of Luke and Julia Hinzman. The group follows the Acts 2 model of the early church - eating together, praying together, studying God's Word together, and sharing all things in common. As the description puts it, "Group attendees know what each one is going through and help in various ways to meet any need - emotional, spiritual, or physical."
Music and Worship
Music undergirds both the Sunday service and the church's midweek life. The Praise Team rehearses Wednesdays at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary under Worship Pastor Brian McClure. At 6:45 PM the Choir gathers in the same room for a short Bible study followed by rehearsal under Sara McClure. Together, the two groups provide the blended musical palette - traditional and contemporary - heard each Sunday morning.
Pastoral Team
Troy Nesselrode serves as Pastor. Brian McClure serves as Worship Pastor and leads the Children's Small Group. Ethan Tawney is the Young Adult Pastor. Justin Blankenship is the Student Pastor, overseeing NHBC Youth and NHBC Kids. Zoe Tawney leads the children's ministry as Children's Leader.
How the Church Is Organized
A Church Council serves as the primary leadership group, responsible for church policy and oversight, with each ministry guided by the Manual of Policy and Procedure and the Church Constitution. The ministries include Christian Education, Deacon Ministry, Deaconess Ministry, Financial Management Ministry, Missions Ministry, Music Ministry, Recreation Ministry, and Trustee Ministry. The Missions Ministry coordinates the church's outreach efforts in cooperation with the West Virginia American Baptist Convention.
Outreach: Hope Meals and the Community
Each month the Deaconess Ministry organizes Hope Meals - a meal prepared for shut-ins and those in need around the Parkersburg area. The Recreation Ministry organizes fellowship activities throughout the year, and the Missions Ministry coordinates the church's missionary works and partnerships. Visitors and members are welcomed through the greeting team and the Connect Wall just inside the entrance.
Practical Details
New Hope Baptist Church meets at 1777 Rosemar Rd, Parkersburg, WV 26105. The church office can be reached at (304) 580-8000 or newhope@nhbc-wv.org. Giving is available online through a secure portal. The Church Center app and a connected online directory are available for download. The church is active on Facebook and Instagram and posts worship services and sermon clips to a YouTube channel.