Evening. 6:00 p.m. Evening 7:00 p.m.
3rd Monday each month 6:30 p.m.-
S.W.A.P. EHOP Church, as locally known now by parishioners and family, was founded in 1978 by Pastor Heyward Joyner and his lovely wife, Betty Joyner along with a small group of faithful followers. EHOP Church began as Saturday night cottage prayer meetings in the early 1970s, years before the church was ever thought possible. N
umerous families opened the doors of their homes to allow Pastor Heyward Joyner and Christian families to gather for singing and preaching of the gospel message. Pastor Joyner began a radio program on WAVC and he preached the word without fear of favor. Music was provided by young ladies known as The Gassett Girls, Frankie, Debra, and Linda, who sang songs and played piano and guitar. The late Bro. Curtis Taylor also played guitar as well as various gifted players that came and took part as God provided. As God blessed the group and it began growing, many homes could not hold the group gathering. An old house located off Giles Road was donated by Ms. Clara Giles for weekly use as our gathering place of worship. Some donated cans of paint were put to good use and the old house took on a new look. Services were changed from Saturday night to Sunday morning. After people accepted Christ as their savior, baptism services were performed in local creeks on Rowell Road and Union Church Rd and later in a local pond. From there God continued to bless and we continued to grow until we were in need of more room. We believed God for a miracle and began praying for God to guide us in decisions for a better place with more room to grow. God answered that prayer as well as many others and land on Huckleberry Lane in Crawford County was purchased for a church site. The land was consecrated unto the Lord in or about June of 1978 and a dedication service was held one Saturday afternoon among the many pine trees that once grew on the lot. God continued to bless and more donations came in and a plan for a building was drawn, materials were gathered or donated, and work began and was completed for our first service indoors on October 29, 1978. Only God knew then what seeds were planted and over the years we have seen much of that sprout and grow. We have witnessed the saving of souls, lives changed, healings take place, families brought back together, addictions broken, and people growing together in The Lord. God continued to bless and families grew and need for Sunday school rooms arose and were added on around 1981. Also a fellowship hall with a mini kitchen was built and an indoor baptistery was added. The church experienced a decline in the late 1990s, but God had already made plans and set in motion a series of events that only He could orchestrate! Pastor Ronnie Hollis, Jr., with his lovely wife D’Ree and his family began coming to EHOP in November 2000. He was voted in as Pastor in January of 2001 and is currently the shepherd of the flock at EHOP. God added to the church as He saw fit and again in 2001 a youth annex was built to accommodate our growing youth within the church. Again, 2003 a new sanctuary was envisioned and building began and services were held in July 2005. Currently, we are adding a new Family Life Center for youth and senior programs and are hoping to have it completed for use later this year. God has blessed EHOP Church with only three pastors over the 35 years. Pastor Heyward Joyner and wife, Betty, founders, Interim Pastor John Breeden and wife Sally, and Pastor Ronnie Hollis, Jr. and wife D’Ree. Pastor Joyner and his wife Betty both have gone on to be with the Lord in glory. Due to illnesses Pastor Breeden was unable to continue carrying the torch for EHOP Church, Pastor Hollis has been the pastor at EHOP ever since. EHOP Church is a “Going Church for A Coming Jesus!” Current services include Sunday school, 10:00 am to 10:45, morning worship at 11:00 am and evening service at 6:00 pm. Wednesday night services begin at 7:00 pm. Other services conducted by members include monthly outreach ministries with singing and ministering at the Rescue Mission in Macon Ga. as well as the Roberta Nursing Healthcare facility. For more information about EHOP Church, contact Pastor Ronnie Hollis, Jr., 478-719-7204
