Project Hope - Taking the Love of Jesus to the World One Heart at a Time

Project Hope was launched October 1, 2000 by Rev. Neal Hughes in Montgomery, Alabama.  Leaving a successful pastorate at McGehee Road Baptist Church, Pastor Neal launched out as a modern day Abraham – not knowing where he was heading with his family but being sure of Who was leading him.

 

In the spring of 2005, the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention invited Neal to join their team in Atlanta as National Missionary for Multihousing Church Planting. NAMB asked that Project Hope be planted in twelve strategic locations across North America utilizing Project Hope in Montgomery as their model.

 

On June 29, 2005, The Community of Hope Board of Directors appointed Cathy Hall (former Ministry Assistant to Neal Hughes) to follow as Project Hope Development Director. Cathy worked with churches in recruiting lay people to embrace their Jerusalem through indigenous church planting in multihousing communities.  She was also liaison to the multihousing industry in Montgomery.  God placed Cathy in this position for "such a time as this."  A gifted speaker and people person, she was well known among churches and a favorite conference leader for the WMU.  Cathy loves the Lord with all her heart and would be greatly used to strengthen and multiply Project Hope.

 

Pastor Neal, now working with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) out of Atlanta, GA said, "When Cathy Hall called me and announced that she was feeling led to South Dakota to be with her family, my prayer was, 'Lord, show us the way! Give to us that person that will take the Community of Hope to another level!'  It was my privilege to meet with a few members of the Board of Directors at COH to discuss Cathy's departure and Hope's future.  In that prayer meeting, the name of Lou Ann Raughton surfaced to our hearts to be the next director.  I prayed with the Board members, and then returned to Atlanta, leaving them to seek the will of the Father.”

 

In May 2007, Lou Ann Raughton, Director of Forest Park Ministry Center, was named as Executive Director of Community of Hope.

 

With Lou Ann's expertise and vision, she has already taken HOPE to another level!  Lou Ann is truly a kingdom investor, as well as a huge asset to the Hope Church.