Church History

Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

About 1910, Reverend W.R. Lofton who was at the time, the pastor of Mount Pisgah Lee and a few of his members were inspired by the Holy Spirit and saw the need to organize a church here what was then called Jonesboro, North Carolina. There were people that were anxious to be in the services that would walk from Jonesboro to Mount Pisgah Lee to worship. Realizing that the church is the foundation of any community, these dedicated Christian soldiers, blazed the Christian path for us. They rented a house on Raleigh Street and organized a church that was called the First Baptist Mission. Reverend W.R. Lofton was called the first pastor. He used a box for the pulpit. We have come from a mighty long way and still have a long way to go.

The members who joined the church are as follows:  Sallie McLeod, Annie McLeod, Mary Gill, Ann Womack, Dicie McLeod, Josephine McLeod, Annie Hayes, Adline McIntrye, Minnie Gilmore, Jeannette Rollins, Cleophoe Rollins, Vergie Davis, W .F. McLeod. Jessie Womble and Stell Douglas, Brother Douglas longed for the day to see a brick church. He said he would bring a brick a day to build a brick church. He died before that dream was realized.

Mary Gill was the first secretary of the church. Reverend W. M. McSwain of Fayetteville, North Carolina became the second pastor. Linda McLeod McSwain was instrumental in renaming the church to Star of Hope. Wille Roberson found a star and gave it to her. The star hung in the front of the church. Upon this faith, Star of Hope had its beginning.

Down through the years more members were added to the church. They were able to build a church on Raleigh Street, where worship services continued.  There was no Sunday school, so some of the members attended Sunday school at the Methodist Church and others attend the Presbyterian Church. Our Sunday school was established around 1913 that was held in the afternoon at Star of Hope Church was

The town grew and changed its name to Jonesboro Heights Station, Sanford, North Carolina. As the town grew, the merchants wanted the church site for business expansion, so the old church was torn down and a new Star of Hope Church, a brick structure was built in 1950 at 2834 Dalrymple Street, Sanford North Carolina.

The old Star of Hope stood in the vicinity between Mann’s Hardware and the stop light, up from the Dossenbach’s Furniture Store on Raleigh Street and Lee Avenue for those that remember.

Past Pastors

Current Pastor

Reverend Wayne E. McKoy Sr.   15^th