When two Hickory congregations faced uncertain futures, God brought them together at just the right time. Through prayer, partnership and the support of the NCMO, Hope Hickory Church was born with a renewed mission to cultivate hope and community.

When Mark Schmitz first came to East Hickory Baptist Church in 2016, there were about 15 individuals who were part of the church. After a few weeks, some of them asked Schmitz if he could help the church stay open. 

“We came in 2016 with no idea where we would end up,” he said. “But God sustained us as a church until 2025, when His next plan was the merger of our two churches.”

Kenny Hall was leading Hope Community Church, a church plant that started with about 30 people gathering at a recreation center. They soon needed more space and prayed that God would open a door.

Meanwhile, East Hickory also began a month of prayer and fasting, asking God for guidance amid an uncertain season. The two leaders connected at a pastors’ fellowship, where they were encouraged to consider merging.

Schmitz extended an invitation to Hall, saying that if there was ever a time that the center would no longer host them, they could meet at East Hickory’s building. The next week, that exact thing happened, and a new path opened for the two churches. In January 2025, they merged to become Hope Hickory Church.

“What that did for us as a church was to see what our church could become,” said Schmitz. 

They want to give hope, create community and be the church in Hickory. The church has a heart for pouring into college students and sending people out to help grow, plant and revitalize more churches.

“We always knew that we had a support and a foundation, and if it wasn’t for the collective effort of the N.C. Baptist family and the North Carolina Missions Offering (NCMO), we were able to have that sense of security and safety throughout, to help get this church off the ground,” said Hall. 

Gifts to the NCMO helped “us keep going and enabled us to continue to do the work to where we are today,” Schmitz said.

Every fall, N.C. Baptist churches join together in generosity through the NCMO, which goes toward mission efforts in North Carolina and around the world, including church planting through SendNC. The NCMO also fuels Baptists on Mission’s ministries and local missions efforts through associations.

This year’s theme is “Living Sent,” based on John 20:21: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” The theme highlights seeing a need, responding to it and offering hope in Jesus’ name.

The 2025 NCMO goal is $2.6 million. Whether you give as an individual or through your church, every gift makes a difference. 

Learn more or give today at ncmissionsoffering.org/give.