The writer, while working on and writing up the history of Hopewell Church, was reminded of a statement found in John's Gospel, chapter one, verse 46, which reads, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" I also thought of a statement Jesus made in regards to sowing good seed that fell on good ground, that is found in Mathew 13:23, which reads, "And they that was sown upon good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty." 

When F. M. FLETCHER went into this community and began to sow good seeds, being adided by J. A. CHAMBLISS and other good people of the community, in two years the church had baptized sixty people into the fellowship of the church. 

The writer was pastor of this church for eight years back in the thirties. During these hard years under the "depression," it looked like our efforts were a failure, but not so. I recall two little boys who joined the church while I was pastor, L. J. CHAMBLISS, and Hugh CHAMBLISS, grandsons of the Rev. J. A. CHAMBLISS, who helped in the organizing of the church. These two boys are now Rev. L. J. CHAMBLISS, located in Anniston, and Rev. Hugh CHAMBLISS, located in Birmingham -- both successful pastors. 

Hopewell is only a small church in numbers, but the writer, speaking out of eight years experience as pastor, can truthfully say, "They are God's chosen servants, and their influence has changed "Wildfork" into one of the best communities in Butler County.