New Hope Chapel: Dream becomes reality

Pastor Mark Ashley welcomes everyone to enjoy the presence of God at New Hope Chapel. (T-G Photo by Doug Dezotell) [Click to enlarge]

When a person walks through the doors of New Hope Chapel they are immediately soothed by the peace and presence of God.

The front of the sanctuary is a wall of windows, so whether you are seated on the main floor or in the balcony overhead, you are graced with a view of the awe-inspiring beauty of the countryside laid out below.

The chapel, sitting high on a hill overlooking Shelbyville and much of Bedford County, is part of the dream of pastor Mark Ashley.

New Hope Chapel sits on more than 400 acres of property that has been in the Ashley family for generations, and for a number of years, Christian people from a variety of churches around the area have gathered in the chapel on Tuesday nights to pray over the city.

"We have seen so many people's lives changed in this place," Ashley said. "People have been saved and healed, and we have seen a great move of God in this chapel. My dream has always been to do ministry here.

"I'm a visionary and I live in the prophetic. I see this land being used in a variety of ways for ministry. I see a baptismal area where we can hold baptisms outside, and a retreat area, and also an assembly area with meeting rooms. It's not about organized religion, but I see a faith community here. People want to serve and worship. Some of the people who are a part of this ministry are involved in missions. It's a crossroads of ministry around the world."

Ashley has been the pastor at Cannon United Methodist Church, and until his recent retirement, has served the congregation at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church. He served in the United Methodist Church for 35 years and retired at the UMC conference this year.

Now his ministry is going in a new direction and he will be overseeing the non-denominational ministries at New Hope Chapel and Grandmother's House on a full-time basis.

There have been many couples who have used the facilities at New Hope Chapel for weddings, and Ashley has fixed up his grandmother's house on Highway 130 East, just down the road from the chapel, to use for receptions, reunions and other gatherings. There are no facilities at the chapel for receptions, but Grandmother's House, which was built in 1911, is an ideal setting for gatherings after a wedding.

The ministries are overseen spiritually by a group of leaders called the Board of Servants, made up of Ashley, his son Luke, Tommy Whitwell, Dr. Donald Barnes, Carlos Mejia, Bill Hornaday and Joel Brewer.

The regular worship services at the chapel are Sunday at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with a Tuesday prayer meeting at 7 p.m. A Hispanic church group meets for worship at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Revival services will begin at New Hope Chapel on Sept. 22, with Don Crosslin preaching and Jeff Hill leading singing. The revival is scheduled to run for four days, with morning teachings at 10:30 a.m. and evening services at 7 p.m.

"Most of the people who come here don't want to just have church," Ashley said, "but they come here for healing and renewal, and some people just come up here to the hill to sit and have devotions."

Whatever your reason for coming to New Hope Chapel, it will be an experience you will long remember, and it's a place to come in contact with God.

To learn more about New Hope Chapel, which is located at 295 New Hope Rd., visit the website www.newhopechapeltn.com, or contact Rev. Mark Ashley at 684-4910 or 580-9910.