Bible Believing, Bible Preaching, Loving in Painesville
New Hope Baptist Church sits on West Jackson Street in Painesville, Ohio, where the congregation describes itself with three short phrases: Bible Believing, Bible Preaching, and a Loving Church. For more than fifty years the church has called Lake County home, and the steady refrain running through its ministries today is a simple call to Move Forward - inspired by God's word, influencing souls, and impacting the city through love, service, and giving.
From a Kerr Avenue Living Room to West Jackson Street
New Hope Baptist Church began in 1972 as a small gathering in a home on Kerr Avenue. From those early days of meeting around living rooms, the church grew into a permanent presence in Painesville and has served the surrounding community ever since. Members often tag the church with the simple hashtag #NHBC, shorthand for a congregation that sees itself as a long-standing neighbor in the city.
Pastor Travis and First Lady Sharlyna McQueen
Senior Pastor Rev. Travis C. McQueen, Sr. and his wife, First Lady Sharlyna McQueen, lead the church together. The couple have been married for more than thirty years and have raised four God-fearing married sons, and now enjoy six grandchildren.
Pastor McQueen holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Indiana Wesleyan University. Beyond the pulpit, he serves as Director of Spiritual Life at Cornerstone Christian Academy, where he teaches Bible. Before coming to New Hope, he and Sharlyna helped lead the AWANA children's ministry and facilitated the 2B1 Marriage Fellowship at Good Shepherd Baptist Church alongside Alvenia and the late Eugene Jones.
His anchor verse is 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." That line captures the spirit of perseverance that runs through the church's own motto of moving forward.
NowGen: A Movement for the Next Generation
The youth and young adult ministry at New Hope is called NowGen, a name drawn from Pastor McQueen's way of referring to younger believers as "the NOW generation." NowGen exists to lead students and young adults into a life-changing relationship with Jesus through worship, biblical teaching, and intentional community. The ministry is organized into several streams that meet students at every stage:
- NowGen Kids anchors the children's side through the church's partnership with AWANA.
- NowGen Teens gathers middle and high school students for worship, small groups, prayer, and Bible study that speaks to their real questions and pressures.
- NowGen Young Adults offers community for college-aged adults and twentysomethings figuring out how to follow Jesus in work, school, and relationships.
- NowGen Service Takeover gives the younger generation moments to lead and serve across the life of the church.
At the heart of NowGen is a desire to see students rooted in truth, strengthened by grace, and bold in their faith - living as witnesses of Christ in their homes, schools, and workplaces. Small groups, prayer, worship, and intentional discipleship form the rhythm of every week.
NowGen x Awana: Kids Growing in Faith
Through AWANA, New Hope offers a structured children's program that mixes Bible lessons, scripture memorization, games, and a strong sense of community. Each gathering begins with prayer, followed by pledges to the American flag, the Bible, the Christian flag, and the Awana flag, and the group sings the Awana song together.
AWANA at New Hope is divided into three age-based clubs so children learn alongside peers:
- Sparks for children in kindergarten through second grade.
- T&T (Truth & Training) for children in third through sixth grade.
- Trek and Journey for older students in sixth through twelfth grade.
Vacation Bible School is also part of the children's calendar each summer, bringing the wider Painesville community onto the church's campus for a week of fun and faith formation.
Daniel and Holly McQueen: Shepherding the Teens
Leading NowGen Teens are Daniel and Holly McQueen, a young married couple who have dedicated their lives and their future to ministry. Both graduated from Ohio Christian University in May 2025 - Daniel with a bachelor's degree in Worship Leadership, and Holly with two bachelor's degrees in Worship Leadership and Music Education. They strive to do ministry full time together and are committed to creating deep, meaningful relationships with the students they serve.
Daniel is also an artist whose music breaks the traditional mold of contemporary Christian and Gospel music. Together, Daniel and Holly host a podcast called For The Hurt, aimed at people who have been hurt by the church - whether in leadership, in serving, or simply in attending.
Current teen teaching has walked through a series called "What Is Worship?," exploring the seven Hebrew words of praise - Shabach, Towdah, Yadah, Tehillah, Zamar, Barak, and Halal - and how each one shapes a fuller picture of praising God with everyday life.
Sundays, Streaming, and Giving
New Hope Baptist Church gathers for worship each Sunday, and services are livestreamed on the church's Facebook page so friends near and far can worship together. Subscribers to the church's email list receive regular updates about events, programs, and opportunities to serve.
The church offers four simple ways to give: by texting GIVE to 1-855-906-5107, by giving online through Tithe.ly or Givelify, by giving in person at a service, or by mailing a contribution to New Hope Baptist Church, 452 W Jackson St, Painesville, OH 44077.
A Steady Presence in Lake County
From its beginnings on Kerr Avenue in 1972 to its long-standing home on West Jackson Street, New Hope Baptist Church has invested in Painesville across generations. Its ministries open a path for every age to belong, grow, and serve - from AWANA clubs for the youngest to NowGen Young Adults for those stepping into adult life. With Bible preaching at the center, love as the posture, and a steady call to move forward, New Hope Baptist Church continues to be a familiar and dependable presence in Lake County.