Our Story

Hope Church first gathered on October 30, 2022, in a barn on Post Oak Road, with around 70 people drawn by a shared purpose and desiring real community. Pastor JC Groves and his family, no strangers to Ringgold, GA, and the greater Catoosa County area, started this church with a passionate desire to connect people from all walks of life to life with Jesus.

JC began his ministry journey here in Catoosa County in 2004 as a student pastor at Anchor of Hope Baptist Church. In 2007, he and his soon-to-be bride, Kym, joined The Church at Catoosa, where he continued his role as Student Pastor. In 2009, they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where JC served as a pastor for a brief period. A few years later, he felt a strong pull to return to Catoosa County, and he launched the Ringgold campus of Rock Bridge Community Church. They faithfully served this community for nine years before being called to Statesboro, GA, where they started Connection College Ministry, a flourishing ministry for students at Georgia Southern University that is still thriving to this day!

In May of 2022, JC and Kym felt God leading them back to Catoosa County. JC’s love for this area goes back to his childhood, when his family moved from Indiana in the late ’80s so his father, John Groves, could attend school and pastor Old Stone Church in Ringgold, GA.

After much prayer, JC and Kym took a bold step of faith and launched Hope Church.
In the few short months since Hope Church began, we’ve witnessed God working powerfully. People are saying yes to King Jesus, taking next steps in baptism, and growing in authentic community. We are a family of faith that God has brought together, and we invite you to come and join us.

Here at Hope Church, we like to say that our only tradition is the Bible. We strive to be real and authentic, and what you see is what you get. Our focus is clear—it’s all about Jesus. It’s not about JC, our worship, our programs, or even our name. Our heart is fully devoted to Jesus.

We are a family following the Way of Jesus.
We live by faith.
We are known by love.
We are a voice of hope to our community.

We would love for you to come home to Hope!