Our Leadership:
The Ministerial Staff

Senior Pastor
 Rev Kevin R. Johnson          The fifth Senior Pastor of the nationally-renowned Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He succeeds Reverend William H. Gray, III, a retired United States Congressman and former President of the United Negro College Fund. Believing “God’s people deserve nothing less than the best,” Reverend Johnson has spent his lifetime preparing for and cultivating his ministry.   Want more? Click here  

Pastor Emeritus
Rev William H. Gray II    William H. Gray, III is the retired president and chief executive officer of The College Fund/UNCF. Mr. Gray has been pastor of the nearly 7,000-member Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia for more than 25 years,  Want more? Click here  

Assistant Minister-
Reverend George F. Taylor

 

 
Our History  

     The history of Bright Hope Baptist Church had its genesis in a prayer meeting held in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Joe Johnson at 2435 North Alder Street in Philadelphia on February 2, 1910. Reverend James H. Cammack, a licensed preacher from the North Penn Baptist Church, was the spiritual leader of these meetings. On February 13, 1910, the prayer meeting group, under Reverend Cammack’s leadership, was formally organized as a worshipping fellowship. After beginning the fellowship, it became necessary to locate larger quarters for worship. A two-room house was secured at 2446 North Alder Street for worship and prayer.

     On March 14, 1911, the little band of Christians, who had been worshipping and praying together for a year, decided to organize themselves as Bright Hope Baptist Church with Reverend James Cammack as its first pastor. Before long, it became necessary to locate even larger facilities for worship.

     Two adjoining houses, 2411 and 2413 North Alder Street, were purchased and renovated, forming a small church. In July 1917, the original two houses were razed to make way for the new church which, when completed, became known affectionately as the “Little Church on Alder Street.” By 1924, the church membership had reached a high of 165 persons, and a successful building fund had realized over $6,000 toward building a bigger and better Bright Hope Baptist Church. However, Reverend James H. Cammack, the church’s first pastor who had done so much in providing Christian leadership, died on November 7, 1924 .

     For six months, the church was without a pastor until the Reverend Williams H. Gray, Sr., the pastor of a Baptist church in Virginia, accepted the pastorate of Bright Hope in May of 1925. He officially assumed his duties on the first Sunday in October. Under Reverend Gray’ leadership, the congregation grew and prospered. On Palm Sunday of 1926, the courageous membership moved from Alder Street to a large, gray stone Gothic-style church at 12th and Oxford Streets. Reverend Gray and his wife, Mary, worked diligently and, with God’s guidance, the congregation enlarged its ministry to the community. On June 24, 1949, ministry to the community. On June 24, 1949 , Reverend Gray was stricken and died suddenly. His death shocked the Philadelphia community.

     On February 5, 1950, Dr. William H. Gray, Jr., assumed the pastorate of the church after being called by the congregation. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. William H. Gray, Jr., Bright Hope grew in Christian service to its members, the community and the nation. On December 17, 1950, the Gray Memorial Chapel, a building adjoining the original church home, was dedicated in memory of the late Reverend William H. Gray, Sr. It was purchased in the spring of 1950. This was the first step in what was to be a period great physical and spiritual growth. In 1955, the entire church was rehabilitated and renovated at a cost exceeding $75,000. In 1956, an adjoining building was purchased and dedicated as the N.S. Duff Educational Center. In 1957, the Gray Memorial Chapel was renovated and a new baptismal pool was added. Also, during 1957, the membership reached 1,539 persons with an annual budget of $75,000.

     In 1963, the Bright Hope Baptist Church began construction on a new edifice at 12th Street and Columbia Avenue. On September 27, 1964, Bright Hope Baptist Church conducted its first service in its new edifice, a bold and architecturally innovative church and youth center, which had been completed at a cost of $1,200,000.

     On January 26, 1972 , Dr. William H. Gray, Jr., died suddenly after 22 years as minister of Bright Hope Baptist Church. Under leadership of the Management Committee, the Assistant and Associate Ministers, the church moved toward August 19, 1972, when the church elected Reverend William H. Gray, III, pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church.

     Following the successful ministerial leadership traditions established by his grandfather and continued by his father during their tenure at Bright Hope, Reverend Gray became the fourth pastor of Bright Hope and began a ministry which has enable this congregation to become a spiritual force in the Philadelphia metropolitan community and the nation. During his tenure at Bright Hope, the membership has doubled and Revered Gray has led the congregation in adopting progressive administrative changes in church policies including the adoption of a new Church Constitution in 1994 which eliminated gender barriers to participation in church leadership positions and ordination of female Deacons, marking an historical event in the spiritual life of the congregation.

     Reverend Gray’s commitment to servant leadership has extended beyond his parish and the Philadelphia community to impact the lives of countless individuals throughout the United States and the world.  In 1978 Rev. Gray was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served for 16 years.  In 1994, President William Clinton appointed Rev. Gray to serve as a temporary special advisor to the President on Haiti.  For the past 10 years Rev. Gray has served as President/CEO of the United Negro College Fund, the nations oldest and most successful black higher education assistance organization.  More than a third of the billions of dollars raised in The College Fund’s history was collected during Rev. Gray’s tenure.

    Currently Rev. Gray is leading the congregation in “Building A Brighter Hope For Tomorrow.”  This two million dollar project of renovation and addition prepared Bright Hope to do ministry in the 21st century and beyond