Church History

 

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          In January of 2006 God showed Pastor Shawn a vision of him pastoring. After the first vision the Holy Spirit began to speak to him, with a sense of urgency for about 3 years to leave his home town in South Carolina and come to Fayetteville, NC. At that time he still had no answer or idea to why. He stepped out on faith, packed all the belongings he could fit in his truck, quit a great job and headed to Fayetteville with only $32 to his name. He did not know anyone in Fayetteville and neither did he have a place to go when he arrived. As soon as he arrived to the city he stopped by a gas station to get gas and while pumping fuel a conversation sparked with a lady about the Lord. That conversation lead to her being a supervisor at an extended stay and she needed an employee immediately and with it came free housing. Pastor Williams did not have to pay rent, phone bill, cable or water, and to add to it he would receive a check every week.

          Shortly after getting settled in Pastor Williams had another vision of entering in and walking through two churches that had blue carpet, both were empty. As he walked through both churches he exited each one through the pulpit. After doing this twice Pastor Williams walks into a third church with a balcony full of people praising God and the atmosphere was so set he was in awe. He looked up and said God is this heaven and God replied No this is your church and then an usher came to him and said come on in Pastor they are waiting on you out front your time is now. Later he came up with the name Beacon of Hope. (Explain Beacon of Hope)

          After 7 years passed He realized that He had gone through two of the churches which He had served faithfully and met his wife, First Lady Nia Williams (2008). While passing through He knew that there had to be more for him. He started seeking counsel on starting the ministry God had called him to and with many false promises and attempts his wife mentions to him about Bishop Wayman J. Kirkman, Sr. She grew up in the ministry as a child and knew the assignment which was given to him concerning him starting 12 churches. First Lady Nia recognized the desire he had also to help and mentor rising Pastors and churches. So, after much prayer and conversation with Bishop Kirkman, Pastor Williams agreed to connect with HFI in December of 2014.

          Pastor Williams knew there was a process when joining HFI and was willing to adhere to what was to come. He and First Lady Nia Williams sat under Overseer Sandra D Kirkman of Hope Christian Church, Fayetteville for accountability and while doing so Bishop Kirkman guided Pastor Williams and his wife with such great wisdom on how to begin the church. So, God spoke and made way and opened the doors for bible study to begin at the Library in Raeford, NC on Main Street. Bible study began on December 16, 2014 which was on a Tuesday night with 4 in attendance. Pastor Williams was faithful to the bible study and as it began to grow the invitation was extended to begin using Hope Christian Church Sanctuary on Sunday’s to have Morning Worship and Word Services. On May 3, 2015 we had our very first Sunday Morning Service at 8am with 24 in attendance. Since then we have had 8 to join the ministry and God is sending them 1 by 1 as he sees fit. 

           As we help change the city one person at a time, we look forward to God doing many more great things through Beacon of Hope and We are so excited and can’t wait to see what God has in store for us as we go through this next year and level of ministry.