Hampstead Baptist Church is located in Hampstead, NC, between Topsail Beach and Wilmington. Our mission is to lead people to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. That means we’re not about a building or a complicated religious system, but about helping people from all backgrounds discover the joy that comes from knowing and serving Jesus Christ.
We invite you to be our guest at one of our worship services. We know that going to a new church can be intimidating, so we try to do things in a way where you’ll feel welcome and at ease. You can participate or just sit back and observe. You’ll discover a warm atmosphere, practical teaching from God's Word, and lots of friendly people pursuing God together. With childcare and classes for all ages, there's something meaningful for each member of your family, and for any single folks, too.
God made a promise in the Bible that if we seek after Him, we’ll find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). You are a valued part of God’s creation and His deep desire is to be in a relationship with you. We welcome you to pursue God among our Hampstead Baptist Church Family.
When did Hampstead Baptist Church start? What has God brought us through? What's He doing now and what are we expecting for the future? See below:
We are excited to debut our new church logo! As we strive ever toward unity as a church, we not only want to be unified, but we want our logo to reflect that unity visually as well. Our children, youth, men, women, seniors, and all that we do is Hampstead Baptist Church. We are one church with one mission, and though our various ministries carry that out in various ways appropriate to life stages, we are all each other's support system as brothers and sisters in Christ. All of our church ministries' logos are now streamlined to reflect this unity that Hampstead Baptist Church is.
The design of the sail is a nod to some Hampstead, NC history. The cross is pictured on the sail to identify us as Christian. The boat symbolizes mobilization (i.e. going places!) and is reflective of where Jesus did a good deal of miracles, teaching, and discipling. What moves the boat? The wind, of course! In Hebrew, the word for "spirit" and the word for "wind" are both רוּחַ (ruach)-- the same word! We rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to move us forward, as the sails of a boat rely on the wind. Finally, as a coastal community in Hampstead, the logo also represents our community near the ocean with its design and its sea-tone colors (which also resemble the paint color inside our sanctuary). We hope that this explanation has offered some insight into this new representation of our church!
Everything we do and plan to do is all for the glory of God. Anything we plan, anything we host, anything we support is intended to be for God's glory and for our good.
Hampstead Baptist Church is blessed to have a leadership team who are truly dedicated to Christ and accomplishing His will. Click the image of the staff member to read his/her bio.
Joey was born and raised in Wilmington, NC. He began pastoral ministry in 1993 after a short-term mission trip to Ukraine, serving as an Associate Pastor at his home church in Wilmington. After graduating from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Joey began shepherding churches in the Southeastern NC area. He has served at Hampstead Baptist since February of 2014. Pastor Joey loves shepherding God’s people and preaching God’s Word.
Joey has been married to his wife, Ramona since July of 1988. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. During his free time, he enjoys listening to and playing bluegrass music and telling corny jokes.
Chris Canuel was called to serve as Hampstead Baptist Church’s Family Pastor in December of 2021. Family ministry is interesting and unique. One won't find a "Family Ministry" tab on the website because family ministry is woven into the fabric of each ministry at the church. Prior to family ministry at HBC, Chris served as Pastor of Cheerful Hope Baptist Church in Delco, North Carolina. He graduated from Andersonville Theological Seminary with a Master of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership.
Pastor Chris has a passion for preaching and teaching the Word of God so that individuals and families can come to know Jesus, and be discipled and equipped to tell others about Him. Pastor Chris loves the local church, and the call of the local church and its members to love each other as well as the community in which it is located.
Pastor Chris is happily married to his wife, Meredith. They have 9 children.
Jonathan has served on staff in church ministry, in some capacity, since 2003, beginning with college internships and moving on to full-time ministry in churches around NC in the mountains, piedmont, and coast. Most recently, he served nearly 9 years as Minister of Students & Discipleship at First Baptist of Kannapolis, NC. Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Appalachian State University and a Master of Divinity in Christian Education from Gardner-Webb University.
Jonathan and his family moved to Pender County in 2022, responding to a family need, making their way to Hampstead Baptist as members. Over a year's time, and through a series of God-orchestrated events, Jonathan was voted to become the Student Pastor (and media guru) in October 2023. When he's not serving at church, Jonathan works raising puppies with his wife, Ashley. Jonathan and Ashley have two daughters, Mollie and Melody. He loves coffee and Chick-fil-A, but most of all Jesus and His Church!
Wendy is a long-time member of HBC and has served on staff as church secretary for many years. As of 2024, she is also taking on the role of Financial Secretary after the retirement of the beloved Ms. Libby.
Michael was called to Hampstead Baptist Church as Interim Minister of Music in February 2024. Michael earned a Bachelor of Church Music from Samford University and a Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has had many years of ministry experience and brings so much to the table as he leads the music ministries of HBC, to the glory of God.
Michael also works in the audio/visual industry. He and his wife, Karri, are marriage mentors and they have three grown children.
The word "deacon" comes from the Greek word διάκονος (diakonos), meaning "servant" or "helper" and that is exactly what a deacon is for the families of HBC whom these men serve. The Deacon Ministry’s purpose is to nurture and strengthen families in the Lord. The work of our deacons is an extension of the pastor’s ministry to love and care for families in our congregation. Deacons are called to be dedicated servants who use their spiritual gifts in a shared ministry of concern for the total well-being of God’s people. Deacons are to be supportive in times of need as well as rejoiceful in times of celebration.
Below are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions regarding Hampstead Baptist Church:
A church with a vision that begins at home and reaches to the ends of the world. Our mission is to lead all persons to a saving faith and a daily walk with Jesus Christ.
Hampstead Baptist Church associates itself with the Baptist State Convention of NC, the Cape Fear Network of Baptist Churches, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Though not a carbon copy of the Convention, HBC still holds to and affirms the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000 as its statement of belief.
Here at Hampstead Baptist Church, the Bible is the foundation for everything we do and all that we are. Since this is the true, we are committed to what is called "expository preaching." What is expository preaching? Simply put, expository preaching “exposes” or “explains” what is already within the Biblical text. Our goal in our preaching is to take a text of the Bible, explain it in its proper context, and then seek to understand how we can best apply the truths within the text to our lives.
The Apostle Paul charges a young pastor named Timothy to, “…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2) Why did the Apostle Paul place such an emphasis on the preaching of the Word of God? Because of what the Word of God is. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The Scriptures are the very breath of God. Within their pages we find what the Apostle Peter calls the “words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Psalm 119 tells us that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light for our paths. (Psalm 119:15) Jesus, quoting from the Old Testament tells us that, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Here at Hampstead Baptist Church, we emphasize and prioritize the preaching of the Bible because of what it is: The very Word of God. It is through this Word that we come to know God, learn to love God, and find our guide for how we are to live for God and for His glory. It is through the preaching of the Bible that we come to know Christ, put our faith in Him, and receive the salvation that He offers. (Luke 24:27; Romans 10:10-17)
Since these things are true, then there is no greater calling we have as a church, and as preachers, than to make these glorious truths known through the proclamation of the Scriptures.
Preaching AND Teaching
At Hampstead Baptist Church, we are not only committed to a robust preaching ministry, but we also place a strong emphasis on the teaching of the Bible.
Why are we committed to both the preaching AND teaching of the Word of God? To put it very simply, it is because that is the example we see from the Scriptures. A reading through the Gospels reveals Jesus both teaching AND preaching. The disciples we learn in Acts 5:42 followed this example, as we are told that, “they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” Likewise, Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:35 were committed to “teaching and preaching the word of the Lord…” Since we see the Word of God placing such a strong emphasis on both the preaching AND the teaching of the Scriptures, we believe that we must do the same.
There may be some that question the difference between preaching and teaching. What sets preaching apart from teaching? Aren’t they the same thing? Does it really matter whether we make this distinction or not? Well, we believe that it does.
Preaching as opposed to teaching is a monologue and not a dialogue. In preaching, we are proclaiming the glorious truths of God as He has revealed them to us in His Word and based on the confidence that we have been given by His Spirit. It is through the power of His Spirit that we herald the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ given us throughout the Scriptures. Preaching involves teaching, but as we can hopefully see it also goes beyond teaching.
Teaching as opposed to preaching is often a discussion involving two or more people. Teaching is more systematic in nature as it explains and works through various issues and the complexities that are found in the Bible. Teaching is not always preaching.
As we have stated, both preaching and teaching are commended by the Scriptures and as such, both preaching and teaching are needed in the church. Therefore, we at Hampstead Baptist Church are committed to preaching the Bible and teaching the Bible, and providing our people with many opportunities to learn from, be equipped by, and to be exhorted and encouraged through the Word of God.
The congregation of Hampstead Baptist Church comes from various backgrounds with various traditions and preferences for how they enjoy worshipping God. When we gather corporately, Hampstead Baptist embraces the diversity of the congregation by worshipping God together in a balanced, blended format of traditional hymns, Southern Gospel, and contemporary music. God enjoys them all when they're offered with sincere hearts, so when we lead the people in worship, we do so in ways that guide them to worship God in just that way! Our pastors have an exegetical preaching style.
We have a parking lot at the church building, and have designated spots near the front door, especially for our guests. We also have a circle driveway for front door drop-offs for those with mobility concerns or those with infants who need a shorter walk, and senior parking spaces near the front as well.
We have a nursery with dedicated, background-checked staff who love Jesus and children. The nursery is available during Sunday School and worship. We have Sunday School classes for children and youth, and we offer Children's Church about halfway through our Sunday worship service for children in grades K-5.
We are more concerned about you and your presence with us than we are with what you wear. As a church, we gather to worship the Lord and want to dress in a way that honors God. On any given Sunday, you'll find most who are attending wearing something in the range of business formal to business casual, though you'll see jeans and sweats, too.
The two most important criteria for membership at Hampstead Baptist Church is a statement of faith as a Christian and having been baptized by immersion (or willing to do so within a reasonable time period following the membership finalization). If one desires to associate himself/herself as a member of HBC, it's also important that he/she carefully consider if their beliefs align, at least mostly, with HBC's statement of faith. Though not required, the pastoral staff requests to be contacted prior to the candidate coming forward to join on a Sunday morning.
When we trust Christ as Savior, the relationship with Him begins that day and lasts forever. Our relationship with Jesus seals our eternal destinies, and offers hope, purpose, and meaning to our lives on earth in the meantime. What does this look like and where does one begin on this journey of faith? See below for some tips on getting started.
If you have questions or doubts, that's okay-- ask about them! If you trust Christ as Savior and wonder "what's next," please fill out the "Contact Us" form below and let us know. Being a part of a church family is a great next step.
"Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ~2 Timothy 2:15
Discipleship is a journey of intentional decisions leading to maturity in your relationship with Jesus so that you become more like Him in your attitudes, focus, and lifestyle. It requires a commitment and is a lifelong commitment to follow God with your whole self and to both learn from and eventually teach others about how to follow Him. At Hampstead Baptist, we seek to be a resource to come alongside each other in drawing closer to God through various discipleship opportunities like those listed below.
Defined literally, a disciple is someone who follows someone else; namely, in Christianity, a disciple is one who follows Jesus. What does that look like? Well, discipleship in practice is not literal, as Jesus doesn't physically walk on the earth anymore. On social media, one "follows" certain people, celebrities, teachers, groups, etc. Why? People follow their interests, their curiosities, their loves. There's a seemingly never-ending scroll of information about most any topic, what about "following" Jesus? Following Jesus is much more than scrolling through a newsfeed, though one does choose to follow Jesus because of the same reasons-- because of interest, curiosity, and love (among others). More importantly and specifically, a disciple models his or her life after the one whom they're "following." What Jesus taught, a disciple wants to learn. What Jesus did, a disciple also wants to do. Discipleship is the process of becoming a disciple-- a process that begins the moment one first believes and lasts forever.
Sunday School is and has been an integral part of Christian discipleship in the church for many, many years. At Hampstead Baptist Church, we have classes for all ages. We are thankful for our Sunday School Director, Mr. Charles Turner, who serves and guides our Sunday School ministry. All classes meet from 9:00-10:00 a.m. weekly.
Hampstead Baptist Church is excited to have launched several Life Connect Groups through which relationships can be built and strengthened among the participants and between each participant and Jesus. Though our Sunday School is very similar, Life Groups meet comparable spiritual and relational needs-- just on varied weekdays. The groups are composed of those with pretty diverse backgrounds who have come together with a common purpose of drawing closer to the Lord through community and doing life with others, sharpening their spiritual walks and understanding with each study and discussion. Below are our current Life Group options.
Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. • Adult Co-Ed
Meets at HBC in Room 203
Led by Allie Giro
Monday evenings at 6:00, the “Living Free” Life-Connect group meets in Room 208 at the church. If you or someone you love is struggling with a life controlling issue such as grief, anxiety, addiction, or any other issue, this group is for you. Through shared stories, guided discussions, Scripture, and prayer you will learn much about identifying the source of these struggles and how to overcome them in and through Christ.
This group does not replace professional counseling. If one's needs extend past what this group can offer, HBC recommends and partners with Christ-Centered Solutions, through which Dr. Rod West offers counseling the first and third Thursdays of each month.
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. • Adult Co-Ed
Meets as a home group
Led by Chris Canuel
The CB Life Connect group is based in Southern New Hanover County as an extension of Hampstead Baptist Church. The group is comprised of a diverse mix of individuals and couples currently studying Randy Alcorn's "Heaven" and related biblical texts. The relaxed, dialogue-driven meetings encourage open conversation and shared insights on life and Scripture. Any interested person or couple need not concern themselves with joining the group "at the beginning" of a new topic or series, but is welcome to join in at any time during the year.
Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. • Senior Men
Meets at HBC in Room 208
Led by Steve Underwood
This life group for senior adult men is very laid back, not utilizing a regular curriculum, but focusing on godly fellowship and biblically-based discussion. This type of fellowship is unfortunately rare for men, so HBC is thankful to offer this group, which is open for new participants as well.
Sundays at 4:30 p.m. • HBC Annex
(Post High School-Early 30s-ish)
Led by Jonathan Hale
This life group is comprised of "young adults" in whatever capacity they see themselves, whether college-age or into their early 30s, as sometimes life circumstances and chronological age don't always match. This life group does activities together on occasion, but the weekly meeting consists of fellowship time and watching "The Chosen," followed by a Bible study from the Scripture(s) on which that particular episode is based.
Scan here or text hbcyoungadults to (855) 487-8169
Class Title: In the Footsteps of a Savior
Composition: Adult Women
Teacher: Joan McGinnis
Room: Fellowship Hall
Time: Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.
A convenient morning Bible study for women whose schedules don't allow for the typical evening options. The women's ministry regularly offers new studies on a very regular basis.
Have you ever wondered what the Holy Land might have looked like through Jesus's eyes? Join pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado as he takes participants on an unforgettable journey, following Jesus through His life on earth, giving them a chance to see the Holy Land and God’s heart for humanity in a brand-new light.
In the Footsteps of the Savior is an invitation to come alongside Max as he shares meaningful, insights on the people and places that shaped Jesus's life. In this special compilation, Max weaves together in-depth teaching from his bestsellers with poignant reflections on his time in the Holy Land, guiding you through three distinct aspects of Jesus' life:
With beautiful photographs and thoughtful questions for reflection, In the Footsteps of the Savior will take participants on a journey through Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, the Jordan River, Bethany, Jerusalem, and more.
The women participating in this video study, facilitated by Joan McGinnis, will see the places Jesus walked from a new perspective and prayerfully deepen connection with the King of the universe who became the Savior on the cross.
Current Class Topic: Heaven
Composition: Adult Co-Ed
Teacher: Pastor Joey Canady
Room: Sanctuary
Time: Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m.
Pastor Joey teaches about Heaven, what Jesus had to say about it, what it's like according to Revelation, and the hope of living there. Adults are welcome to participate at any time.
Sometimes, by the time you get off work, get through Hampstead traffic, and get home for supper, by the time you get through traffic again, the church services have already started and may even be half over!
We want to make it easier for you to be able to attend and participate in our Wednesday spiritual growth opportunities by providing dinner for you, to save you and your family some time. Meals are served from 5:30-6:15 p.m. (beginning January 2024).
Menu:
1st Wednesday: Subway
2nd Wednesday: Domino's
3rd Wednesday: Subway
4th Wednesday: Domino's
5th Wednesday: Potluck
Current Class Topic: What to do with Doubt
Composition: 6th-12th Grade
Teacher: Jonathan Hale
Room: HBC "Annex" Building
Time: Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m.
Jonathan and team lead teens/preteens in various Bible study topics selected by the Youth Leadership Team. There's always fun and conversation-- learning through instruction AND discussion.
"For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Collections at Christmastime for families in need, serving local schools, and volunteering in the community (e.g. bi-monthly nursing home ministry) are just some of the ways HBC loves serving "at home" in Pender County and is always looking for new ways to serve locally, in Jesus' Name.
Members from HBC enjoy partnering with other North Carolina churches and North Carolina Baptists on Mission (among others) to serve in various capacities around North Carolina. From disaster relief to ramp building and much more, HBC is ready to lend a hand in Jesus' Name.
HBC has a history serving in South Asia. Much of the work done there cannot be described in great detail, but the work there serves and blesses those who are shining the light of Jesus in some very dark places, among those who have never heard. HBC also supports international missionaries financially.
Online Giving: Investing in the Kingdom
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
~Matthew 6:21
God is generous and so he calls us to be as well. What we do with what God has given us shows the world where our hearts are at and helps proclaim the gospel. We want to glorify God with every area of our lives, and that includes what we do with our finances. Your donations help to fuel the mission of God at Hampstead Baptist Church and all the ministries and organizations it supports. Thank you!
We have a time of worship through giving during Sunday morning services where members and guests can contribute to the work of the Kingdom of God through Hampstead Baptist Church.
Anyone unable to attend in person, but who would still like to support the work God is doing in and through Hampstead Baptist Church, can mail a check to 67 Factory Rd, Hampstead, NC 28443.
The convenience of giving "right now while I'm thinking about it" is here with Hampstead Baptist Church's online giving on your phone or computer.