Our Story
How it all started...
Founded in 2018, House of Praise Epicenter (aka H.O.P.E.) is a non-denominational ministry led by Elder Douglas Myrie. After serving as a youth minister for the Church of God of Prophecy in Englewood, NJ and as the northern NJ youth leader, he became a member at Grace Pentecostal Tabernacle, also as a youth pastor. After which he was ordained minister in January, 2009, then Assistant Pastor on June 7, 2015.
After much prayer, and the blessing of his pastor, he and his wife, Jessie, were led by God to start H.O.P.E. After prayer and fasting, they came up with the name House Of Praise Epicenter. They wanted it to be an acronym and based on their intent of the ministry to go after the unchurched and those hurt by church, they decided these groups of people needed “hope,” hence its name.
Pastor and Lady Myrie conducted the first church gathering in the basement of their home on the first Sunday in May, 2018. And, the official service was held on Mother’s Day, May 13th, at the Marriot hotel in Saddle Brook, NJ (138 Pehle Avenue) at 10 AM. However, this was not the church’s permanent home. They used several hotels in Saddle Brook and Paramus before somewhat settling at the Hilton Garden Inn Ridgefield Park in the fall of 2018.
With a growing membership from week to week, H.O.P.E. wants to be on the cutting edge of ministry...one that will be impactful and life-changing in our church and community. We believe that the gospel of the Kingdom of God is the absolute answer to man’s total need and total prosperity. At HOPE, our mission is…Helping Our People Excel…via five paths – Spiritual, Mental/Emotional, Physical, Financial and Social.
After much prayer, and the blessing of his pastor, he and his wife, Jessie, were led by God to start H.O.P.E. After prayer and fasting, they came up with the name House Of Praise Epicenter. They wanted it to be an acronym and based on their intent of the ministry to go after the unchurched and those hurt by church, they decided these groups of people needed “hope,” hence its name.
Pastor and Lady Myrie conducted the first church gathering in the basement of their home on the first Sunday in May, 2018. And, the official service was held on Mother’s Day, May 13th, at the Marriot hotel in Saddle Brook, NJ (138 Pehle Avenue) at 10 AM. However, this was not the church’s permanent home. They used several hotels in Saddle Brook and Paramus before somewhat settling at the Hilton Garden Inn Ridgefield Park in the fall of 2018.
With a growing membership from week to week, H.O.P.E. wants to be on the cutting edge of ministry...one that will be impactful and life-changing in our church and community. We believe that the gospel of the Kingdom of God is the absolute answer to man’s total need and total prosperity. At HOPE, our mission is…Helping Our People Excel…via five paths – Spiritual, Mental/Emotional, Physical, Financial and Social.
house Of Praise Epicenter Welcomes YOU!...
Each and every Sunday we enter God’s sanctuary with anticipation of what God wants to do in each one of our lives. There can be no doubt whatsoever that God is a personal God who cares very deeply about each and every issue that we are concerned with. At HOPE, our prayer for you is that the God of all grace anoints you with fresh oil and His Holy Spirit give you insight and His Word be illuminated as you study it.
May He empower you to effectively communicate to others the vibrant hope that He has given you to persevere the struggles that you have overcome and continue to overcome. We pray that your home be a reflection of the joy and peace that God has promised to all of His children who follow Him.
We speak life into you and your family. We pray for favor in your life that you will lack for nothing. Rest in Him and arise with fresh vigor to do God's work. Your prayers, your support and your love are well needed and appreciated.
~ ELDER DOUGLAS AND LADY JESSIE MYRIE
Hope Church Planting Guide...
1. Have a strong relationship with God. Spend time developing our relationship with God. Luke 10:38-42 – “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where Martha opened her home to him.”
2. Spend time in prayer. No great work for God will ever be accomplished without spending time in prayer. We want to join in corporate prayer. Great power is released when the church comes together to pray. Matthew 18:18-20 – “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
3. Have faith. We will be building something out of nothing. We may have services where we will wonder if anyone will show up. That said, if we work hard and persevere, God will help us birth a glorious church through His grace. Hebrews 11:3 – “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of the things that are visible.”
4. Be willing to learn. We will not cling to a particular ministry model or idea. We are going to do what works. It’s important to learn from our mistakes, admit when we are wrong, and be willing to change. If we are stubborn, refuse to try new things, and believe it’s our way or the highway, we will eventually fail.
2. Spend time in prayer. No great work for God will ever be accomplished without spending time in prayer. We want to join in corporate prayer. Great power is released when the church comes together to pray. Matthew 18:18-20 – “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
3. Have faith. We will be building something out of nothing. We may have services where we will wonder if anyone will show up. That said, if we work hard and persevere, God will help us birth a glorious church through His grace. Hebrews 11:3 – “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of the things that are visible.”
4. Be willing to learn. We will not cling to a particular ministry model or idea. We are going to do what works. It’s important to learn from our mistakes, admit when we are wrong, and be willing to change. If we are stubborn, refuse to try new things, and believe it’s our way or the highway, we will eventually fail.
