Remembering our Founders
Of Neighborhood Church of God
Neighborhood Church of God was founded in 1961 by Rev. Archie and Bernice Hunter. Rev. Archie Hunter Pastored till his death in 1979 (18 years of ministry). Archie Hunter's death in 1979, he had ordained two of his sons: Richard Hunter Sr and Charles Hunter Sr, both ordained in 1978. Rev. Archie Hunter's son, Richard Hunter Sr served as Assistant Pastor till the death of his father in 1979. After which time, he became the Senior Pastor of Neighborhood Church of God. Rev. Richard Hunter Sr and his first wife Maxine, pastored Neighborhood from 1979 to 1986. Pastor Richard Hunter stepped down in 1986 and his brother, Charles Hunter Sr and wife Beverly became Neighborhood's new Senior Pastor and First Lady serving from 1986 till the present.
Meet the Founder: Rev. Archie Hunter Sr.
HIS GOLDEN RULE: "You may beat me preaching the Gospel, but can't none of you beat me living it”. He believed that whatever you are in life, you should be the best you can be. If you are going to be a dog, be a bulldog. He believed in righteous living and challenged others to live right. Because some people say one thing and live another, he often quoted these words..."How can I hear what you are saying when the things you do keep ringing in my ears". He counseled many, even from other churches but he never tried to proselytize anyone else's members. He would work 3-4 jobs trying to take care of his wife and family and was a committed Pastor to his Church. He was Self-employed as a carpenter and mason; He and his wife co-owned Bernice's Kitchenette Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor in late 1960's (3310 N Williams); Bernice and Minnie's Second Hand Store in the 70's and 80's (NE 15th and Alberta).
MINISTRY TIMELINE
He was raised in the Baptist Church in Kirbyville, Texas at the Lilly of the Valley Missionary Baptist Church under then Pastor, Rev L. C. Griner. He preached his first sermon in July, 1944.
Rev. Hunter was a devout Christian and loved Sunday School and Bible Study. After settling in Portland Oregon, whenever he went back to visit in his hometown of Kirbyville, Texas he would always visit the Curtis Community House of Prayer for their Bible Study. The Pastor of Curtis Community was his cousin, Rev. Raymond A. Bluiett Sr. Rev Hunter was ordained in Portland, Oregon on November 20, 1946 by the New Light Baptist Church of which he was a member. The New Hope and New Morning Star Baptist Churches were represented in the council by Rev A. L. Mitchell, Rev Whitehead, Rev. D. W. Whitney and Rev G. L. Cogg. Rev. G. L. Cogg was Moderator and Rev. T. J. Brown was Clerk.
Assistant Pastor to Rev. M. C. Cheeks at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Guilds Lake.
Assistant Pastor to Rev F. E. Williams at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Russellville
Pastored the Shiloh Baptist Church: 1952, 7533 NE Everett
Pastored the Macedonia Baptist Church
Pastored the Christian Community Church
Assistant Pastor to Rev. Victor Brown at Community Church of God from 1958 – 1960
He founded the Neighborhood Church of God Ministry in 1961. He bought the church from Mt. Sinai Baptist Church (where he once served as assistant pastor to under Rev M.C. Cheeks). The church originally belonged a Jewish body named Congregation Tefereth Israel. Mt. Sinai bought a building on 6th and Prescott and sold this church to Rev. Hunter in 1961.
Next Generation
Pastor Richard Hunter Sr and his first wife Maxine, pastored Neighborhood from 1979 to 1986.
Pastor Charles Hunter Sr and wife Beverly became Neighborhood's new Senior Pastor and First Lady serving from 1986 till the present.
More Than a Building—A Legacy of People, Faith, and Community
Since its founding in 1961, Neighborhood Church of God has been a place where faith has been lived out, families have been strengthened, and generations have encountered the love and power of Jesus Christ. Throughout the years, God has blessed this ministry with buildings and spaces where His people could gather to worship, pray, learn, and serve together. From the early days standing outside our original church home, surrounded by faithful members who helped lay the foundation of this ministry, to the sanctuary spaces where Pastor Charles and his family have faithfully preached the Word of God to generations of believers, every building in our history represents a chapter of God’s faithfulness.
Yet as meaningful as these buildings have been, we have always understood that the church was never meant to be defined by walls, pews, or a physical location. The true church has always been the people—those who worship together, pray for one another, serve their neighbors, and faithfully answer God’s call. It is the voices lifted in worship, the prayers prayed in times of joy and hardship, the hands extended in service, and the lives transformed by the Gospel that tell the real story of Neighborhood Church of God.
Over the decades, our church has experienced seasons of growth, transition, challenge, and renewal. Like churches around the world, we faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. When gathering in person was no longer possible, our congregation remained connected through virtual worship, prayer, and fellowship using Zoom. Even while physically apart, our church family continued to worship together, encourage one another, and remain steadfast in faith. This season reminded us that the church is not confined to a building, but lives wherever believers gather in the name of Christ.
Through every season, God has remained faithful, preserving a congregation committed to His purpose and His people. Buildings may change, locations may shift, and ministries may evolve, but the heart of Neighborhood Church of God remains the same. We are, and always will be, a community of believers dedicated to loving God, loving people, and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with our neighborhood and beyond. Our history is not simply a story of where we have worshiped—it is the story of the people who have carried the mission forward, generation after generation, and of the God who continues to write our story today.
