About Hope Mission

Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our Board of Directors oversee the ministry while Pastor Gene McLendon serves as Executive Director ensuring things run smoothly on a daily basis. Hope Mission serves the Carteret County community by providing food, shelter, emergency financial assistance, emotional support, mentoring, and counseling.

The core mission of Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina is addressing the needs of poverty, homelessness, and substance use in Carteret County and surrounding areas.

At Hope Mission, we believe that individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with substance use have lost their sense of identity due to disconnection from family and community. This loss of identity can lead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. At Hope Mission, we are committed to providing a sense of belonging to these individuals. We believe that this is crucial for their ability to transition back to the fulfilling lives God always meant them to lead.

  • Faith and Victory Church started Hope Mission Soup Kitchen in January of 1990. The church members recognized a need in the community and had a desire to fill that need, by providing hot meals for anyone that needed one.
  • July 29, 1991 – Hope Mission of Carteret County, Inc. incorporated, still operating out of the Faith and Victory location.
  • October of 1991 – Hope Mission Soup Kitchen moved to 1306 Arendell St., Morehead City.
  • April of 1992 – Hope Mission purchased the building at 1412 Bridges Street with the assistance of local charitable organizations, churches, businesses and private individuals. Habitat for Humanity remodeled the building at 1412 Bridges Street and built the building at 1410 Bridges Street, where the Soup Kitchen is currently. Nearly 30 years later, Faith and Victory Church is no longer around. But at Hope Mission, we work every day to model and honor their example.

Hope Mission is still financed largely by contributions from businesses, individuals, civic groups and churches. It truly is a “whole community endeavor”. Over the years, Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina has expanded to fill more of the needs of the community. Currently, Hope Mission operates a Homeless Shelter, Soup Kitchen, Hope Recovery Homes, Emergency Financial Assistance, and a Peer Recovery Center. The Hope Mission Thrift Store helps provides funding for the various ministries.