Who We Are

Good Hope Resource Center was established in August 2018 with a desire to help offer a variety of resources to individuals and families in need throughout the Bay Area. GHRC derived from the Food Ministry at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in East Oakland. After seeing the great need for basic life resources, several individuals came together to establish the independent non-profit organization that is progressively growing.

GHRC currently consists of five (5) Service Departments:

  • Utilities Assistance Program

  • Community Wellness: Food Pantry & Neighborhood Cleanup

  • Financial Education 101

  • GHRC Scholarship Fund Program

  • Job Resources and Referral Program (Coming Soon)

Our Values

Our core values are founded upon biblical principles:

  • Love the Lord our God and love our neighbor as ourselves

  • Community wellbeing and helping those in need

  • Integrity and honesty

  • Unity and empowerment

  • Faith and hope

Our Mission

To educate, to encourage, and to empower. Creating self-sufficiency one individual at a time.

Our Vision

To be a full-service community resource center for Oakland, CA and surrounding area residents, by expanding the services we currently offer and offering those services across more geographical areas.

Leadership

Dr. Joe L. Smith

CEO/President & Founder

Dr. Joe L. Smith, Pastor of the Good Hope Baptist Church of Oakland, CA., was called to the ministry in 1971, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Robert Dupart. His humble beginning was in the red hills of Mississippi. Receiving his formal education in Oxford, Mississippi at Oxford Training School. He attended College of Alameda for a short time and is a graduate of Bay Cities Bible Institute. He then went on to Sacramento Theological Institute where he received his Master and Doctorate in 2011.


Pastor Smith has been teaching and preaching the word of God at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Oakland for 48 years. He grows stronger in the Lord each and every year. Pastor Smith has been president of the Bay Cities Baptist Ministers Union for over 25 years and is highly respected by his peers. The Bay Cities Baptist Ministers Union has 65 active Pastors and Ministers. Their membership is from Oakland, as far south as Union City and north to Vallejo. He will be the first to tell you, it is hard to lead leaders. Pastor Smith was nominated as Most Influential Pastor in the Bay Area in 2009. Pastor Smith is highly respected by the political leaders in the City of Oakland. Often he is called on to speak on the behalf of the clergy in the city or asked for his thoughts on any particular issues.


Pastor Smith believes in giving the Lord all the praise. Praise through music is a favorite as evidenced by all the gospel groups that have been to the Bay Area through his influence. From professional to the local groups, it’s all good to him.


God has blessed him with three children, Billy, Gwen and Sherry and seven beautiful granddaughters. Pastor Smith has been blessed to marry Sister Antoinett Smith and they have four children: Ayanna, Deshauna, Jeremiah and Darius and grandson Maxwell.


Pastor Smith’s mission and goal is to teach the gospel, so people will come to know and accept our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.



Dr. Michael N. Jones, Sr.

Executive Director

Rev. Jones is so blessed and highly favored by the LORD to be married to his beloved wife Kathy for 42 years. They are blessed with four children, (Michael Jr, Steven, Aaron, and Yvonneda) and 10 grandchildren who they love and adore. His first love is to his LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST who made everything in his life possible. He has been tested and given so many blessings which have helped to develop his character and created the man he is today.

Rev. Jones is so thankful. He has owned and managed several businesses. He has an associate's, bachelor's, and a master’s degree in Christian Doctrine and Christian Counseling, and a doctorate degree in Humanities. His current position in life is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Good Hope Resource Center.

As Executive Director, it is imperative to communicate in this virtual new era. He seeks to respond quickly and accurately to issues that come before the non-profit resource center. Rev. Jones is an Associate Minister under the leadership of Pastor Joe L. Smith of the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church.