“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
Twenty students gathered in the basement of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church to form the first class of New Hope Christian Academy (NHCA). Thirty years later, the school’s statistics are proving that education unencumbered by access and poverty yields enduring, community-driven results.
Lionel Cable, the current head of school, is continuing to foster the future-focused, 360-degree approach to education initiated by NHCA’s founders: “Our organization deliberately invests in children over a long period of time and ensures that educating the whole child remains the nucleus of our work.”
New Hope now serves more than 400 pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade students from a renovated private school in the North Memphis neighborhood of Frayser. The school reports that 98 percent of its graduates are accepted into college, 99 percent have completed high school and 69 percent have received or are pursuing post-secondary education.
Comprehensive Literacy
In Memphis, where illiteracy rates are among the highest in the nation, institutions like New Hope are critical. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 20 percent of adults in Memphis lack basic literacy skills, compared to the national average of 12 percent. This gap points to the urgent need for educational initiatives like NHCA that address literacy from an early age.
Literacy is multifaceted, and the diverse skills needed in today’s world are central to New Hope’s mission. Community leaders, such as medical students from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and professionals from Bank3, engage with students, creating a full-circle model of education and mentorship.
Insights from a New Hope Graduate
For Joi Taylor Johnson, who was recently named Associate Advancement Director at New Hope, returning to NHCA is more than just a professional milestone. It’s a full-circle moment and expression of gratitude, faith and commitment to the Memphis community. Johnson sees this role as an opportunity to give back to the institution that was foundational for her life and career.
“New Hope isn’t just a school; it’s a lifeline. It’s where my siblings, my cousins and I were given opportunities we could have only dreamed of,” Johnson says. “It shaped us into who we are today.”
Johnson’s journey with New Hope began in kindergarten. As a 2007 graduate, she recalls the key step her grandmother took when she brought her and her family to New Hope—a decision that would set the course for their future. From New Hope, Johnson earned a scholarship to Evangelical Christian School in Memphis and, later, a degree in Social Work and Spanish from the University of Memphis.
Her passion for service was ignited during a sixth-grade mission trip to Dallas, Texas, organized by New Hope. “That trip taught me that true leadership begins with humility and a willingness to uplift others,” she says. This early lesson in servant leadership inspired her career, which has included roles at City Leadership, where she created a Choose901 job placement program, and at the National Civil Rights Museum, where she developed strategies to deepen the institution’s community impact.
Yet, through all her accomplishments, Johnson felt a calling to return to New Hope. “This is home,” she says. “It’s where I learned to seek Christ in all things and discovered the strength of faith-driven education. Now, I’m here to ensure that light shines brighter than ever.”
New Hope’s mission extends beyond individual success; it’s about transforming communities. Johnson’s story is a testament to the power of bettering educational opportunities and the enduring impact of community-focused institutions like New Hope Christian Academy. To learn more and support New Hope Christian Academy, please visit newhopememphis.org.
River City Reads
River City Lifestyle is proud to stand alongside New Hope and other organizations dedicated to improving literacy in the River City. In 2025, we are building a new outreach initiative, “River City Reads.” Through this program, we will actively support literacy improvement in Memphis by highlighting stories like Joi Taylor Johnson’s to inspire community action, partnering with organizations like NHCA to promote fundraising efforts, using our platform to raise awareness about the importance of literacy and providing resources for readers to get involved.