Joe B. Hopper (1921-1992)

Joseph B. Hopper was born on May 17, 1921 in Kwangju, Korea. He was raised by his missionary parents in Korea. He entered Davidson College in North Carolina in 1938, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1942; he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In the Fall of 1939, he was received under care as a candidate for ministry of the Concord Presbytery of the Southern Presbyterian Church.

Joe matriculated to Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA where he earned his Bachelors of Divinity in 1945. He would later earn his ThM at Union (1950) and a Doctor of Divinity from Davidson College (1965).

On July 19, 1945, Joe married Dorothy “Dot” Longenecker, whom he met at Collegiate Home in Montreat, NC. He was ordained by the Montgomery Presbytery of the PCUS on August 12 of that same year. After a brief pastorate (1945–1947) in at Blackwater and Piedmont Presbyterian Churches in Callaway, Virginia, Joe and Dot served as Presbyterian missionaries under the Board of World Missions, Presbyterian Church in the U.S., in South Korea for 38 years before retiring to Montreat, NC in 1986. Joe died on April 27, 1992.

You can read Joe’s memoir about his life at ulsterworldly.com/hoppers/joe-b/mission-to-korea/.

More Posts About Joe B. Hopper

Blackstone Presbyterian Church

The story of Dorothy Longenecker's employment at Blackstone Presbyterian Church and how she came to be married there.

The story of Dorothy Longenecker's employment at Blackstone Presbyterian Church and how she came to be married there.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Ditty to Dot

A song for Dot Hopper upon on retirement from 38 years on the mission field.

A song for Dot Hopper upon on retirement from 38 years on the mission field.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

A Baptism Homily

Joe B. Hopper's baptism homily for the baptism of his grandson in 1986.

Joe B. Hopper's baptism homily for the baptism of his grandson in 1986.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Pyongyang Years

My grandfather's tale of his teenage years in Pyongyang.

My grandfather's tale of his teenage years in Pyongyang.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Hopper Antecedents

My grandfather (Joe B. Hopper)'s reflection on his ancestors and t.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Longenecker Family

My grandfather's brief history of his father-in-law's family, the Longeneckers of Pennsylvania.

My grandfather's brief history of his father-in-law's family, the Longeneckers of Pennsylvania.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Shorter Catechism Boys

B.B. Warfield: "It is worth while to be a Shorter Catechism boy. They grow to be men. And better than that, they are exceedingly apt to grow to be men of God."

B.B. Warfield: "It is worth while to be a Shorter Catechism boy. They grow to be men. And better than that, they are exceedingly apt to grow to be men of God."   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Petition in Blood

A young Korean man writes a plea for entry into Bible College in his own blood.

A young Korean man writes a plea for entry into Bible College in his own blood.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Joseph Hopper

Memoir of the early life of Joseph Hopper (1982-1971), Southern Presbyterian missionary to Korea.

Memoir of the early life of Joseph Hopper (1982-1971), Southern Presbyterian missionary to Korea.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

All That God Has Done

This is a talk Joe gave at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C. which had supported them for many years. He summarizes the life of Joe and Dot in rural evangelist missionary work for their first 25 years in South Korea.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Influence of the Clan upon Church Growth in Korea

This research paper analyzes the family structure and social organization on Korean village life in the mid-twentieth century. In particular, it examines "village family ties and their effect on church growth."   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Mission to Korea

Joe Hopper's memoir (published in 1999) recounting his thirty-eight years as a missionary to South Korea.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Missionary Talks

Several outlines or manuscripts from a folder entitled "Missionary Talks".   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Protestant Reformation Leaders

Brief biographies of eight reformers: Peter Waldo, John Wyclif, John Huss, Savonarola, Erasmus, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and Ignatius Loyola.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

Studies in the Parables of Jesus

A lengthy treatise on the parables written early in Joe's ministry. Part 1 provides an introductory study of the parables: "The Parables as a Literary Medium", "The Purpose of the Parables", "The Distribution of the Parables", "The Classification of the Parables", and "The Interpretation of the Parables". Part 2 contains expositions of ten of Jesus' parables.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

The Holy Spirit and Five New Testament Doctrines

Joe's 1951 Th.M. thesis from Union Theological Seminary. In this study, Joe examines the Holy Spirit in conjunction with five New Testament doctrines: Inspiration, Incarnation, Regeneration, Sanctification, and Ecclesiology.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

The Mission of the Church is Missions

Gift of the Holy Spirit was especially for the carrying out of the Great Comission. A trust and responsibility to declare the terms of salvation. Open eyes and burning heart needed to carry out comission.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper

The Second Coming

An article on the second coming of Christ published in The Presbyterian Journal.   Read More

Posted on by Tim Hopper