ABOUT US
Hope is one church with three campuses in The Villages and Summerfield.
Hope Lutheran Church began in 1998 as a small congregation of faithful friends meeting for worship in local recreation centers. Since then, Hope has grown into a three-campus church community serving God’s people throughout the communities in and around The Villages and Summerfield, Florida.
We have experienced phenomenal growth since that time and now have over 2,000 members, including our seasonal associate members. Yet we are a caring church with plenty of activities and opportunities for groups with similar interests and needs. We make you feel right at home. Hope places a high emphasis on spending time together and sharing our lives and interests.
WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
The Mission of Hope Lutheran Church is to "Know Christ and to Make Christ known. ”
As you look through this site, you will see many activities and opportunities to serve that reflect our purpose. All are welcome to worship with us and to participate in our services and activities.
Our Vision
We strive to be a church without walls. Jesus calls for us to go outside the walls to reach the lost and the broken. It is there that the lost will be found. Most churches find it is comfortable to stay within the walls, but we make it an effort to be like the church from the Book of Acts, to see our city changed.
Our Values
Hope has always been a mission church. As a community, we know that it’s our duty to serve those in need locally and around the world. Hope has over 60 ministries organized by church members and run by volunteers. Opportunities for fellowship, outreach, study and service are offered. Hope currently sponsors two international missionaries: Pastors Nijhar and Neeraj Ekka. This couple, along with their children, currently serve the Lord through their mission in India.
OUR HISTORY
Small Beginnings. Big Plans.
- September 1998 - Pastor Barry Hunteman met with 79 people to begin organizing a new church - Hope Lutheran Church.
- Oct 25, 1998 - The first worship service of Hope Lutheran Church was held at 9:00am at La Hacienda Recreation Center in The Villages, with 203 people in attendance.
- January 15, 2002 - Ground was broken for construction of Hope's own building on the corner of Morse and 466.
- January 12, 2003 - The first service was held in our new building. Hope's congregation had grown to 800 members.
- December 17, 2016 - Pastor Barry Hunteman retires.
- August 5, 2017 - Pastor Jon Marc MacLean is installed as Hope's lead pastor.
- April 15, 2018 - Hope votes to merge with St. John Lutheran Church, which becomes our second campus: Hope Lake Weir Campus.
- May 19, 2019 - Hope becomes 3 campuses with the first worship service held at Rohan Recreation Center. Hope then moved to Everglades Recreation Center on February 2, 2020.
