Hope South Campus

The Mission of Hope Lutheran Church is “To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known." This short statement is at the heart of our ongoing expansion project. We desire to carry out Christ's Great Commission by reaching more people than ever and bringing them to faith in Christ.

In recent years, The Villages has seen incredible growth. This southward expansion has presented Hope with the opportunity to spread the Word of God and the message of Jesus Christ to new neighbors through the building of a third campus.

As we work toward our future Hope South Campus, we are engaging the southern community through worship at the Everglades Recreation Center, along with neighborhood groups and activities aimed at growing our presence in this new area.

Mark Cook Builders, Inc. of Leesburg was approved as the Contractor/Construction Manager for our new Hope South Campus Worship Center at the June 18 Council meeting.

Mark Cook Builders has a devoted team known for delivering high quality buildings. The company has done extensive work in The Villages, including several churches, and has an outstanding reputation within the surrounding community.

As Contractor/Construction Manager, Mark Cook Builders will initially be working with our architect, Judd Dickerson, and his team of technical professionals to develop a detailed cost estimate, which is a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) within the constraints of our approved budget. Upon the Council’s approval of the GMP, Hope will enter into a binding agreement for both the guaranteed cost and construction schedule. The development of the GMP will take an estimated 60 to 90 days.

In January 2023 the Church Council approved the AIA Architectural Contract for the Main Building complex with Dickerson Architects, Inc. of Leesburg, Florida.
In February 2023 the Application for Site Plan Approval (the master plan for all phases of the Hope South Campus) was filed with the City of Wildwood. This process also involves obtaining numerous permits, including water management, water main extension and environmental resource permits.
In May 2023 the Church Council reassessed the Hope South Campus building timeline and voted to move forward with finalizing plans for the Worship Center and to prioritize the building of the Worship Center before the Activity Center.

On June 3-4, 2023 the Church Council conducted 4 Congregation Information Meetings involving all 3 Hope campuses to present an update on the Hope South Campus Building Project, including the revision to the Hope South Campus building timeline as decided at the May 2023 Council meeting. The slideshow presentation (Our Plan Forward) from this meeting is available through the link on the Hope South Campus Website.
On October 6, 2023, the Church Council conducted a Town Hall Meeting at Hope Central Campus where the following information was presented to the members of the congregation: (i) revised design plans for the Worship Center; (ii) the estimated costs of the Worship Center; and (iii) updated on the Matching Gift Challenge and the Capital Campaign.
On November 15, 2023, the Church Council conducted a Town Hall Meeting at Hope Central Campus where the following information was presented to the members of the congregation: (i) Preliminary Budget Cost Estimates for the Worship Center; (ii) Worship Center Funding Sources and Loan Strategies; and (iii) Sample Ballot for the Special Congregation Meeting scheduled for December 17, 2023.
On December 17, 2023 a Special Congregation Meeting was held at Hope Central Campus where the members of the congregation voted to approve the following: (i) Construction of the Worship Center and all related site development with a projected cost of $7,850,000, not to exceed $8,000,000; (ii) Construction loan of $4,700,000, not to exceed $4,900,000 from Mission Investment Fund; and (iii) Conversion of the construction loan to a permanent mortgage loan at the end of construction.
At the June 18 Council Meeting, Mark Cook Builders, Inc. of Leesburg was approved as the Contractor/Construction Manager for our new Hope South Campus Worship Center.

One of the most important aspects of the Hope South Campus Building Project is our ongoing Capital Campaign.

The Making Abundant Life Known Capital Campaign is led by a team of dedicated volunteers who manage all aspects of the campaign, including Inspiration, Response, Events, Information, and Lead Gifts.

On the left, you can see a breakdown of the Capital Campaign leadership. The teams use a "chain of command" system to allow for smoother communication between the Church Council, the office, the General Chairs, and the volunteer teams.