Hope Lutheran Church

Welcome

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hope Lutheran Church is God's people gathered around His Word and Sacraments that receive the gifts that He has given us. That is what the "Divine Service" is for Lutherans. It is receiving the gifts that have been given to us by our gracious Father in heaven, namely the Word as found in Holy Scripture and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. It is only in these Means of Grace that we receive and increase our faith. Through faith in Jesus Christ, His only Son, and in His perfect life and death and resurrection for our sins on the cross at Calvary, we receive the forgiveness of sins. Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is new life and salvation. We, here at Hope Lutheran Church, invite you to join us in receiving the gracious gifts of our Father. If you do not presently have a church home, we encourage you to prayerfully consider Hope Lutheran as your home. In the mean time, if there is any way in which we may be of service to you, please let us know.

History

Hope Lutheran History, 1984-1996 January 11, 1984, marked the beginning of what would become Hope Lutheran Church. the first service was conducted in a rented facility on Highway 60 in Republic, Missouri with Reverend Marvin Lilie presiding. The rented facility on Highway 60 was too small from the beginning, and negotiations began with the Missouri District of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod for the use of a prefab structure which would be placed on seven acres of land on Highway 174 in Republic, Missouri, purchased by the Mission Board as an advanced site. On October 7, 1984, Hope Congregation moved into the temporary building placed on the west side of the current property. Membership at that time numbered around 70 baptized and 49 communicant members. During the next months, the congregation would formally organize and join the Missouri District of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. In 1985, the congregation numbered 83 baptized and 56 communicant members. In August of 1985, Reverend Dale Bond was called as our first pastor. Since those days, Hope has grown steadily. More than tripling in size since it was organized, the congregation has been blessed by God. In late 1988, Hope Congregation, with the encouragement of the Circuit and the District, entered into partnership with another new Mission--Family of Christ, in Nixa, Missouri, to form a Dual Parish Ministry. Both congregations built new facilities during the summer and fall of 1991, With the assistance of the synodical construction team, Laborers for Christ. In October 1993, the congregation voted unanimously to dissolve the Dual Parish Ministry. Both congregations felt the need for a full-time pastor to meet the needs of growth. The dual parish was dissoved in January of 1995 and the Reverend Andrew Etzler was subsequently called to pastor Hope. Pastor Emeritus Erhard Wolf was our vacancy pastor from January 1995 to June 18, 1995, when Pastor Etzler was ordained and installed. The present structure was dedicated to the glory of God in December, 1991. In 1993, congregational members worked to complete the basement, adding needed classrooms, a fellowship hall and kitchen. In 1994, stained-glass windows were added and in early 1995, the parking lot was paved. The Lord has truly blessed Hope with continued growth and blessings.