Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan

 

In 1965 the Mission Board of the Michigan District, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, called the Rev. Paul R. Landahl to organize a church in the northeast section of Warren.

The first service of the new congregation took place on December 5, 1965 at the Norman Rockwell Elementary School on Masonic Road in Warren.  The Epistle for the day, Romans 15:13 – "May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in Hope" – served as the basis for the young congregation's name.  It was appropriately called Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Charter Sunday was observed on February 20, 1966.  At that time the congregation had 39 communicant members and 72 baptized souls.

In February 1966, the church members purchased property on Hoover Road, just north of Masonic, in Warren.  Hope congregation officially called Pastor Landahl to become its first pastor. The congregation installed Pastor Landahl on January 29, 1967.

Ground breaking for the congregation's first house of worship took place on April 30, 1967.  The congregation dedicated its new church home on Sunday, May 19, 1968.  At that time the membership had grown to 126 communicants and 251 baptized souls.

Pastor Landahl faithfully served the young congregation until August 27, 1972, when he accepted a call to Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside, Illinois.

The congregation's second pastor, the Rev. Curtis Foreman, was installed on January 28, 1973.  He came to Hope from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fremont, Michigan.

At the end of April 1974, the membership at Hope totaled 299 communicant and 495 baptized souls.

Pastor Foreman served Hope until January 1975, when he accepted a call to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Scottville, Michigan.

Hope's third pastor, the Rev. Walter Gienapp, took over on April 20, 1975.  He came to Hope from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eastpointe, Michigan, where he had been serving as an Associate Pastor. 

In December 1978, Hope's membership was 298 communicants and 409 baptized souls.

Pastor Gienapp served Hope until June 29, 1981, when he retired from the active ministry. 

The fourth pastor at Hope was the Rev. Jon Reusch, who came to us in July 1980 through the colloquy program of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  After serving his first year here as Hope’s first vicar, he was called to become our pastor and installed on June 7, 1981.

As the congregation grew, it saw the need for a layworker to assist the pastor in his work.  Mr. Galen Grulke was called to be our Director of Christian Education.  He accepted the position, was installed on September 9, 1984 and served us until June 1985 when he accepted a call to Community Lutheran Church in Flat Rock, Michigan.  Mr. Robert Shippy, a teacher at Lutheran High School East, agreed to accept the position of Director of Christian Education.  He was installed in June 1985.

On Palm Sunday, 1985, ground was broken for a much needed addition to Hope.  This consisted of a new Pastor's Office, Church Office, Conference Room and Library, Restrooms and enlarged Narthex on the upper level, with classrooms and an enlarged kitchen on the lower level.  Dedication of the completed addition occurred on November 10, 1985.

At the end of March 1986, the membership at Hope totaled 383 communicants and 449 baptized souls.

As Hope continued to grow, the congregation decided more workers were needed to serve our members and the community.  Hope contracted Pastor Jay Maire to work part time as an assistant to Pastor Reusch, and acquired the services of Mr. Lynn Niemeier for the part time position of Minister of Discipleship.  Both men were installed on March 22, 1987.

Pastor Maire left our congregation in August 1987.  Mr. Niemeier continued until December 1988 at which time he took over the lay position as chairman of the Board of Education.  Another member, Mr. Bob Shippy, a teacher a Lutheran High School East, became the Spiritual Gifts Minister in December 1988 until the end of 1989.

During the Spring 1988, the congregation felt the need for a second full time minister at Hope.  A call was extended to Pastor Eugene C. Rudow to become Associate Pastor.  He accepted the call and was installed at Hope on Sunday, August 28, 1988.

By the end of 1988, as the membership continued to grow, the members of Hope believed larger facilities were needed to encourage growth and outreach to the community.  A Building Committee was formed to seek architects and plans for a Family Life Center.  This building will provide a larger Worship area, Sunday School classrooms, and Fellowship area.  A fundraising campaign, "Building For Christ," began in the fall 1989.

In February 1990, we began a Year of Celebration marking the 25th Anniversary of Hope Lutheran Church in Warren.  The first Sunday of each month through February 1991 featured a special celebration.  Events included many guest preachers, a Wedding Vow Reaffirmation Sunday, a Confirmation Reunion, a Youth Service and Friendship Sunday.  The final celebration took place on February 24, 1991.  The Sunday service was held at Rockwell School in Warren where the congregation first met to worship 25 years ago.  The guest preacher was the founding pastor, Rev. Paul Landahl.  A dinner celebration followed at the Vintage House in Fraser.

By the end of 1992, our membership had grown to 909 baptized souls and 687 communicants.

The Spring of 1993 proved to be an eventful one.  On May 23, 1993 a Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Family Life Center took place after the 9:30 Worship Service.  Building began on July 16th. Pastor Reusch announced that he had accepted a Call to Senior Pastor of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.  He preached his farewell sermon on July 18, 1993.  A Call Committee was set up to begin the process of calling a new Administrative Pastor.

In December 1993, the church issued a Call to Rev. John M. Duerr, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Cerritos, California.  Pastor Duerr accepted and was installed as our Senior Pastor on March 27, 1994.  This also was the first service held in our new Family Life Center.

On May 22, 1994 Hope Lutheran congregation dedicated the new Family Life Center and its contents.  What a joyful day it was in the life of our church.

January 15, 1995 marked the retirement from the full time pastoral ministry by Pastor Rudow.

On August 11, 1997, Hope installed its first vicar under Pastor Duerr. Bill Harmon came to us from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri to serve his one-year internship. He has served as pastor of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, since July 2008.

Hope’s next vicar, Tom Chryst, served from 1998 to 1999. Since then, he has been the associate Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin.

Matt Wallace was Hope’s next Vicar from 1999 to 2000. As of 2009 his area of service in the LCMS was unknown.

Darin Berg served as Vicar from 2001 to 2002 and since February 2006, he has been Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Niles, Indiana.

Mr. Robert Scholl Jr was invited to assist Pastor Duerr part time in Hope’s ministry in 1999. Bob was retired as principal from Bethlehem Lutheran School in Roseville, Michigan. He was officially installed as Parish Assistant on August 27, 2000.  His duties consist of teaching Sunday School, leading midweek and Sunday Bible studies, giving sermons, and leading services at Abbey Nursing Home, Warren.

In early 2001, it was felt that further pastoral assistance was needed to enhance Hope’s ministry.  The church hired Deacon Ron Jahnke to assume the duties of preaching sermons, leading Bible studies and working with the Education and Outreach teams.  Deacon Ron was Co-founder of the Michigan District Deacon Training Program for Deacons.  He recruited Skip Bandemer, Matt Steffen, and John Wulff from Hope to become students.  A commencement service for the first eight graduates of the program was held at Hope on December 4, 2005. Skip, Matt and John joined Hope’s Staff as part-time Deacons. Deacon Ron resigned in December 2003 and Deacon Matt accepted a non-clerical position in New Orleans in 2007.

On December 6, 2006, members and former members gathered in the Family Life Center to celebrate Hope’s 40^th anniversary.  Bill Harmon, who is now pastor at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, and was Hope’s first vicar under Pastor Duerr, gave the address.  The FLC was filled to capacity as the crowd delighted in a wonderful catered meal.

A congregational survey taken in February 2007 revealed that a majority wished to have a worship area that felt more reverential, like sitting in a sanctuary.  The trustees embarked on an extensive renovation project of the FLC beginning in August 2007.  The major enhancements included a permanent chancel area on raised platforms that included room for choirs and orchestra. The walls were dry walled above the punch quilting and maple paneling with cherry trim was applied below the quilting and behind the hanging cross.  New, softer lighting; an updated sound system; cabinets for storage; a movable kiosk for bulletin board news in the FLC, and an electronic activities board above the stairs in the foyer were among the many improvements.

A new coating on the multi-use floor also included new striping for basketball and volleyball courts. The end result revealed a FLC that is a beautiful, serene worship sanctuary with the ability for multiple other uses.  The dedication of the transformed area took place on Sunday, February 10, 2008.

At the end of 2009, Hope had 972 baptized souls and 759 communicants.

During the FLC renovation, the interior walls in the rest of the building were painted, electrical upgrades were made, and more storage space was added to give Hope’s many teams greater versatility for the mission work that they do for Hope.

The Lord has truly blessed our family here at Hope and we anticipate even greater blessings for the future.  We believe many wonderful things lie ahead of us as we continue to grow and reach out into the community.  As a member of Hope, you have the privilege of being an integral part of that great future.