1995-Present
Young in Age … Rich in Heritage
While the “birth” of New Hope Lutheran Church officially occurred June 4, 1995, the history of this infant congregation is more than 50 years old.
Bethany Lutheran, Redeemer Lutheran and St. David’s Lutheran all enjoyed pasts rich in heritage and fellowship dating back to the 1930s. These three congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America grew from small neighborhood parishes to become exciting and progressive church bodies.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the three congregations began to face similar challenges. Memberships declined or remained constant, programs became difficult to implement and finances became a concern.
Late in 1993, a letter was sent from the Redeemer congregation council to the councils of Bethany and St. David’s. This letter was an “invitation to dialogue” the possibility of merging the churches. This letter planted a seed that would take root, be nurtured and eventually be cultivated on Pentecost Sunday 1995.
This time between the letter and the merger was challenging and inspiring. A merger task force was established, with the Rev. John Boyd of Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, serving as facilitator. Task force members held their first meeting March 1, 1994, and those present were Harry Albright, Jack Brawley, Juanita Brawley, James Brown, Kathryn Cranford, Tommy Dunham, Sid Harlow, Bob Harmon, Patsy Harrison, Barry Hyde, Peggy Lynch, Cleo Overcash, Bill Powell, Wanda Sykes, Ron Wells, Karl Wieland and Christine Williams. The pastors of the three churches – the Rev. Jim Campbell, the Rev. John Sell and the Rev. Jerry Sloop – were also members of this task force.
This group of individuals was dedicated to making the possibility of a merger a reality. Months of meetings and reports yielded more opportunities for the memberships of the three churches to meet and worship together. In January and February of 1995, the congregations approved a vote to merge. A “Service of Celebration of Merger” was held February 19, 1995. A transitional council was elected to conduct the business of the merger and to serve as the first congregation council of the new church. Members elected to serve on the transitional council were Jack Brawley, James Brown, Max Caudill, Kathryn Cranford, Tommy Dunham, Sid Harlow, Bob Harmon, Barry Hyde, Peggy Lynch, Cleo Overcash, Ron Wells and Christine Williams.
On April 23, 1995, the members of the soon-to-be new church gathered to select a name that would express the Christian joy and emotion felt by all – and thus, New Hope Lutheran Church was named!
Six weeks after the name was chosen, the infant church, certainly guided by the Holy Spirit, became a reality on Pentecost Sunday 1995. The memberships of Bethany, Redeemer and St. David’s voted to accept the documents of merger June 4, 1995.
As New Hope Lutheran Church, we have a relatively brief history when compared to other church bodies. But as children of God, we are caretakers of a rich and cherished history from our past congregations. Since the birth of New Hope in 1995, we have welcomed new members who were not part of the three previous congregations, but who have become a vital part of our congregation and our mission.
On June 7, 1997, in the Bethany building, a congregational gala event was held. The ministry appeal team included Ron Wells, the Rev. Maurice Staley, Christine Williams, Judie Jones, Erna Brown, Kristie Wells, Cassie Dixon, Verona “Patsy” Karriker, Allan Merritt, Ann Fisher, Jack Brawley, Juanita Brawley, Jean Sloop, Joann Wingler, Cleo Overcash, Kathy Hunter and Gus Smith, congregational adviser. The following is the mission statement for New Hope Lutheran Church, approved by the Rev. Joseph Kovitch, the first full-time pastor of New Hope, and the congregation council:
Growing in our ministry to the glory of God is the mission of New Hope Lutheran Church and our personal commitment to bring the word of Christ to the community in which we live.
The decisions that were made in the beginning years of New Hope Lutheran Church’s history were bold steps of faith. Three congregations had made a commitment to start anew and construct a new church building. On Sunday, November 22, 1998, a symbolic march was made through the streets from the Bethany building, where the congregation had been worshipping. The march ended at the site of the new building. On the day of dedication – Sunday, November 29, 1998 – New Hope Lutheran Church officially moved to its new house of worship at 1615 Brantley Road in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The dedication service began with a 24-hour prayer vigil. Triumphant music, complete with brass and a new handbell choir, rang out in celebration of the new worship facility.
New Hope Lutheran Church is a member of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). New Hope is dedicated to being a caring congregation that is aware of the needs of God’s people and, as such, we are active in various local mission areas, including Cooperative Christian Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, the Empty Stocking Fund, the Salvation Army Night Shelter and Family Promise, American Red Cross blood drives and the LIFE Pregnancy Care Center. We support the outreach efforts of the ELCA through our offerings and through the Operation Christmas Child project of Samaritan’s Purse.
New Hope Lutheran Church offers two worship services each Sunday: at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday school is held at 9:45 a.m. Services of Healing are held on a regular basis. Programs and other activities offered at New Hope include Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, Good Timers (senior citizens group), Little Hopefuls (children’s group), Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, chancel choir, handbell choir, Narcotics Anonymous and a Fall Bazaar.
New Hope Lutheran Church has much to be proud of but, even more importantly, we have much to look forward to in the years to come! On Pentecost Sunday 1995, we celebrated 10 years as a congregation. As part of this celebration, our historical room was dedicated on October 30, 2005 – Reformation Sunday. In the spirit of Martin Luther’s hymn, “God’s Word is Our Great Heritage,” may our chief endeavor be “to spread God’s Word … throughout all generations.”