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Beginning in August 2025, Hope Lutheran Church will incur a monthly fee of approximately $2,000 from Everglades Recreation Center which is now under District ownership, for the use of the Grand Canyon Room on Sunday mornings. Hope’s access to this space will end as of January 2027, underscoring the urgency of completing the Worship Center within this timeframe. There are no options for use of another Recreation Center for Sunday worship, and Hope Lutheran Church is deeply grateful to The Villages and Everglades Recreation Center for having graciously provided complimentary use of the facility for more than five years.
We have been on this journey for a very long time as a congregation. As the Lord's plan unfolds, let's praise Him for His timeline, which has us so near the finish line now at the exact moment we need it.
On February 27, 2025, Hope conducted a Town Hall meeting at River Bend Recreation Center to provide members with an update on the Worship Center project. Approximately 100 attendees, primarily individuals who worship at Everglades Recreation Center, were informed that the construction bids had surpassed the allocated budget. Attendees were clear that building the Hope South Campus Worship Center should remain the priority, even if downsizing and other changes were needed to reduce costs.
After gathering congregational feedback, in March 2025 the Church Council approved reducing the Worship Center’s size and other cost-reducing modifications. Architect Judd Dickerson created new renderings and floor plan, which have been shared across Hope campuses and with members. Many were pleased that the Worship Center's original appearance remains unchanged.
Based on the new renderings and floor plan, Mark Cook Builders, Hope’s contractor, provided revised Worship Center construction documents to interested subcontractors and this has led to updated preliminary bids. These preliminary numbers are currently being evaluated. However, Hope continues to have a funding gap of about $600,000. Raising these additional funds is necessary to complete the project.
The Worship Center has a current estimated total cost of about $9,200,000 subject to congregational approval. Of this amount, approximately $7,600,000 is allocated to the building and site development, while roughly $1,600,000 is designated for audio-visual equipment, furnishings, associated expenditures and contingency. The South Campus Building Fund currently has a balance of approximately $2,900,000. It is important that Hope members remain diligent with their capital campaign pledge payments to help achieve our financial objectives. The amount of unpaid pledges is $426,000. When that amount is paid as scheduled, which would be very welcome and appreciated, the balance in the building fund will be $3,326,000.
Those who wish to provide a place of worship for Villagers in the southern portion of The Villages and share the Word with new neighbors are invited to make contributions promptly, which will help reduce the $600,000 shortfall and the necessary loan amount. Many members across all Hope campuses have already made generous contributions, while others have yet to do so. Working together we have no doubt we can achieve our essential objective.
A fund-raising team is already at work to raise a Matching Gift Pool to meet our financial goal. Even before the “official” announcement and kickoff of this Matching Gift program, Hope has already received at least $100,000 toward this initiative! We welcome further contributions to this Matching Gift Pool. This is a hopeful indication that our financial goal can be reached to the benefit of the entire Hope family and our local community. More information about this fund-raising effort will be announced within days, so please prayerfully search your hearts and consider how you might help move the Hope South Campus Worship Center Building Project to the commencement of construction.
We are very grateful to Hope members and guests for their continued commitment to the Worship Center project and for supporting Hope's mission to Know Christ and to Make Christ Known.
Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
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