The area's largest Lutheran church is looking to get a bit bigger.
Fargo's Hope Lutheran Church is kicking off a $4 million capital fund appeal today to renovate and expand its two campuses.
The work will primarily focus on improving youth and family areas, including additional classrooms, a nursery and library. Construction work would ideally begin in 2009, said the Rev. Chuck Olmstead, senior pastor.
"We have the privilege and responsibility of 2,000 kids coming through here every week, or 200 baptisms here every year," Olmstead said. "That is a huge responsibility and privilege we have as a congregation."
The "Building Bridges to a Living Hope" campaign includes $150,000 to help build a medical clinic in the Central African Republic. The congregation previously built a church in the same area.
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"Folks are seeing the need to be engaged globally," Olmstead said.
The church also hopes to serve as a regional training ground for new pastors by partnering with Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Hope will host interns who will serve at the Fargo megachurch as well as in a rural North Dakota congregation, Olmstead said.
An informational packet about the campaign is being mailed to Hope members this week. The church claims about 9,000 baptized members.
Hope Lutheran started in 1958 on Fargo's north side. In 1995, it opened a south campus on 25th Street.
Marilyn Guy, co-director of the capital campaign, said it's the "next step in a very successful journey Hope Lutheran has had in our community for 50 years."
She said the church is asking for financial commitments over a three-year time period. The church has never raised this large of a sum.
"Anytime you go on to a capital campaign, you always hope you have been conservative in your request, yet you know we need to have a real stretch within our congregation to meet that," Guy said.
Online
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- Hope Lutheran Church: www. fargohope.org
Readers can reach Forum reporter Sherri Richards at (701) 241-5525 Hope Lutheran Church kicks off $4M campaign Sherri Richards 20080116
