Following four

months of door-to-door visits, an interest meeting was held Jan. 16, 1977,

with 54 people in attendance.

Halenza relates

his memories of the first few months and the people he visited: "A

Baptist minister's son who had not been in church in 14 years; a Lutheran

couple who was worshipping with a Methodist congregation because there

was no Lutheran church in the area; Presbyterians and Catholics and Methodists

seeking a church home; a Moslem thinking about converting to Christianity;

lifelong Lutherans excited about the prospect of forming a new congregation;

people who believed with all their heart; people who weren't quite sure

they believed anymore; people seeking hope ... this is the story of Christ

Our Hope Lutheran Church."

On Feb. 13,

1977, the first worship service was held at Community Christian Church

and 127 people gathered.

The congregation

grew to the point where it was able to officially organize on Oct. 23,

1977, with 178 baptized members. For the next three years, the congregation

met at Community Christian for worship and Sunday school.

The need for

a building soon became apparent and on May 18, 1980, the first unit was

dedicated.

"This

new home enabled the congregation to establish strong programs, particularly

in the area of education and youth," Halenza said, "Also, it

was a period in which the congregation began to take seriously its commitment

to serve the community and became involved in the Redeemer Soup Kitchen

and Mental Health programs."

Rapid growth

in membership brought about the need for additional space and on Nov.

4, 1984, an educational-fellowship wing and a remodeled first unit were

dedicated.

Hardly before

the paint was dry, merger discussions with the Lutheran Church of the

Good Shepherd were initiated. The merger occurred on June 2, 1985, and

added more than 170 baptized members to the congregation. In addition,

Pastor Carl Berkobin of the Good Shepherd, became the co-pastor. Education

and youth ministries were strengthened and new programs were developed

to serve all age groups. Commitment to the community was increased with

involvement in more community programs. A second wing was added.

The 1990s brought

about some painful years of transition and membership slowly declined.

The areas of growth were far south of the congregation and the community

became more racially diverse.

But the congregation

dedicated itself to fulfilling its original purpose of being a diverse

congregation that welcomed all people and reflected the community it served.

As the new century dawned, the church paid off its mortgage and became

debt-free.

"After

25 years, Christ Our Hope is seeing the original vision become a reality,"

Halenza said. "We are a multiracial, multinational congregation that

welcomes all and seeks to serve all; a congregation that seeks to be Christ

and bring Christ to others. At the heart of the story of growth and serving

has been the caring of people for one another. In the midst of the great

joys and the terrible tragedies and the deep confusion, people have been

there for one another and God's love has been experienced in a very real

way."

Halenza says

the church's story has been an exciting one of growth in the congregation

and commitment to the community. "It's a story of people of all colors

and all backgrounds coming together in great hope. And, through the faith

and dedication of its members, Christ Our Hope will continue to be a story

of the wonder of what God can do in and through a congregation."

Christ our

Hope is at 2165 Ga. Hwy. 138, SW, near the Clayton-Fayette County line.

For information about the church or the special day's activities, call

770-997-7117.

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