Hope Lutheran Church (Park Forest, Illinois) Records

The congregation of Hope Lutheran Church was organized in the summer of 1952. The first worship service was held on July 20 at Lakewood School. The constitution and name of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church had been adopted by that August. As the congregation and Sunday School grew services were moved that fall to Sauk Trail School and later to Rich Township High School. The first church building was dedicated on October 24, 1954. Kindergarten opened in the fall of 1954, and in the fall of 1959, Hope opened an elementary school in a new educational building. Another school building was dedicated on January 31, 1960. Dedication of a second sanctuary occured on October 15, 1967. Hope Lutheran School closed in 1977. The basement of the original church building was remodeled to house the Little Angels Learning Center, opening on August 28, 1998. The Roots and Wings Before and After School program opened on August 21, 2000. The congregation closed in 2009.

Rev. Luther W. Bekemeier 1952-1976; Rev. RH Bekemeier, Associate 1965-1976; Rev. David L. Wacker 1977-1979; Rev. Robert L. Erickson 1980-1999; Rev. John W. Welge, Associate 1985-1997; Rev. Michael J. Heggen 1999- unknown