Chattanooga is sometimes considered the buckle of the Bible belt. However, even Chattanooga hasn't been immune to religious trends in our nation. More and more people are leaving the church. More and more people are growing up without a church. Chattanooga is growing rapidly and as it grows we want the gospel to spread and grow with it.
THE MISSION
Living Hope succeeds in its mission when hope forever in Jesus brings hope for every day in life.
THE CULTURE
Living Hope wants to be a family where real people give real hope to real people.
THE DREAM
Living Hope is a church where a person grows into whatever unique callings God gives them to do.
THE OUTREACH
Living Hope is designed not for people who have been here longest but for those who are not here yet.
***
Living Hope is a new church plant supported by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The WELS has existed since 1850 and is a group of nearly 400,000 people in 1,300 churches across the United States united by a common faith in Christ's saving love.
A group of WELS Christians living in the Chattanooga area saw the need for a Lutheran church on the growing east side of the city. The WELS had no church in the Chattanooga area and so the group requested the WELS to send a missionary for a new church plant.
In May of 2017, a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary was sent to Chattanooga, TN, to start this new church. Eric Melso and his wife Jennifer moved down in July. For about a year a core group was grown and trained, a space for worship was sought out and the news about the new Lutheran mission was spread.
Living Hope held it's official grand opening on September 9, 2018 at Regal Cinemas Hamilton Place. Up until the end of March 2020, Living Hope held worship at the movie theater and was blessed with growth and a fun space to gather around God's Word. When Covid-19 hit, the Regal Cinemas closed indefinitely and Living Hope held virtual worship only. For a time we met in a conference room of the new Springhill Suites hotel in Ooltewah on Old Lee Hwy and in the campus church of Southern Adventist University.
On December 13th, 2021 God blessed Living Hope with a worship facility of our very own! Come see our new space and be part of the new plans we have for renovating and improving our new, nearly 10,000 square foot building!
Living Hope invites you to be part of the next chapter in our story. Join us to find hope for your everyday and a place to belong.