Key Events in Our History
November 2005
Pastor Greg hears God's call to plant a church. He is authorized by our bishop to organize a congregation in the De Pere area. Pastor Greg begins working as a full-time volunteer, with the title, "Church Planter."
March 31, 2006
A "Core Team" of six people gathers in the dining room of Pastor Greg's home to worship, seeking God's help for starting a church. From March through September, the team meets a few hours weekly to coordinate "the launch." Team members personally donate nearly $200,000 to this ministry, as well as countless hours of prayers and labor.
April 2006
The Core Team begins negotiations for leasing space in the former Swan Club at 1950 Dickinson Road. Team members agree that it can be renovated into an excellent church facility, and that the location has great visibility to the community. A lease is signed in June 2006, and members purchase the property in 2007.
May 12, 2006
After several weeks of prayerful consideration, the Core Team selects "New Hope United Methodist Church" as the name for the future congregation. The Team prays "that the new church will indeed be an instrument of God in bringing new hope to people."
Summer 2006
Extensive renovations on 6,200 square feet of space begin in July, and are completed in September. Team members observe, "It may not have a steeple on the outside, but it is an excellent church facility on the inside."
September 24, 2006
New Hope holds its Grand Opening, with a 9:00 a.m. contemporary worship service attended by 114 persons. A few dozen guests from surrounding churches are excited to learn that more than 60 persons are now committed to participating in the church. This is a tenfold increase since March! New Hope's staff is introduced, including a full-time office manager, three youth directors, two children's coordinators, and a director of music. All, including Pastor Greg, serve as volunteers!
October 1, 2006
Sunday School classes are launched, with 7 children and 3 teachers in attendance. Two Bible study groups for adults are launched later in the month.
October 29, 2006
An altar is donated by Bellin Memorial Hospital (formerly Methodist Deaconess Hospital), coming from the hospital's original chapel. We are amazed to discover that the altar fits exactly in its "nook," as if designed for that spot.
December 2006
We celebrate many "firsts" this month, including our first baptisms, our first reception of church members, our first Christmas Pageant, our first Christmas Eve service, and our first church dinner.
February 25, 2007
Our second weekly worship service is launched in the middle of a blizzard. The 10:30 a.m. worship is attended by eight persons. Despite a foot of unplowed snow on the ground, two first-time visitors attend and join the church shortly thereafter.
March 2007
We send out our first Volunteer-in-Mission team, which travels to New Orleans to help with hurricane recovery efforts there.
April 2007
New Hope celebrates its first Easter. Attendance is 138 at 9:00 a.m., and 71 at 10:30 a.m., for a total of over 200 persons!
September 2007
New Hope observes the anniversary of its first worship service. The congregation now has 81 adult members, 30 children and youth, and several dozen active constituents.
October 2007
Some participants at New Hope purchase New Hope's meeting location, the former Swan Club at 1950 Dickinson Road. The congregation begins plans for eventually constructing a church building at this site.
January 2008
New Hope enters into a mission partnership with a church in Bulgaria. The congregation in the city of Russe, Bulgaria was one of only three Methodist churches in the entire country to survive four decades of communist persecution. Since the fall of communism, the church in Russe has helped to launch three dozen new congregations. New Hope raises funds so that a pastor can begin serving there.
January 20, 2008
New Hope "church planter," Pastor Greg, is presented with his first paycheck, after more than two years of volunteer service. He will be paid half-time until the congregation grows enough to support full-time pay.
April 2008
Seven New Hope members begin training and preparations for a ten-day mission trip to Bulgaria in June.
May 18, 2008
New Hope is chartered as a permanent congregation of the United Methodist Church. The 4:00 p.m. celebration includes a worship to admit charter members, followed by the congregation's first Charge Conference.
June 2008
Pastor Greg is recognized by our denomination with the Denman Evangelism Award, for his work in launching our congregation.
Summer 2008
New Hope hires its first full-time lay staff members: Director of Ministries Patti Bacher, and Office Manager Michelle Lake, join Pastor Greg on the church's staff. Several additional persons continue to serve as volunteer staff, including youth directors, children's coordinators, and musicians. Rev. Daniel Topalski is appointed as mission pastor of our partner congregation in Russe, Bulgaria.
Fall 2008
Somerville Architects present a long range plan for our property. A sanctuary will be constructed to the east of our present facility, followed by a new educational facility to the south of the sanctuary.
November 2008
New Hope members donate 435 pounds to our local food pantry, in our largest food drive yet!
December 2008
A two-way "Skype" video connection is set up with our partner mission church in Bulgaria, so that our two congregations can worship together. Both congregations find this experience so meaningful that we agree to do this several times a year.
April 2009
We celebrate as eleven youth from our first Confirmation Class profess their faith in Christ and are confirmed.
June 2009
New Hope member Jay Hamann is recognized by our denomination with the Denman Evangelism Award. Dozens of New Hope participants were personally invited to church by Jay!
August 2009
We construct additional classroom space in our building, to accommodate the growth of our Sunday School and other classes and groups.
Fall 2009
On the third anniversary of our first worship service, many new ministries are launched, including "Financial Peace University," "DivorceCare," a Parish Nurse Ministry, several new Bible studies, and a new group for parents of young children.
October 2009
After six New Hope members make a second mission trip to Bulgaria in July, we bring four members of the Bulgarian church to the United States. In addition to sharing with New Hope members, they meet with church leaders from around the U.S. to build support for additional mission projects in Bulgaria.
January 2010
New Hope now has 320 persons actively involved in our ministries, including 140 adult members and lots of children, youth, and friends!
New Hope has a mission of sharing biblical truths in ways that are relevant to your life. We are an outreach of the United Methodist Church, which is open to all people. United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith. We encourage you to read more at the United Methodist Church website. Or, attend our worship services or other programs and ask lots of questions. Go ahead – be nosy!