1958-2007

1958      Pastor Bud Roufs conducts first worship service, May 25
               First Sunday School classes, September 7
1959      Add second worship service and Sunday School session
1961      Build education wing
1962      Begin holding three worship services and Sunday School sessions
1966      Pastor Frank Lee begins ministry (-1970)
1968      Construct "round" sanctuary, nursery and kitchen
1970      Pastor Darrel Gilbertson begins ministry (-1974)
               Pastor John Elverum begins ministry (-1992)
1974      Pastor Roland Martinson begins ministry (-1977)
1975      Sponsor our first refugee family
               Remodel education wing
1978      Pastor David Johnson begins ministry (-2006)
1979      Call first full-time youth director
1980      Hope is Alive Outside worship begins
1981      Pastor Paul Leslie begins ministry (-1984)
1982      Charter Hope Lutheran Foundation
               TOT Sunday School begins in January
1983      Eric McIntyre begins Worship & Music ministry (-1998)
1984      Pastor Charles Olmstead begins ministry
1985      WINGS children's ministry begins
               Hope Hangout for youth begins
1986      Marilyn Wahlgrenjoins office staff (named Business Administrator 
                  1998)
1987      Dedicate Fellowship Center & nursery addition
               Pastor Harvey Gilbertson begins visitation ministry (-1998)
               Alternative worship service in Fellowship Center
1988      Begin missionary sponsorship
1990      Add 2nd alternative service in Fellowship Center
               Dedicate new pipe organ
               Over 1000 children in Sunday School
               Bill Haaland is hired as head custodian
1991      JoEllen Solberg begins counseling ministry (-2001)
1992      John Coler is hired as Youth Ministry Director (-2004)
               Pastor Tom Holtey begins ministry (-1998)
               Hope South worship begins 10/13 at Centennial
               Pastors Mark & Kathy Vitalis Hoffman begin ministry (-2002)
1993      Peggy Pepsin is hired for Confirmation Ministry
1994      Hope South Worship moves to Discovery School
               “A Journey Called Hope”
1995      Groundbreaking at Hope Lutheran - North & South
               North Campus office wing is completed in October
               First services at South Campus: Christmas Eve
1996      Church Council is reorganized to better serve ministry areas
               Hope online at www.fargohope.org
               Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Project
               3 morning worship services at South Campus
1997      Jackie Berndt is hired for Children’s Ministry
               Hans Vigesaa joins Youth Ministry staff (-2000)
               Wednesday Night Faith Steps begins at South Campus
1998      Amy Vigesaa joins staff as Director of Worship and Music (-2000)
               Pastor Robert L. Anderson begins ministry
               Friday Night Worship & Faith Steps begins at South Campus
               Observing “40 Years of Hope”
1999      Pastor Steve Bakke begins ministry (-2002)
               Alpha Course begins
               Ann Seczko is named HopeCare Coordinator
               North Campus services are all held in Sanctuary
               hopekids.asp begins at South Campus
2000      “Continuing the Journey Called Hope”
               Phil Meyer joins staff as Director of Worship & Music (-2002)
2001      Groundbreaking at South Campus
               Wednesday Worship & Faith Steps begins at North Campus
               hopekids.asp begins at North Campus
               Hope Preschool becomes part of our ministry
2002      Andria Messelt (Olson) joins Youth Ministry (relocates to Worship Arts in
                  2006)
               Jeremy Johnson joins Youth Ministry (-2007)
               Pastor Paul Nynas begins ministry
               Julie Joyce Smith is named Director of Worship & Music (-2006)
               North Campus remodeling/updating is completed
               South Campus Sanctuary addition is completed
               1st Annual HopeFest
2003      Pastor Kevan Smith begins ministry
2004      Jennifer Anderson joins office staff
               Diane Nelson named Director of Women’s Ministry
               Priscilla Smith named Hospitality Director for the North Campus
2005      Steve Sjoberg joins staff as Director of Communications and
                   Technology
                Sarah Seibold & Jacki Torfin join Youth and Family Ministry
                FUEL (Young Adult Worship) begins
2006       CONNECT (5th & 6th grades) begins
                1st Annual Family VBS
                Pastor Gary Clark begins ministry
                Pastor David Johnson retires