Lutheran Church of Hope sits on the corner of Ashworth Road and Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa, the home campus of a multi-site Lutheran congregation that launched in 1994. In 2022, Outreach magazine named Hope the fastest-growing church in America. The West Des Moines campus describes itself as Christ-centered, Spirit-led and Bible-based, with a mission to "reach out to the world around us and share the everlasting love of Jesus Christ" and a vision to be "powered by the Spirit to bring Christ to all cultures, revive the world with God's love and make heaven more crowded." Hope is a member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), a fellowship of more than 1,000 Christ-centered churches.
The original West Des Moines campus anchors a network that now includes seven campuses (Ames, Ankeny, Grimes, Hope+Elim in Des Moines, Iowa City and Waukee) and eight local sites across Iowa and beyond. Even so, the West Des Moines location remains the flagship, with six weekend services, a chapel-based traditional liturgy, a Wednesday noon service, and a Thursday night gathering for young adults, all under one roof.
Six Weekend Services, Two Worship Styles
Hope runs Contemporary Celebration Services and a Traditional Service side by side. The Celebration Services meet in the Worship Center on Saturday at 5:00 pm and on Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:00 am, with a relaxed, acoustic, communion-style service at 5:00 pm. The Saturday service is described as come-as-you-are and Spirit-filled; the early Sunday 8:00 am service is shorter and quieter with the same music; the 9:15 and 11:00 am services draw the largest crowds with high-energy worship; and the 5:00 pm service offers a calmer setting with acoustic music and weekly communion.
ASL interpretation is provided at the 9:15 am Sunday service, and Spanish interpretation via headset is available at the 11:00 am service. All Celebration Services are livestreamed at HopeOnline.tv, and past messages are archived on Hope's YouTube channel.
The Traditional Service in the Chapel
At 9:00 am on Sundays, the Traditional Service meets in Hope's Chapel. The service uses traditional Lutheran liturgy drawn from the Lutheran Book of Worship, with robe-wearing pastors, liturgical colors on the altar, classic organ-led hymns, weekly Holy Communion, and performances by the Hope Orchestra, Chapel Brass and Adoration Chapel Choir. The service is livestreamed on YouTube each week, and breakfast is served in The Bridge afterward.
The Wednesday Express Service
For those who want a midday reset, the Wednesday Express Service meets in the Chapel at 12:00 pm. The service runs forty minutes or less and includes a Bible-centered message, high-energy worship and Holy Communion. It is livestreamed on Hope's YouTube channel and at HopeOnline.tv.
REVIVE for Young Adults
On Thursday nights at 7:00 pm, the Chapel becomes the home of REVIVE, Hope's Spirit-led worship for young adults in their 20s and 30s. The service features music, announcements, a Bible reading and a relevant message, and runs about 75 minutes. Childcare for ages 11 and under is offered in the nursery from 6:45 to 8:30 pm, and a Family Room is available in the back of the Chapel for parents who want to keep their children nearby.
Kairos for College Students
College students find their own worship experience through Kairos, Hope's ministry for university communities. Kairos meets during the school year in Ames on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm at The Link near Iowa State, in Iowa City on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm at Old Brick on East Market Street, in Cedar Valley on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm in the basement of Maucker Union, and in Des Moines on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at Hope+Elim. The name Kairos is a Greek word meaning "opportune time or defining moment for us to find new life."
A Building Designed for Hospitality
The West Des Moines campus sits at 925 Jordan Creek Parkway. Members and visitors arrive to find the Atrium, where the Connect, Grow, Serve area hosts the assistive listening devices available for anyone who needs them. Assistive listening devices and wheelchair-accessible facilities are part of the building's design. HopeKids classrooms, the Nursery, PowerLife and Ignition meeting rooms, the Chapel, the Worship Center, the Choir Room and The Bridge are all organized to allow families with children of every age to move between ministries without leaving the building.
The Bridge is also the place to eat. Dinner is served after the Saturday 5:00 pm service, breakfast is offered Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 11:00 am, and freewill-offering meals accompany Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday programming throughout the week. Café Hope is on site as well, open to the public and serving coffee, breakfast and lunch. One hundred percent of the café's profits support Hope's local and global mission partners, and meeting rooms can be reserved for small businesses or small group studies.
Children and Students at Hope
Children's and student ministry is one of the largest areas of programming at Hope, and the church works hard to keep families together on a single campus. Nursery care is offered during all weekend services for children from six weeks through age three, with separate rooms for infants (Hope Minis), toddlers (Hope Toddlers) and children working on potty training (Pre-HopeKids). The nursery opens 15 minutes before each service and is staffed by paid, background-checked caregivers.
HopeKids (Age 3 through Grade 5)
HopeKids is Hope's high-energy weekend program for potty-trained children from age 3 (by September 15) through grade 5. Children experience dynamic teaching and upbeat worship songs during an opening session, then rotate through breakout activities. HopeKids meets during the 9:15 and 11:00 am Sunday services. A Wednesday version, HopeKids Wednesdays, runs from 6:00 to 7:15 pm during the school year for children in grades K-5, with relational small groups followed by large group time.
PowerLife (Grades 6-8) and Confirmation
PowerLife is Hope's confirmation ministry for junior high students. It meets on Wednesdays during the school year, with grades 6 and 7 gathering from 6:00 to 7:15 pm and grade 8 from 6:45 to 8:00 pm. Students explore the Bible, ask challenging questions and confirm their faith in Jesus Christ through a three-year program of worship, prayer and study. All eighth graders are invited to publicly confirm their faith at the end of the program.
Ignition (Grades 9-12)
High school students meet for Ignition on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. The evening opens with large group worship and a message in the Worship Center, moves into small groups with adult leaders from 8:15 to 8:45 pm, and ends with community time for snacks and games. On the first Wednesday of each month, the night extends for a longer gathering called Late-Night Ignition. A follow-up Bible study called The Follow-Up meets Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
One Body for Children and Adults With Special Needs
One Body is Hope's ministry for families affected by special needs. At Hope West Des Moines, the team collaborates with parents to choose appropriate programming for children and students who have special needs in behavior, physical, cognitive or medical areas. Buddies serve alongside kids in HopeKids, PowerLife and Ignition, and adapted lessons are offered in separate classrooms when needed. One Body is also available during Vacation Bible School. For adults, a One Body Adult Bible Study meets on Thursdays from 7:00 to 7:45 pm in Room 151.
Nursery, Preschool and Daycare
Hope West Des Moines operates a Children's Center daycare for children from six weeks until kindergarten, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. The center divides children into Rolli Pollis (infants), Tiny Turtles (6 to 12 months), Little Lambs (1- to 2-year-olds), Playful Penguins (2-year-olds), and Pre-K classrooms that combine daycare and preschool. Morning snacks, hot lunch and afternoon snacks are provided, and the center partners with Hope's preschool program on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. Hope Preschool serves 3-year-olds, Pre K and Transitional Kindergarten, running from the first day after Labor Day through mid-May.
Hope Sports
Hope Sports offers clinics, leagues and events for athletes age four and up, along with their parents and coaches. Youth activities include football, volleyball, basketball, soccer and cheer and dance, while adult offerings cover cycling, yoga and kinetic stretching, adult leagues and coaching development.
Adults: Groups, Classes and Growth
Hope describes small groups as the heart of adult community life. Hope Groups (formerly Life Groups) are gatherings of 8 to 12 people who meet off-site in homes, coffee shops or wherever they choose to pray, study, grow and serve together. Three main paths connect newcomers to a group: Group Studies, the Alpha course, and Interest Groups. Alpha is offered three times a year in January, April and September and is described as a starting point for anyone exploring Christianity, wanting to grow in their faith, or hoping to form new relationships.
Hope also offers hundreds of classes and events for men, women, seniors, families and those seeking support, along with specialized ministries such as:
- Men of Hope, with Bible studies, large group worship, breakfasts and small group discussions meeting almost every day of the week. The Men's Pastor oversees the ministry and resources like The BibleProject App, Fathering in 15 and the Parent Cue App for Dads are recommended for fathers.
- Women of Hope, offering classes, events, small groups and service projects for women of all ages and life stages, with a monthly newsletter from Pastor Ashley Lentz.
- Encore (50+), a ministry for those over 50 featuring monthly breakfasts at the Machine Shed Restaurant, monthly game days, luncheons with speakers and musical programs, movie days, field trips to the Des Moines Playhouse and group travel through Fellowship Travelers.
- Creative Arts Ministry, offering classes in dance, poetry, watercolor, cartooning, acrylic and oil painting, plein air painting, charcoal, pastels and jewelry-making. Artists paint live during Christmas and Easter services, artwork from Hopesters rotates through the atrium's gallery walls, and open studio groups include Prayer Shawl Ministry (Mondays, 10:00 am to noon), Adult Open Art Studio (first and third Thursdays, 7:00 to 9:00 pm), Hope Wood Carvers (first Saturday, 10:00 am to noon), Hope Quilters (second Friday and second Saturday at Hope Waukee) and Kids' Art Workshop: Pray & Paint (second Saturday, 10:30 to 11:30 am).
- Hope en Español, the Spanish-language ministry. The Sunday 11:00 am service is interpreted into Spanish through headsets picked up in the Atrium, and recorded translations are posted to a dedicated YouTube channel each Wednesday. The ministry offers Spanish Alpha twice a year, followed by a class called After Alpha, along with prayer and English classes.
- Choirs and Music Groups, including the PRAISE! Adult Choir (rehearsals Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:15 pm in the Choir Room), the Rejoice! Youth Choir for grades 3 to 8, the Adoration Chapel Choir, the Chapel Brass, the Hope Orchestra, the Ring of Hope Handbells, and Hope Worship, the church's music ministry that records for streaming platforms.
Care, Recovery and Support
The Care Team at Hope is a constant presence across the campus. Celebrate Recovery meets in the Worship Center every Thursday night, 52 weeks a year, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, with dinner and fellowship from 5:00 to 6:15 pm. The program follows the eight recovery principles based on the Beatitudes and is designed for anyone dealing with hurts, habits or hang-ups including alcohol, drugs, codependency, fear, depression, anxiety, abuse, food issues, grief and loneliness. Nursery care is available for children up to age 5, and Celebration Place is offered for children age 5 through grade 6. Step Studies provide a deeper, longer-term path through the 12 steps.
Hope also hosts numerous ongoing support groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous (multiple weekly meetings across Hope campuses), Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, a Dementia Support Group, Devotions Through Deployment for military families, a Fauna Transplant Support group, Foster Care and Adoption Support, a Gamblers' Support Group, Grace for Addictions (at Hope+Elim), Grieving Mothers of Hope, Incarcerated Families Support (at Hope Ankeny), an LGBTQIA+ Listening Group, Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL), Parents of Estranged Adult Children (PEAC), and Postpartum Support for Moms.
Care Classes include DivorceCare and GriefShare (each offered twice a year at Hope West Des Moines), Surviving the Holidays, and Hope One-2-One Care, which matches trained volunteers one-on-one with individuals going through a difficult season. Hospital visits and funeral services are coordinated through the Care Team, and prayer is always a part of the church's rhythm.
The Pantry at Hope
The Pantry at Hope is an open food pantry, available to anyone in need of food assistance. Guests enter through the northeast building entrance and shop for food on Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, up to twice per month. Volunteers help stock shelves and assist guests, and financial gifts can be made through Hope's online giving portal to keep the shelves stocked. As a participating institution with the USDA, The Pantry is an equal opportunity provider.
Senior Living Outreach
Hope reaches beyond its walls through Senior Living Outreach, which brings worship, Bible study and communion to residents at senior living communities throughout the Des Moines metro. Worship services, Bible studies and live broadcasts of Hope's Sunday services are scheduled monthly or weekly at locations including Arbor Springs in West Des Moines, Brio of Johnston, Copperwood at Prairie Trail in Ankeny, Edencrest at Kettlestone in Waukee, Edencrest at Timberline in Urbandale, Edgewater in West Des Moines, Glen Meadows Retirement Community in West Des Moines, Grand Living at Tower Place in West Des Moines, Granger Nursing Home, Harmony West Des Moines, Independence Village of Waukee, Meadowview of Clive, Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Care Center in West Des Moines and The Bridges at Ankeny.
Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
Baptisms are a regular part of life at Hope and are offered for infants, children and adults by both sprinkling and full immersion. Baptisms are scheduled at Hope West Des Moines on Sundays during the 9:00 am Traditional Service (twice a month), in the Worship Center following the 11:00 am Celebration Service (weekly), in the Worship Center during the 5:00 pm Celebration Service (monthly), and once a quarter as full-immersion services. A Baptism Class is offered the first Thursday of every month, and those who complete the class can schedule a baptism.
Weddings at Hope are scheduled on Saturdays at 3:30 pm or earlier in the Chapel, which seats 300, with the rehearsal the night before at 5:30 pm. Couples are asked to attend a Pre-Marriage Class, offered four times a year in either a five-week or weekend format. Hope also schedules small family weddings in the Prayer Garden for groups of 20 or fewer.
Funeral services are coordinated by the Care Team and pastoral staff. There is no charge for a funeral service or the optional luncheon served afterward as a gift from Hope. Services can be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person, and memorial bricks can be ordered for Hope's Prayer Garden.
Local and Global Missions
Missions are central to Hope's identity. The Local Missions team coordinates The Pantry, partnerships with dozens of nonprofits serving those affected by homelessness, low-income hardship and food insecurity, and seasonal drives throughout the year: the Souper Bowl Food Drive in February, the Lent Project in February and March, the Vacation Bible School Mission Project in July, the Back-to-School Drive in August, Thanksgiving Meal Packaging in November and the Advent Project in December. Local donation partners include Hope Furniture Ministry, Many Hands Thrift Market, West Des Moines Human Services and WayPoint Resources.
Global Mission Trips connect Hope members with partners around the world, including Homes of Hope in Tijuana, Mexico; Rehoboth Christian School in New Mexico; Many Hands on Abaco, The Bahamas; MDM medical missions in Honduras; Robin's Nest Children's Home in Jamaica; ENLACE in El Salvador; Blessman International in South Africa; GlobeServe in Ghana; Convoy of Hope in West Virginia and the Texas Hill Country; Habitat for Humanity in Nepal; and ChildVoice in northern Uganda. A Missions 101 class and an annual Global Missions Fair help connect newcomers to the work.
Giving, the Hope Foundation and Building Hope for Tomorrow
Hope frames giving as a matter of faith between the individual and God. Pastors do not know and do not want to know what individual members give. Members and supporters can give online, by text ("GIVE" plus an amount to 515-219-9093), by dropping off or mailing a check, by contributing non-cash gifts such as stocks and bonds, and through the Hope Foundation's planned and deferred gift options including wills, trusts, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts and life insurance. Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs are also accepted.
The Hope Foundation, managed in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, sustains Hope's ministries and missions for the long term through both endowed Legacy funds and ten-year Hope funds. The Foundation also supports the Building Hope for Tomorrow campaign, a giving initiative to create and renovate holy spaces that will serve Hope's mission and outreach for generations to come.
Getting in Touch
The Hope West Des Moines office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and can be reached at 515-222-1520. The address is 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Email addresses for general inquiries, finance, missions, weddings and more are available on the church's contact page, and newcomers can fill out a quick online form to connect with a staff member. Worship services are also livestreamed, with past messages available at HopeOnline.tv and on Hope's YouTube channel, so anyone in Iowa or across the country can worship alongside the West Des Moines campus from wherever they are.