A Come-As-You-Are Church in the Heart of Keller
New Hope Lutheran Church sits in a residential stretch of Willis Lane in Keller, Texas, and has been a steady Sunday morning presence since the congregation first gathered in nearby Watauga on March 20, 1994. The church moved into its present home in July 1997, but the welcoming spirit that defined those first meetings has not changed. Three simple invitations still frame everything the church does: come as you are, come make a difference, and come to belong.
Sunday Worship with Communion at Every Service
Worship at New Hope centers on a single Sunday morning service at 10:30 am, held in the sanctuary on Willis Lane. Holy Communion is celebrated at every service, reflecting the congregation's commitment to sacramental worship as one of its guiding principles. Childcare is provided for infants through three-year-olds, freeing parents of the youngest children to take part in the service. Pastor Miles Holder leads the liturgy, supported by Parish Lay Minister Scott Martin and Pianist and Choir Director Bruno Ribeiro.
Visitors can expect a relaxed atmosphere. The church is explicit about dress: come dressed up if that is your custom, and come casual if it is not. The congregation describes itself as people who work hard during the week and have carved out a Sunday morning to worship God, give thanks, and connect with neighbors. Services are also available to watch online through the church's online channel.
New Hope Christian School
Founded in 1997 alongside the move to the Willis Lane campus, New Hope Christian School is a ministry of the congregation and a daily presence in the life of the church. The school offers Pre-School, Kindergarten, Before and After Care, and a Summer Camp program. Director Elizabeth Kunkler and Assistant Director Doreen Perez lead a program built on the mission of developing lifelong learners who know Christ and His teachings. Spots have been advertised in the three-year-old and Pre-K classrooms. The school's own site at nhcskeller.org carries full enrollment details.
Music and Prayer
Music holds a prominent place at New Hope. The Joyful Noise Choir and the Praise Team prepare music for weekly worship and special Christmas performances. Prayer is woven through the life of the congregation as well, sustained by a Prayer Chain that members can call on for personal and shared concerns. A Caring Ministry, which includes Stephen Ministry and Tender Care, walks alongside members through illness, grief, and difficult seasons.
Children, Youth, and Adults
Children and youth at New Hope have a full slate of programs: Children's Church during worship, Children's Sunday School, a Confirmation class, an annual Vacation Bible School, and a Back to School Bash each fall. Men and women gather separately and together through monthly breakfasts, Bible studies, the Soul Sisters women's ministry, retreats, and conferences. Bible studies and a Tuesday evening Bible Based Recovery group at 7:00 pm round out the education ministries, giving adults several weekly touchpoints for study and support.
Fellowship and Outreach
The life of the church extends well beyond Sunday morning. Fellowship events include a progressive dinner, pool parties with a barbecue, a church picnic, and theater nights. Outreach is anchored by an annual Spring Festival and ongoing community service, with the congregation regularly supporting local partners including Keller Community Storehouse, Christ's Haven, and CEC. A guiding principle says it plainly: every member has gifts of service, and the church's task is to put those gifts to work in the neighborhood around Willis Lane.
Rooted in the ELCA
New Hope Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Evangelical Church in America (ELCA) within the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod. The congregation's mission statement sums up its calling in four words: Boldly Sharing God's Word.