FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – On Jan. 8, the congregation of Hope Lutheran Church, Elton-Adelphia Road, marked the 50th anniversary of the church’s incorporation.
A single festival service was held with Assistant to the Bishop Aaron Richter preaching, followed by a brunch and fellowship.
On April 2, a larger celebration will be held and members who have since left the community will be invited to return for a reunion and banquet, according to a press release.
According to a history of the church, on Jan. 8, 1967, the congregation of 26 families, led by its organizing pastor, Albert Gibson, established its constitution and became a formal member of the American Lutheran Church.
Since that time, more than 4,000 members have been associated with the church and the number continues to grow, according to the press release.
When Gibson retired in 1997, the congregation called the Rev. Dr. Patricia Medley, who accepted the call in late 1998. “Pastor Pat” served the congregation and the Freehold community for 18 years, until her retirement in June 2016.
The congregation is currently preparing to call a new pastor.
The congregation has experienced significant growth in recent years, with the addition of many members from Grace Lutheran in Freehold Borough, which held its final service in April 2016, according to the press release.
The Hope Christian School, in operation since October 1967, continues to provide preschool education to students from the Freehold area. Hope Lutheran continues its participation with Freehold’s Habitat for Humanity, Open Door and the Freehold Ministerium, providing shelter for homeless men during the winter months, according to the press release.
