top of page

About Our Church

Hope Lutheran Church History

Hope Lutheran Church has served the Driving Park neighborhood since 1918, when the children and grandchildren of German immigrants moved into the area. In the 1960s, the congregation intentionally became a multicultural and intergenerational community of faith, seeking to serve all persons in Driving Park and beyond.

 

Hope Lutheran Church facilities consist of a handsome stone building constructed in 1955 that contains a large worship space, a fellowship hall, offices, and several classrooms. The congregation also owns a duplex dwelling adjacent to the church and several vacant lots that include additional parking and community play spaces.

About the Pastor


Pastor Smeck is grateful to serve with the people of Hope. She is originally from the central Ohio area, growing up in Baltimore. She graduated from Ohio State, and attended seminary at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
She returned to Columbus after serving St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan for
twenty-four years.

 

“I love to worship with the people of Hope. The congregation worships. The musicians are
outstanding, and the congregational singing is powerful. People worship God at Hope, whether
in person or on-line. It is such a blessing to serve with people of such deep faith. I’m also
grateful to be part of Hope’s ministry in the community. While COVID Chas made that ministry
evolve, what is exciting is the congregations’ abiding commitment to the neighborhood. And
Jesus!

Staff
Evie Cansler: Secretary
Justin Brent: Custodian

Council Members:
Sarah Stone: President
Michel Leonhart: Vice President
Lawrence Hendrix: Treasurer
Janet
Ligon: Secretary
Alfrieda Watts
Adam Viney
Vince Hendrix
Beverly Chavis



Musicians:
Pianist: Jacob Campbell
Drummer: Seth Daily
Bassist: Dan Abell 
Guitarist: Kurt Keljo

bottom of page