Posted: 11/5/02

Hosanna Lutheran breaks ground

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Out of disaster comes opportunity. It is such a philosophy that has motivated the congregation of Hosanna Lutheran Church in the months following its devastating fire.

When next spring rolls around, Hosanna Lutheran expects to be in new and expanded quarters at its north complex. The congregation broke ground on Saturday marking the official start on the rebuilding project necessitated by a damaging fire on May 27.

More than 100 congregation members joined in the ground breaking program led by Pastors Michael Sparby and John Bjorge and rebuilding committee chair Bob Cole. Forest Lake Mayor Ray Daninger was also on hand to help with the ground breaking ceremony.

When completed, the new Hosanna Lutheran north campus will cover more than 36,000 square feet.

Expansion work is costed at $2.8 million. The rebuilding effort not only replaces church space lost to the fire but provides new area to accommodate future growth at Hosanna which has facilities in Forest Lake and Hugo.

Under the plan, the pre-fire square footage of 23,700 square feet will increase by 19,604 square feet to a grand total of 36,504 square feet. Along with new construction, the 16,900 square feet of remaining building is slated to be restored and remodeled.

Once completed, the church will have 12,804 square feet of net additional space.

The plan includes space for worship, the narthex, fellowship, kitchen, education wing, preschool space, administrative area and a chapel, music area and library.

According to Cole, 54 percent of space increase will meet Hosannaís growing ministry.

ìUpon completion of the 2002 rebuilding plan, the remaining component for our North Campus will be the eventual 740-seat sanctuary to be built on the west side of the current Great Hall,î Cole said.

The eventual complete build out of the North Campus makes outreach locations such as the South Campus (Hugo) important for expanding Hosannaís ministry, Cole said. The rebuilding plan will maximize the North Campus providing space for vital support staff and programs for the outreach locations, Cole added.

The rebuilding plan includes $460,000 for replacement of content and $150,000 for the South Campus Fund.

Growth a key

Church growth is a key factor in the rebuilding plan.

Hosanna records now count 1737 baptized members at the end of 2001. Church worship figures are also growing at a rate of 11 percent a year from 1999 to 2001. In 2001 Hosanna averaged attendance of 631 at Sunday services.

Because of the fire in 2002 and a disrupted worship plan at various locations, the average attendance is expected to be flat.

But by 2005, the church is projecting an average worship attendance of 863.

Key individuals

The church has many key individuals involved in the project. They include:

ïRebuilding committee: Cole, Len Wojtowicz, Jim Lundborg, Don Merrell, Craig Anderson, Renee Patterson, Richard Kennedy, Ross Ohman, Tom Jackson, Rich Bahnemann and Pastors Sparby and Bjorge.

ïCommunications: Charlie Hendrickson, Kathy Okeson and Julie Ohman.

ïSubcommittee chairs: Chrys Holland, interior designs; Joe Lefto, technology; Frank Stocco, kitchen; Bahnemann and Sid Stephen, landscape; and Jim Christensen, Al Holland and Roger Finnes, insurance advisory task force.

ïInvestment and financing: John Milbaurer, Lino Lakes State Bank.

McCarthy Construction is in charge of the building. The new church has been designed by Station 19 Architects. Guide One Insurance is also playing a key part of the rebuilding project.

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