Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, the largest church in Iowa, plans to expand its campus by 14,000 square feet, per a council meeting— including a gym, teen center and a larger food pantry.
Why it matters: The $20 million project, funded through donations, reflects the church’s efforts to encourage more in-person interactions and accommodate a growing congregation, Pastor Jeremy Johnson tells Axios.
State of play: The first phase of the project is underway, including the opening of Café Hope — a coffee shop and restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch, with all proceeds going to nonprofits like Genesis Youth Foundation.
- Other renovations include a new food pantry that helps around 70 families every Friday, Johnson says. They also plan on opening a sensory room.
The next phase is to construct a two-story addition at the northeast corner of the building, which will include a larger pantry and outreach center, a youth center for teens, and a gym that will offer group fitness classes, pickleball and basketball…