Lutheran Church in Santa Rosa Beach, FL | Hope on the Beach Church

MISSION

Hope on the Beach Church's mission is aligned to God's Word, heart and work of the Holy Spirit. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV) Our mission is to Awaken Hearts to Jesus, Every Day! We are the church, everyone, wherever we go, everywhere, and no matter the day, everyday. The measurement of a great church is not Sunday, but how we live when we leave the building. We leave on mission!

GRACE, LOVE, HOPE

HOPE is what we share with the world.

LOVE calls us to grow.

GRACE is the foundation.

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VISION

While the church has always been a light of hope in the dark world, it has turned more inward and programed focus. Our vision is to make disciples throughout the Panhandle where people live, work, play and learn by shining the light of Christ in simple ways that awaken hearts to Jesus and unite us in His love and mission.

CORE VALUES

COURAGOUSLY RELYING ON GOD

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

ALLOWING GOD TO SHAPE US

Oh how I love your law, it is my meditation all the day; Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged because I keep your Precepts! (Psalm 119: 97-100)

GENUINELY LOVING GOD AND OTHERS

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34)

MULTIPLYING DREAM DISCIPLES

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
GENEROUSLY INVESTING IN HIS KINGDOM

But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

SENT DISCIPLE:

WORSHIP VALUES

Nonjudgmental
Biblical Preaching
Good Music
Casual Dress
Fellowship
Fun

OUR STORY

🕊️ Hope on the Beach Church — Timeline of God’s Work

Early 2000s — A Vision is Born

God planted a vision to reach the growing 30A and South Walton community with the hope of Jesus — especially those disconnected from traditional church life.

2003 — Mission Established

Hope on the Beach Church begins as a mission start of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), supported by the Florida-Georgia District.
Early worship gatherings meet in homes and local spaces, focused on relationships and outreach.

2005–2010 — Church Without Walls

Hope becomes known as a “church without walls”, worshiping on the beach, in parks, and in community centers.
The name “Hope on the Beach” reflects both the location and the mission — bringing the hope of Christ to the beach and beyond.

2012 — A Home Base Established

The congregation acquires property on South County Highway 393 in Santa Rosa Beach, creating a permanent home for ministry while maintaining its flexible, missional spirit.

2015–2020 — Growth and Impact

Hope expands with new ministries and deeper community engagement:

Launches small groups and discipleship paths
Leads community service and outreach efforts
Hosts beach baptisms, mission trips, and local partnerships
The church becomes a trusted, joyful presence in the community.

2020–2025 — Strengthening Leadership & Vision

Under Pastor Jason Scheler’s leadership, Hope focuses on leadership development, spiritual formation, and future growth.

Launch of SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) training program
Expansion of staff and lay leadership teams
Continued community outreach and digital ministry growth

2026 — Building the Future

Capital Campaign begins for the next phase of ministry
Pastor Christian transitions to full-time ministry and SMP program completion

2028–2030 — Preparing for the Next Generation

2028: Leadership team expanded; new facility plans advance
2029: New church building anticipated for completion
2030: Full ordination milestone and celebration of a decade of transformation and mission momentum

🌊 Today and Beyond

Hope on the Beach Church continues to live its calling —

“To bring the hope of Jesus to our community and beyond.”

Beach services, vibrant worship, discipleship, and community care remain at the heart of all Hope does — connecting people to Jesus in fresh, joyful, and life-changing ways.

OUR BELIEFS

An introduction to what Hope on the Beach Church believes.

We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, handed down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. In it, we learn everything we need to know about God's love and His gifts to us. 2 Timothy 3:16

The best statement of belief that summarizes what Scripture teaches about God is the Apostles Creed. This statement of belief was developed in the 4th Century.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

There is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God the Father is our maker and the creator of all things. By the Father's Word, all things were made, and we are His most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect bridge between God and humanity. He has redeemed us, or bought us back, from sin, death and the devil. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us for living out our faith. The Bible describes the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as being on the level of the One True God. While the Trinity is a man made term, it is a wholly Biblical understanding. (See Genesis 1:1-3, Matthew 3:16-17, and Ephesians 1 for a glimpse at Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the same place at the same time.)

We all fall short of God's expectations because we are all born "sinful". Sin can be summed up as all the things we say, think, do, and don't do, that don’t measure up to the holiness of God’s commands. Sin was brought into world when Satan lured the first people God created (Adam and Eve) into temptation through their own free will and weakness, breaking the perfect relationship between God and us (Genesis 3). From that point on, sin became part of our very existence. Because God also demands perfect obedience, our ultimate punishment became death (Romans 6:23).

Yet God is a loving God whose will is not for us to live in eternal punishment. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life He requires and to become our substitute. Christ never sinned - not even once - but He took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross on our behalf. When we believe, have faith, in Jesus Christ as our Savior, He bears our sin and gives us His forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

We believe, based on God’s Word and actions, that He has given Means of Grace for the growth and development of Christians in the Church. These means of grace, or spiritual gifts with physical elements, are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted and created both of these gifts in Matthew 28:19-20 (baptism) and during His last meal with the disciples as recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, and as summarized by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11. These gifts deliver forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation to all who receive these gifts in faith.