10/06/2026
BY BRAD SALEIK The Fort Wayne Lutheran Editor
For more than a quarter of a century, Our Hope Lutheran Church in Huntertown stood unchanged, faithfully serving its congregation without any major structural additions.
Today, following nearly a full year of careful planning and five months of construction, a long-held dream has finally taken physical form on the church grounds.
The multifaceted expansion features a brand-new sacristy alongside an inviting front porte-cochère canopy and driveway, seamlessly matching the church’s existing brick structure.
The work marks Our Hope’s first major building endeavor in 27 years, made possible entirely by a generous endowment gift from the Henry Hartman family estate.
The Hartman family’s roots run deep at Our Hope Lutheran. Close to charter members, Henry and Patty Hartman supported the church from its earliest days. Patty served on the altar committee, where she witnessed firsthand the logistical headaches of preparing holy communion.
“They always had to take communion from the kitchen into the church,” remembered Cindy Fortman, who serves as the treasurer on the endowment committee.
“And Sunday morning, there were people everywhere, and she wanted a place specifically for communion elements, so they could do their business and not be interrupted by all the other traffic on Sunday morning.”
Patty envisioned a dedicated, quiet space where communion linens, altar paraments, and banners could be stored and prepared reverently.
Alongside that, she hoped for a sheltered entryway to welcome visitors safely out of the rain and snow.
Following family losses - including the passing of her husband Henry in 2004 and her sons Joe and Dan - Patty passed away in 2023, leaving behind funds dedicated to blessing the congregation.
The committee took a road trip, so to speak, to other churches in the area with these elements, including Concordia, Saint Peter’s and Praise on a fact-finding mission.
When committee members initially approached architect Matt Kelty, they assumed budget constraints would force them to make a tough choice between the covered entry or the sacristy.
“Well, we had a certain amount of money, and we went to the architect and said we want to do one or the other. And he was looking around, and he said, ‘Well, what about if you do both?’ Fortman remembered. “He said, ‘You have enough money in the gift to do both.’”
The congregation voted to proceed. Fort Wayne-based general contractor Zumbrun took on the build, breaking ground shortly after Easter in April.
The resulting sacristy provides Our Hope with organized spaces for pastors, elders, banners, and altar paraments. Outside, the porte-cochère extends over a newly paved drive, offering shelter for arriving parishioners.
For the committee, including Fortman, her husband Jim Fortman, Marlene Carpenter, and Arlene Georgi, shepherding the project was a heartfelt mission of remembrance.
“We probably were with Patty, visiting her a lot, and this is things that she talked about,” committee member Georgi said. “And this is why this committee was formed, because we really wanted to do it for Patty.”
Cindy Fortman echoed that purpose, noting that the committee stepped up so the family’s gift would fulfill Patty’s deep love for the Lord and her church.
“You know, there’s always other things you could do, but this was really important to her . . . they loved the Lord, and they wanted to show that in the gift to the church, and so we are always going to have a special place for our altar things because of their love for the Lord.”
With only minor finishing touches remaining, Our Hope Lutheran Church is preparing to host a dedication for the completion of this project during Sunday services this October, celebrating a vibrant new chapter built on enduring faith.
