Lake Zurich church changes name to The Hope Collective to reflect its mission

A Lake Zurich church known for offering hope to its community is now matching its name to its deeds.

After 38 years as the Alpine Chapel, the church is emerging as The Hope Collective. The new identity became official Sunday.

"It's more than a new name," Lead Pastor Dave Mudd said. "It's a declaration of who we are and what we're about."

The chapel has long used the word "hope" in connection with its activities. In May, it offered "Hope Month," devoting each weekend to a service project.

One of those projects saw about four dozen church members gather in May to pray and write inspirational messages on the windows outside Wauconda Care, a nursing home in Wauconda that had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For us, the church is less about a place, a geographical place, and it's more about a people," Mudd said. "Hope isn't accomplished just because you're a place. It's accomplished because you're a people. So for us it was an identity issue."

The nondenominational church was formed in 1982 by a group of Lake Zurich families. Its first name was taken from Lake Zurich's identity as the Alpine Village.

Besides weekly services, the church offers a host of service programs, including a pantry which helps feed hundreds of families every week, a delivery team providing meals for shut-ins during the pandemic, a respite care ministry for families with special needs children, and support groups for teenage and single mothers.

Its campus at 23153 W. Miller Road is open to the community and includes a sand volleyball court and Frisbee golf course.

The name change, Mudd said, is a harbinger for other changes to "utilize the property that God has given us, not just for our own benefit, but for the community."

Plans call for a hoop greenhouse, raised garden beds, a basketball court and a handicap-accessible playground. The greenhouse will raise vegetables for the food pantry, as well as teach those who visit how to grow their own food.

To learn more, visit www.thehopeco.com.