On Sunday, October 22, 2017, hundreds gathered to witness the Grand Opening of The Grove Church, HPUMC's new campus in North Dallas. The celebration marks the culmination of years of planning and prayer for the new campus.

“I'm grateful today to Highland Park United Methodist Church for once again reaching out beyond its own walls and moving into another place in the City of Dallas, so that people may be introduced to the God who loves them,” said Bishop Mike McKee of the North Texas Conference.

Campus Pastor, Rev. Stephen Lohoefer, offered thanks to all of those who helped turn his vision for the church into a reality.

“I cannot thank you enough for all of the support, encouragement, and prayers you have demonstrated over the last year,” he said. “So many of you have played such an important role in bringing The Grove into reality, and I am so deeply appreciative of you and so excited about what God has in store for us all.”

A new vision for The Grove Church

It was an image from the Old Testament that inspired the vision for the Grove.

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like trees planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

“We love the imagery of coming together as a neighborhood church and being the group of ‘fruit-bearing trees’ that Jeremiah writes about,” says Stephen.

The Grove’s ultimate hope is to become a church that lives out its faith in tangible ways, intentionally creating environments that gather people together, grow them closer to God, and inspire them to give back to their neighbors.

Going beyond ourselves

HPUMC announced plans for the new campus as part of a $65 million Beyond Capital Campaign. It's an initiative that's close to the heart of HPUMC's Senior Pastor, Rev. Paul Rasmussen.

"It's part of who we are," he says. "We believe that we are called to go forth and multiply."

In its 102-year-history, HPUMC has helped to fund or directly plant 41 churches. Rev. Rasmussen hopes to continue this legacy by planting several more local churches over the next five years.

“We hope to plant church after church as we continue to leverage the momentum we’ve been blessed with as we continue to spread the gospel to individuals and families across Dallas.”