A Spiritual Hospital for Sinners on Kelly Street
Tucked into a block of North Kelly Street in Hobart, Indiana, Augustana Lutheran Church has long stood as a quiet landmark of Northwest Indiana Lutheran life. Members and neighbors describe it with a phrase borrowed from Martin Luther himself: a church that calls itself a "spiritual hospital for sinners." At Augustana, that phrase is not a slogan but a working description. The congregation is known in the region for opening its doors to people in recovery, to those grieving, to LGBTQ Christians, to the divorced, to the disillusioned, and to anyone who has wondered whether church could still feel like church. The two Sunday services center on the Word and the Sacrament, and almost every other day of the week the building hums with the meetings of groups who would not always find a welcome elsewhere.
Two Sunday Services Around Word and Sacrament
Augustana gathers twice each Sunday for prayer and the celebration of Holy Communion. At 8:00 a.m. the congregation meets for Morning Prayer with Holy Communion, a quieter liturgy that suits those who prefer an earlier hour. At 10:00 a.m. the Traditional Worship service with Holy Communion draws the larger assembly, with the liturgy rooted in the Lutheran heritage yet open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. The church teaches that in Baptism God claims the believer as a child, and that in Holy Communion Christ is truly present, feeding the faithful and uniting them with believers across time and space. The 10:00 a.m. service is also broadcast live on Facebook, and recordings of recent services are kept on the church's YouTube channel for anyone who wishes to worship along during the week.
Visitors are told simply to "come as you are." Worshippers of every age and background are welcomed, and the church asks only that those who enter treat the building with care.
Standing with the Recovery Community
Among Northwest Indiana congregations, Augustana has become known as the church that walks alongside people in recovery. The mission statement names three commitments - Recovery, Renewal, and Relationship - and the first of those shapes much of what happens inside the building on Kelly Street. The congregation partners with local recovery and substance-abuse programs, hosts support groups and healing services, and offers a steady presence where people can find community, hope, and grace.
Augustana opens its doors to several recovery fellowships that meet on a weekly schedule. Narcotics Anonymous gathers on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Sundays at 5:00 p.m. Two Al-Anon groups share the space as well, on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. The church stresses that these fellowships are independent of Augustana, set their own rules and agendas, and are simply given a place to gather. The arrangement is part of a long-standing ministry of hospitality: the congregation considers it a privilege to lend the building to people doing the hard work of healing.
Food Pantry and Outreach to the Neighborhood
Beyond recovery, Augustana's generosity takes the shape of a Food Pantry and other community partnerships that serve neighbors facing hunger and financial hardship. The church frames this work as "relationship-based generosity," meaning that volunteers learn names, share stories, and offer prayer alongside groceries. The Augustana Lutheran Church Foundation extends that reach further by providing financial support for religious, educational, and charitable purposes consistent with the congregation's mission, distributing grants through applications such as the Augustana Foundation Grant Application and the Lindholm Burke Grant.
Other community groups also meet at Augustana. Boy Scouts gather on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and a Homemakers group meets on the third Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Like the recovery fellowships, these groups run themselves, but the building's open doors make the church a small civic hub on the north side of Hobart.
GriefShare and Care for Those Who Mourn
Augustana also takes seriously the long, quiet work of grief. The church hosts GriefShare, a thirteen-session support program for people navigating the loss of a loved one. Sessions meet on Thursday evenings and include a video seminar, group discussion, and personal study, with registration handled through the GriefShare locator. The congregation reminds visitors that grief can arrive recently or years after a loss, and that everyone is welcome regardless of church background or faith tradition. The church points to the beatitude "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" as the posture behind the ministry.
Midweek Bible Study and Lifelong Learning
On Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m., the conference room fills for Bible Study. The hour is informal and open to anyone who wishes to attend, including newcomers and seekers. The study is one expression of what the church calls "discipleship that grows" - a community of lifelong learners who gather around Scripture, conversation, and prayer to discover how God's Word speaks to the challenges of the present day.
What Augustana Believes
The congregation is rooted in the Lutheran confession and describes its faith in four classic claims. Grace Alone: salvation is the free gift of God, received through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and not earned by human effort. Faith Alone: faith is a living trust in God's promise of forgiveness and new life, sustained by the Holy Spirit through prayer, Scripture, and community. Scripture Alone: the Holy Scriptures are the inspired Word of God and the foundation for faith and life. Word and Sacrament: God's grace comes in tangible forms, through the spoken Word, through Baptism, and through Holy Communion.
Around those convictions the church gathers for worship that is grounded in the liturgy yet open to the Spirit, for service that takes the shape of food, fellowship, and recovery support, and for a community that welcomes all who seek grace and belonging. Many who have joined Augustana come from other traditions - Episcopal, United Methodist, Presbyterian, and others - looking for renewal and depth. The church's calling is simple and explicit: to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to love God and neighbor, and to live as instruments of grace in a weary world.
Pastoral Leadership and Pastoral Visits
The congregation is served by Pastor Scott, who makes personal pastoral visits on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and is willing to make exceptions for other times. Visitors can request a visit through the church's online Visit Request form, or reach the church office by phone or email. Chaplain Christopher Williams, a Synodically Authorized Minister of the ELCA, assists in the congregation's ministry and is available for questions about the church's life and mission. Members of the congregation share in the work of leadership, volunteering, and pastoral care that has marked the church's long history in Northwest Indiana.
Giving, the Foundation, and Staying Connected
Augustana receives its offerings through a collection plate passed during Sunday services and through online giving, available around the clock through the church's giving portal. The church asks online donors to use checking accounts rather than debit or credit cards, since card transactions add processing fees. A monthly newsletter and weekly bulletin keep members informed, and recent worship services remain available on the church's YouTube channel for anyone who wishes to revisit a sermon or share one with a friend. The Facebook page and Facebook group keep the community connected between Sundays.
An Open Door on Kelly Street
For a long time the people of Augustana have understood their building as more than a place to worship on Sunday morning. It is a place where Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meet, where Al-Anon groups find a quiet room, where Boy Scouts learn citizenship, where a food pantry feeds neighbors, where GriefShare holds space for the grieving, and where the liturgy of Word and Sacrament is offered week after week. The church describes itself as a spiritual hospital for sinners, and it lives out that identity in the simplest possible way: by opening the doors, welcoming every kind of person, and trusting that Christ is at work in the gathering. On Kelly Street in Hobart, that work continues Sunday by Sunday, and neighbor by neighbor.