Living Hope Church has become a steady presence across Northwest Indiana, gathering two congregations in Merrillville and Portage every Sunday under the simple banner printed across its home page: "no one walks alone." The church is known for its welcoming, multigenerational ministry to children, students, young adults, and families, for an energetic weekly worship environment rooted in the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit, and for a global missions program that supports more than sixty missionaries on five continents.
One Church, Two Campuses in Northwest Indiana
Living Hope is "one church with multiple campus locations, united by the same mission, values, and passion for helping people discover the hope, love, and purpose of God." The Merrillville campus at 9000 W Taft Street serves as the Broadcast Campus, where weekly services are led and the message is shared across the church. The Portage campus at 2386 Willowcreek Road joins the same teaching by livestream, creating one unified congregation in two places.
Eight core values frame the church's life: Jesus is the message, the Holy Spirit is the guide, the Bible is the foundation, people are the purpose, faith is the journey, serving is the calling, excellence is the culture, and authenticity is the standard. Those values are not just printed on a wall; they are the operating language of a church that aims to bring the hope, love, and purpose of God to all people from Northwest Indiana to the nations.
Rick and Nicole Cochran Lead With Twenty-Five Years of Ministry
Rick and Nicole Cochran are the Lead Pastors of Living Hope Church, and they have served in ministry for more than twenty-five years. They lead as a couple with what the church describes as "authenticity, faith, and a commitment to helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus." In his pastoral letter to first-time visitors, Rick is candid about the hard seasons of life and confident about the hope available through faith in Jesus Christ, and he closes by saying the church family would be honored to connect with anyone who walks through the door.
At the Portage campus, Doug and Cindy Sheehy serve as Campus Pastors. Pastor Doug is committed to "seeing lives transformed through the love and truth of Jesus," and the Sheehys walk alongside others "through every season of life, believing that real change happens in authentic relationships and Christ-centered community."
Sunday Mornings in Merrillville and Portage
The Merrillville campus opens its doors at 10:00 am on Sundays for an engaging time of worship and Bible-based teaching. The Portage campus gathers at 10:30 am on Sundays with a live worship team on the ground and the sermon streamed live from the Broadcast Campus, so both rooms hear the same teaching each week.
A live stream of the Sunday service is available through the church's website and the Living Hope Church app, and the full archive of past sermons lives in the online message library. Anyone can also submit a prayer request through the church's website or app, anonymously or by name, and have the prayer team join them in prayer.
A Foundation Built on Jesus, the Word, and the Holy Spirit
Living Hope's Statement of Beliefs is rooted in the Bible as the verbally inspired, infallible Word of God and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct. It confesses one true God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and declares the full deity of Jesus Christ: His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, work of atonement on the cross, bodily resurrection, and exaltation to the right hand of God.
The fall brought not only physical death but also spiritual death, and man's only hope of redemption is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ and is witnessed inwardly by the Holy Spirit and outwardly by a life of righteousness and true holiness. Two ordinances mark the life of the believer: baptism by immersion as a public declaration of identification with Christ's death and resurrection, and Holy Communion - the Lord's Supper of bread and the fruit of the vine - shared "till He come."
Distinct from the moment of salvation, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is taught as a separate experience promised to all believers, accompanied by power for life and service and gifts for the work of the ministry. The church teaches that the initial physical evidence of Spirit baptism is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. The statement also affirms divine healing as an integral part of the gospel, the imminent blessed hope of the resurrection and rapture of the saints, the millennial reign of Christ, the final judgment, and the promise of new heavens and a new earth.
Living Hope Kids: From Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Living Hope Kids exists to partner with parents to lead children from birth through fifth grade into becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. On Sundays, children move through age-specific lessons, small groups, worship, and creative activities designed to make the Bible come alive. The team wants every child to leave loving God's Word and understanding how to apply it to daily life.
Safety is taken seriously: every volunteer is background-checked and trained, and hallways are monitored by the security team. Snacks are not provided in the classrooms, and allergy information is noted on each child's nametag with highlighted tags marking any child with an allergy. A paging system and text-message alerts let parents know quickly if a child needs to come back to the family. The nursery welcomes babies with diapers, wipes, bottles, and labeled sippy cups; staff and volunteers do not change children two and older, so families handle diapers for toddlers and up.
A separate midweek program, Living Hope Kids Wednesday Night, is designed just for elementary-age kids and runs at 7:00 pm at both campuses. Each week includes games, activities, and Bible-based lessons that help kids apply God's truth to everyday life. Family rooms are located near the sanctuary at the Portage campus, and the Merrillville campus has a Cafe where families with little ones can watch the adult teaching. Child dedications are offered several times a year during Sunday services and can be registered through the church events page.
Living Hope Youth: A Place to Belong on Wednesday Nights
Living Hope Youth exists "to help students know Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did." The ministry is built for sixth through twelfth graders, and the team is honest about why it exists: "students don't just need a place to attend; they need a place to belong, be known, and grow in their relationship with Jesus."
Wednesday nights are the main gathering. Each session runs about seventy-five minutes at 7:00 pm at both campuses. The evening is built around three intentional pieces. Worship is a time to slow down, connect with Jesus, and center hearts on what truly matters. The Message is rooted in Scripture and presented so students can understand who God is, who they are in Him, and what following Jesus looks like in everyday life. Fam Time places every student in a small group of peers their own age with trusted adult leaders, with groups formed by grade and gender to encourage meaningful conversation.
Parents are kept in the loop through regular updates and a dedicated Parent Resources page that gathers conversation kits, podcasts, books, and articles on topics like learning differences, mental health, identity and sexuality, salvation and baptism, and parenting teenagers. The ministry's Instagram account and a Spotify feed keep students connected between Wednesdays, and the youth team is reachable by email for follow-up.
Young Adults, Men, and Women: Community Across Seasons
Living Hope Young Adults is a community for people roughly eighteen through thirty who are looking for real connection and authentic faith. The rhythm of the month gives plenty of ways to show up. On the first Sunday of each month, young adults gather for fellowship and meaningful discussion. On the second and fourth Tuesdays, separate Men's and Women's Bible studies meet at different locations. On the third Tuesday, the ministry holds a prayer meeting that rotates between the Merrillville and Portage campuses. On the fourth Saturday, the group hosts a fun event with activities like beach days and murder mystery nights.
Living Hope Men is about becoming the man God has called someone to be - rooted in faith, strengthened in character, and connected in community. Through gatherings, mentoring, and hands-on service, men are encouraged to lead well at home, at work, and in the church.
Living Hope Women is a place to connect, grow, and be encouraged. Through events, small groups, and gatherings, women are invited to deepen their relationship with God while building authentic community with one another.
Life Groups, Welcome Party, and the Path to Belong
Life Groups are the small-group engine of the church. Each group gathers regularly to connect, encourage one another, and continue the conversation started on Sunday by working through the current sermon series. The church's pitch is straightforward: "Life is better when you don't do it alone." Anyone interested in leading a group can sign up through the website.
For newcomers, the path into community runs through a series of clear next steps. The Welcome Party is a relaxed gathering after Sunday service where first-time visitors meet pastors and leaders, hear the church's story and vision, and ask questions in a friendly setting; no registration is needed. Activate is a one-session Wednesday evening class that introduces the vision and values of Living Hope, helps participants discover how God has uniquely wired them through their gifts, personality, and passions, and points them toward serving. Membership Class is the next step for those who have attended at least three months and completed Activate; it covers what membership means, the church's beliefs and values, and how members live out the mission together.
Baptism is offered as a public declaration of the decision to follow Jesus, with regular baptism Sundays scheduled through the year. Those who have just said yes to Christ can submit an "I Said Yes" form so the church can celebrate, pray, and walk the new journey with them. Anyone can also fill out a Connect Card online to get to know the church better and receive follow-up.
Living Hope Creative: Telling Stories Through the Arts
Living Hope Creative is a community of artists, musicians, designers, and production volunteers who use their gifts to create meaningful worship and creative experiences. The ministry exists to honor God through creativity and excellence while serving the church and the wider community.
Productions sit at the center of the work. Through performances, musicals, and special events, the team tells powerful stories that reflect God's truth and invite people into a deeper understanding of His love. These productions bring together individuals of all skill levels to serve on stage and behind the scenes, whether they are performing, building sets, running tech, or stepping into another creative role. Living Hope Creative welcomes individuals and families from both the church and the community to take part in something collaborative and purpose-driven.
Local Outreach and a Reach to Five Continents
Outreach at Living Hope is treated as part of the church's identity, not a separate program. The team believes Jesus calls the church to love neighbors, serve with compassion, meet real needs with real action, and share the Gospel both near and far.
Locally, Living Hope serves Northwest Indiana through food distribution and outreach events, school partnerships and sponsorships, children's and family programming, community service projects, seasonal and emergency outreach initiatives, and foster care outreach. Once a year, the church rallies its own congregation alongside other local churches for Serve Indiana, a day when teams fan out across the region to complete dozens of practical service projects at schools, neighborhoods, families, and organizations. The day is described as a visible way to love the community and a reminder that the church is more than a building.
Globally, Living Hope supports more than sixty missionaries across five continents, with ministries focused on evangelism, church planting, compassion, and leadership development. Missionaries are backed through prayer, financial partnership, and personal connection, and short-term missions trips give church members the chance to serve on the field alongside them.
Good Shepherd Daycare on the Merrillville Campus
On the same twenty-seven-acre property as the Merrillville campus, Good Shepherd Daycare provides weekday childcare for the surrounding community. Children spend time outdoors on age-appropriate playgrounds, including a gated play area for one and two-year-olds with ride-on equipment, tunnels, and padded slides, and a separate playground with monkey bars, bikes, ride-on toys, and a sandbox for children over three. Indoor playrooms and a gym are used during inclement weather.
Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided; all meals are nutritionally balanced and approved by both the State Board of Health and the CACFP. The center is nut-free, and menus are posted weekly. Good Shepherd Daycare is also a chapel-going program: once a week, children take part in an engaging chapel service with music, object lessons, games, and an age-appropriate talk.
Safety is built into the facility: more than twenty-five security cameras monitor the building, identification is required at pickup, and visitors must be buzzed in by trained staff. An emergency alarm provides direct access to the Merrillville Police Department. Lead teachers hold a CDA degree or higher, and every staff member completes an additional twenty hours of training each year. Tours can be scheduled through the church's daycare page.
Watch Live, Give, and Stay Connected Through the App
For those who cannot be in the room, services are livestreamed on Sunday at 10:00 am through the church's website and the Living Hope Church app, and past messages are archived in the message library, including series through the Gospel of John, Bear Fruit, Like Jesus, and Into the Wilderness.
Giving is available online any time, with the option to set up recurring gifts. Gifts can also be mailed to the Merrillville address or dropped off at the in-person Giving Station. Every contribution supports sharing the Gospel, creating worship environments, investing in kids and youth, serving families and individuals in Northwest Indiana, supporting local outreach and global missions, and caring for people in moments of need.
The Living Hope Church app puts it all in one place: live services, sermons, events, the media library, giving, and prayer. It is available on the App Store and Google Play. A weekly newsletter, the prayer wall, and the church's online channels keep the conversation going all week long.