The congregation returned to its sanctuary Sunday, June 14, for the first time since Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel nearly 20 months earlier, worshipping together again as a community of 225 members.

The milestone capped a $1 million rebuilding effort funded largely by donations, raffles and a $100,000 grant from the Florida-Bahamas Synod. The church's insurance policy did not cover the wind damage from Milton.

Pastor Scott Lindner, who has led the congregation for about 20 years, told Neighborhood News that the community rallied immediately after Milton struck in October 2024. The storm scattered insulation, wood and nails across Wesley Chapel Boulevard, though the stained-glass windows above the altar survived.

"The Saturday after Milton hit, there was debris everywhere outside. We had a clean-up day. We advertised it on our marquee and we invited other local churches," Lindner said. "We had over 100 people participate. We found out that we had friends we didn't know we had."

The church had dodged Hurricane Helene two weeks earlier without damage. Milton was different. Beyond the roof, mold spread through the building, woodwork needed refinishing, floors had to be replaced and sanctuary chairs were reupholstered. Permit delays and funding gaps stretched the timeline well past the congregation's Christmas 2025 target.

During the wait, services moved outdoors the first week — power was still out — then into the recently renovated Friendship Hall.

Despite the disruption, about 20 new members joined, bringing total membership to 225. Lindner called the growth "very unexpected."

Funding gap remains

The church has received roughly $19,000 from FEMA so far, reimbursement based on documented volunteer hours and donated services. Lindner said the agency initially assigned a thorough contractor to the case, but that person was transferred during a federal reorganization and replaced by someone unfamiliar with the mold mitigation process.

FEMA prioritized Hurricane Helene cases over Milton cases for months, Lindner said. The church received an email in early July requesting documentation it had already submitted, which Lindner took as a sign someone is finally reviewing the case. Atonement Lutheran hopes to receive about $300,000 from FEMA by the end of 2026.

Other churches donated fundraiser proceeds, including a $10,000 gift from a congregation in Arizona. The church continues to hold raffles and fundraising events.

What's still ahead

Remaining projects include replumbing the restrooms, gutting and repurposing the kitchen, and adding double doors with a canopy to the side entrance to create a new welcome center. The church's food pantry, also a casualty of the hurricane, will not reopen.

The day before the June 14 service, the church held an open house and formal rededication of the sanctuary for the wider community.

Atonement Lutheran Church is at 29617 Wesley Chapel Blvd. Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. The office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information is available at DiscoverALC.com or 813-973-2211.