A Heart for Home: Holy Cross’s Founding Story with Betty Hoyer
As the Christmas lights twinkle across our campus this December, they reflect more than just holiday cheer; they reflect the enduring light of faith that began flickering here over forty years ago. This month, we are privileged to share a truly special story from the woman who was there from the very first spark: Betty Hoyer, wife of our late founding pastor, Rev. Paul Hoyer. Her recollections are a beautiful testament to a family’s leap of faith and the community that grew from it.
The Third Call
In 1983, Pastor Paul and Betty were happily serving in Northern Michigan when the call came—not once, but three times—from the SELC District of the LCMS. They were asked to plant a mission church in Lake Mary, a rapidly growing area north of Orlando. “Paul turned them down twice,” Betty laughs, a warmth in her voice that spans decades. “But when they called that third time, we both knew. It was God’s gentle, yet persistent, nudging.”
With almost four-year-old Sarah, three-year-old Ben, and six-month-old Meredith, the move to Central Florida was a culture shock, but it was also the fulfillment of a long-held passion. Paul and Betty had always felt a deep interest in missions, drawn to the stories of international missionary friends who would share their experiences. Now, their mission field was this new, sprawling Florida community.
They quickly found kindred spirits in the Hoffman, Mooney, Peterson, and Schreiber families, among others, the first threads in our Church’s tapestry. Their first meeting space was a humble storefront in Driftwood Village.
But it was that first Christmas Eve service in that small space that remains one of Betty’s favorite memories. The air was filled with hope, anticipation, and the pure, simple joy of Christ’s birth. This initial season of gathering was also marked by a profound family blessing: the Hoyers welcomed their youngest son, Jacob, into the world in 1985, cementing this entire formative period with new life and new beginnings.
A Pastor on the Pavement
The core of the mission was simple: building a place of community and equipping people in faith. In those early years, Paul didn’t just wait for people to find Holy Cross. He walked the neighborhoods, attending city meetings and joining the Rotary Club, determined to meet the people of Lake Mary where they were.
He often found that many people didn’t know what a Lutheran was. His solution was beautifully simple: a business card with three main bullet points, often connecting with non-attending Catholics. As Betty recalls, his message was distilled to its essence: “We believe in the same God and scriptures, just with less guilt.” People weren’t just looking for theology; they were looking for a home, a place of connection in a town bursting at the seams with growth.
Everyone, including the Hoyer children, played an important part. The kids grew up knowing no different than a life centered on ministry and serving their emerging church family.
The ministry flourished; and by 1986, with attendance topping 100 members, they broke ground on the very first piece of the current Lake Mary campus—the building that now serves as our Community Center. Upstairs were classrooms, which were soon filled by the beloved Preschool that Betty founded. It began as a practical way to ensure her own children had a place to grow and learn, and quickly became an integral outreach tool, drawing young families into the Holy Cross fold.
The Spirit of the Circus Tent
Perhaps nothing better embodies Paul’s tenacious, creative spirit than the immense circus tent he acquired. This massive structure became a symbol of HCLM’s iconic outreach. It hosted lively VBS programs and the unforgettable Walk Through Bethlehem, even traveling to community events nearby.
The tent was massive, requiring several men to raise it; and, true to Florida form, it was susceptible to storms. Betty fondly remembers the recurring call-outs: “He’d have to call those volunteers several days in a row during VBS to set the tent back up after a storm,” she smiles. This spirit of working together, tearing down and rebuilding—even a circus tent—was the foundation of their ministry.
While ministry was always a shared journey, Betty eventually sought a professional change of pace, teaching at Orlando Science for several fulfilling years. Yet, the mission never truly left her heart. In 2003, she felt that familiar divine prompting again and returned to Holy Cross, stepping into leadership as the Administrator over the Academy. It was a joyful, challenging return to the family ministry.
Paul’s vision, Betty notes, was always for Holy Cross to be the “center of the community, a great place to have kids, and a hub for young families.”
Betty’s deepest pride, and the most important message for today’s members and visitors, is that ministry happens outside the church walls. This building, she emphasizes, is “merely a place of training and equipping.” Paul would often say, “Your faith grows when you use it or put it into action, not just sit and read your Bible.”
From a faithful family’s arrival in 1983 to the dedication of our beautiful sanctuary, every moment has been steeped in that active, outward-focused love of Jesus. As we gather this Christmas, we remember the humble beginnings and the bold faith of Paul and Betty Hoyer, whose legacy continues to empower us to live, love, and serve in the world beyond our doors.
Betty and Paul retired from their professional roles in 2020; yet their ministry continues to shape our network, led now by their son, Executive Pastor Ben Hoyer.
Do you have a Holy Cross story you’d like to share? Please reach out to Grace Chewning or Tiffany Danley at tiffany@hclm.org to share how God has worked in your life and through our Church family. *Find past stories HERE!