Pastor donates life savings for new church building

BOB BORKOWSKI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rev. Michael Hook leads a past worship service at Apostolic Life Tabernacle's former place of worship on Merrill Hills Road. Hook recently donated his life savings, $100,000, to help build a new church on Silvernail Road. The church has also been renamed True Life Church. A ribbon cutting for the new building is slated for Saturday, April 6.
Published on: 4/3/2013

Waukesha - Leading by example, True Life Church Pastor, Rev. Michael Hook, has invested his retirement life savings in his church’s new building campaign. The campaign has raised more than $500,000 in two years - $100,000 of it coming directly from Hook - according to a church board member.

“Lives will be changed in this new facility, impacting believers for future generations,” Hook said. At 61,

Hook is only a few years from retirement. When asked about his plans for the future, now that he has donated his savings, Hook said, “I’ll do what I’ve always done after pastoring 39 years, trust God to provide.”

The new building, at 1615 Silvernail Road, will be dedicated Saturday, April 6, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:45 p.m. Church Trustee and Building Campaign Director Caroline Jens, is scheduled to speak about the success of the campaign. A worship service starts at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.

Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas is scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting. Several local pastors are scheduled to speak during the service, including the son of the founding pastor, Ed Arrington, and church district superintendent, John Putnam.

The dedication music service includes America’s Got Talent finalist and Sony Music recording artist Daniel Jens. A former Army Sergeant, Jens was an original member of the Sony Masterworks vocal group 4Troops. He has been a part of the church’s music team since moving back to Wisconsin in 2010.

The new larger building helps support the multi-cultural congregation that has doubled in two years. The previous building was on Merrill Hills Road, just off of Sunset Drive in Waukesha, when the church was known as Apostolic Life Tabernacle.

Regular church services are at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, call (262) 542-7538.