Two Years After Milton, Atonement Lutheran Church's Sanctuary Finally Reopens

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — After a long and uncertain road to recovery, Atonement Lutheran Church has reopened its sanctuary, nearly two years after Hurricane Milton tore through the building and left its future in doubt.

The Damage 

In October 2024, Hurricane Milton ripped away sections of the church's roof, scattering insulation, wood, and nails across the surrounding grounds. The destruction came as a surprise to church leaders — Hurricane Helene had passed by two weeks earlier without causing any damage, leading many in the congregation to assume Milton would spare them too, given how far inland the church sits.

"When Milton was on its way, we were kind of thinking, it's not going to come our way. It's not. We're far inland. It's not going to hit us," said Pastor Scott Lindner. But it did. "Either the hurricane itself or possibly a tornado that was spun off ahead of the hurricane... it was pretty much pinpoint damage for our church right here," Lindner explained.

An Uncertain Road 

For months, the congregation didn't know whether the building could even be saved. "We didn't know if the building was going to be condemned or not," said church member Steve Showers. "Little did we know that the damage was so extensive internally that we wouldn't know the full extent for another 10 months." Making matters harder, the church's insurance did not cover wind damage — which Lindner believes caused most of the destruction.

Rebuilding Together 

Despite the setback, the congregation held a worship service the very Sunday after the hurricane and came together to rebuild, hiring contractors, securing financing, and working with FEMA throughout the process. After roughly 18 months of work and nearly $1 million in repairs, the sanctuary officially reopened.

"We've done all the essential repairs and made this a habitable and usable building again," Lindner said. "And really, if you look at the sanctuary, this is above and beyond what we expected to accomplish with this."

What's Left 

The congregation's recovery isn't fully finished. A third and final phase of construction still remains, covering the fellowship hall, kitchen, and bathrooms. Lindner said the church is hopeful that FEMA funding and continued fundraising will help carry the congregation through this last chapter.

A Closer Community 

Beyond the physical rebuild, members say the experience brought them closer together. "This has been a blessing in disguise because we're closer to one another," Lindner said. With hurricane season now underway again, Showers described how the congregation feels heading into this year: "Protected."

📍 Atonement Lutheran Church — Wesley Chapel, FL 

📅 Sanctuary reopened: June 13, 2026, nearly two years after Hurricane Milton 

🌐 discoveralc.com for service times and updates on the final phase of reconstruction