SERVICES

As the congregation at St. John Lutheran Church and School, Darien, Ill., decided to remodel and update the church, it decided to really analyze its needs for the facility. To do that, it used Lutheran Church Extension Fund’s (LCEF) Strategic Ministry Planning. “It was a matter of saying, ‘Let’s start at the beginning and make sure we have our house in order, lay the foundation first.’” said Kathy McClain, St. John’s business manager.

St. John’s leadership approached the design team with a purpose and vision. Now that the plan is in place and renovations are complete, they have shifted their focus to an important milestone: the church’s 150th anniversary later this year.

Laborers For Christ was asked to assist the congregation at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, El Centro, Calif., to add nearly 1,000 square feet to its original Spanish-style church, which now serves as its fellowship center, Janke Hall. The congregation uses the hall for church and community meetings, classes, and social events. It also has a satellite worship site at the Hispanic Outreach Center in El Centro.

In November, the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Concordia, Mo., dedicated its new education building. It will house the lower grades of the school, as well as the school administrative offices. An upper floor remains unfinished and will provide space for future expansion. LCEF is a proud partner to the congregation as St. Paul’s members seek to provide quality space for better outreach to the community and service.

This spring, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., members will mark the one-year dedication anniversary of their 14,000-sq.-ft. worship and education facility, which also includes an inviting coffee and snack area. With the creation of the new space, the congregation is rejuvenated, Pastor Nathan Lewis said, and members seek ministry partnerships with food pantries, group homes, clinics, work places for people with special needs, resource centers for those with mental illnesses, and youth clubs. LCEF was blessed to partner with Prince of Peace to fund the expansion.

Peace Lutheran in Eau Claire, Wisc., has been blessed with a growing congregation over the years, but as the Holy Spirit continued to bring people to Peace, it became apparent the church would have to embark on its third building project in 20 years. LCEF partnered with Peace by providing funding. Part of the growth stems from the congregation’s outreach to college students. It offers various worship styles, a user-friendly Web site, and video and multimedia options for them to use to hear God’s message.