YOU ARE INVESTING IN THE CHURCH S FUTURE

A Newsletter for LCEF Advocates and Investors July 2018 YOU ARE INVESTING IN THE CHURCH S FUTURE Special Investor Edition As an LCEF Investor, you are investing in the Church s future. Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) is a unique Lutheran financial organization that empowers ministry. Through the dollars invested by nearly 50,000 individuals just like you, LCEF is able to assist ministries with customized loans and ministry support that help leaders respond to growth and community needs. Through your LCEF investment, you are empowering ministries and investing in the Church s future! Thank you. We are blessed in the Southeastern district to have awesome investors who make a difference and impact lives with their support of LCEF. Sometimes as investors, we get caught up in the bottom line, the percentages, the return on investment, but being a part of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, we know we are enabling and growing ministry and God s work is being accomplished. Thank you for choosing to invest in this ministry and in the church s future - you are a blessing! The mission of Lutheran Church Extension Fund is to support the Church in fulfilling its mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ by being a Christ-centered servant partner of the LCMS, ensuring that funds and services are available now and in the future. In the following pages of this newsletter, we highlight partnerships with LCEF that are impacting ministry and shaping the Church s future. (Left) With an LCEF partnership, Our Savior, Raleigh, N.C., was able to construct a new and welcoming outdoor sign. With their new well-lit, multi-sided sign, Our Savior can easily encourage guests to worship with its members from all angles of their community. sedlcef.org 800 637 5723

Cutting the Ribbon on New Ministry Opportunities Thank you for Investing Vine & Branches, Aldie, Virginia Vine & Branches is able to provide Summer camp outreach opportunities at their new ministry facilities. Thanks to investors in the ministry of LCEF to help build the Church s future, Vine & Branches Lutheran Church opened its doors on June 18 to their Christian Child Development Center (CCDC). Over 200 attendees celebrated the official ribbon cutting ceremony in April, signifying the opening of this new ministry. Along with weekly worship, Bible study and day care for children, Vine & Branches will also will offer a variety of Summer programs, from learning about bees, pioneer living, farm-totable gardening and camping to field day fun! LCEF is blessed to be the financial partner with Vine & Branches. Their multi-purpose worship and CCDC facility is located in the growing, familyoriented Dulles South area. Pastor Dax Jordan and Vine & Branches faithful members have already grown their worshiping community. Every week, new guests of all ages come to hear the saving message of God s grace. We celebrate Vine & Branches ministry milestone with all of the LCEF investors that made their journey possible and pray for God s continued blessings on its outreach efforts. (At center) Rev. Dax Jordan and Ray Schaible, congregational president, share in the ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of the new Vine & Branches ministry in Aldie, Virginia. Page 2

In the Church s Future. LCEF Lunch & Learn at All Saints provided opportunities for advocates, pastors and lay leaders to learn how LCEF can support their Church s future by offering a variety of ministry partnerships. Photo courtesy of The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod/Erik M. Lunsford On May 8, the LCEF Ministry Team hosted a Lunch & Learn at All Saints, Charlotte, N.C. that was attended by more than 50 lay leaders from the surrounding area. In this casual lunchtime setting, attendees learned about the ways that LCEF partners with churches and schools to help fund ministry growth and provide services to discover each ministry s unique place in God s mission. A big thank you to All Saints Lutheran Church for providing a great space to resource our congregational leaders. Lunch & Learn attendees had great discussions about LCEF resources and how to communicate this ministry with members. (Left), George Wilson, Advocate from Redeemer, Catawba, N.C. and his wife, Joanna enjoy a quick photo with Cindy Haupt from the LCEF District Ministry Team. All Saints newly remodeled sanctuary (pictured above), entrance and office space funded by LCEF, is a perfect example of ministry partnerships to help grow the Church s future. Page 3

Thank you for Investing How Can You Support the Church s Future? Open an investment for a young person s Future! As the young people in your life graduate and celebrate other special occasions, give a gift that builds for their future as well as the Church s future. LCEF s Young Investors (Y.I.) Club can do just that! As a member of the Y.I. Club, children learn about sharing Jesus with others, while providing a way to learn about stewardship and saving. What a perfect way to build the future of the Church. Y.I. Club for children up to age 18 offers a fun and easy way to help kids learn valuable stewardship concepts. LCEF s Y.I. Club StewardAccount features: Minimum of $25 to open account. Premium interest rate on balances up to $1,000 - currently pays 3.5%. Savings grow with child, but are accessible. Debit card available at age 16. Make additional investments with checks or Y.I. Club stamps. Starting at age 7, extra credit deposits for good grades ($1 for every A) and service hours ($25 for 10 hours.) College scholarships available for high school seniors. Additional LCEF investment options are detailed on the enclosed flier with applications attached. Please consider an additional investment to support the ministry of LCEF or pass this along to someone at your church. Page 4

In the Church s Future. LCEF s StewardPath is a Great Way to Initiate Ministry Outreach Rev. Billy Brath (pictured left), LCEF s Director of Ministry Support, is working with the members of Jordan, Apex, N.C. through a process called StewardPath, a three month journey that raises up members as faithful stewards. Rev. Billy Brath Director of Ministry Support At Jordan the process is designed to engage members as they move towards an exciting ministry relocation project. The members of Jordan currently worship in a movie theater (pictured right) but look to provide additional outreach opportunities in their own multipurpose ministry facility. StewardPath is customized to fit the needs of the ministry. Jordan has selected Common Grounds as their theme to represent the unity of their ministry outreach goals. The StewardPath process at Jordan includes small group Bible study sessions, a congregation steward seminar in July, and a sermon series in August that lifts up the ministries God has called Jordan s members to be stewards of. The journey culminates with a congregation celebration event where members are invited to be all in and commit themselves once again as faithful stewards. District Vice President, Steve Heemann with Jordan s LCEF Advocate, Barry Post (above left). Members of Jordan, Apex currently worship in a movie theater. LCEF has established a great partnership with Jordan for many years, thanks to their pastor, Rev. Mike Merker and LCEF Advocate, Barry Post. LCEF looks forward to continuing this partnership in Jordan s future land acquisition and construction process. For more information on StewardPath or any of the other LCEF s Ministry Support offerings, please contact LCEF District Vice President, Steve Heemann at 800-637-5723 or stephen.heemann@lcef.org. LCEF is the preferred provider for customized ministry support services. Why not discover what LCEF can offer for your church or school to set your ministry in motion? Contact the district office for information at 800-637-5723. Page 5

Thank you for Investing Oromo Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church Kensington, Md. LCEF s Church Improvement Loan assists Oromo Resurrection with its maintenance needs. A number of maintenance issues were cropping up over the past several years for the members of Oromo Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church. This past winter though, when the heating and cooling system failed, leaving the only source of heat a space heater, Rev. Teka Fogi contacted Steve Heemann to inquire about a Church Improvement Loan. With the low-cost funding that this loan provided, not only will Oromo Resurrection be able to replace their HVAC system, but also tackle the other maintenance and structural needs to support their growing membership. LCEF s Church Improvement Loan has been a wonderful partnership for many Southeastern district congregations this past year to easily and economically tackle deferred maintenance issues. LCEF has partnered with the following churches with its Church Improvement Loan: LCEF s Church Improvement Loans are available to congregations and include: Bethany, Alexandria, Va. Christ, Seaford, Del. Holy Cross, Greenbelt, Md. Mt. Calvary, Kannapolis, N.C. Oromo Resurrection, Kensington, Md. Our Savior, Laurel, Md. St. Matthew, Bel Air, Md. St. Paul s, Falls Church, Va. Maximum 10-year term, up to $150,000. 24 months at Cost of Funds (COF), currently 2.0% interest, adjusted annually. LCEF COF plus up to 2.5% adjusted for remaining term. Payments fully amortized over term. Is your church in need of repair? LCEF can help with a Church Improvement Loan. Contact Steve Heemann at 800-637-5723 or stephen.heemann@lcef.org for details and an application. Page 6

In the Church s Future. District-Wide LCEF Sunday, Grounded in Faith More than 60 congregations participated in our district-wide LCEF Sunday on May 6, providing opportunities for our Advocates to promote investment partnerships with LCEF. Promotional events throughout the Southeastern district on LCEF Sunday are highlighted in these great photos. (Above) LCEF Advocate, Lori Grosz from Prince of Peace, Springfield, Va., explains the ministry of LCEF to members. Gary Gee (below) used Y.I. Club balloons to create interest for his LCEF Sunday display at St. Paul s, Whispering Pines, N.C. (Above) Arleen Bohlmann from Bethany, Waynesboro, Va. creatively displays her LCEF Sunday materials. (Right) Rebecca Hodge, wife of Rob Hodge, the LCEF Advocate at Bethany, Alexandria, Va. enjoys a cup of This is Most Certainly Brew coffee. A BIG thank you to all of our Advocates who hosted LCEF Sunday at their church. Grounded in Faith LCEF strives to stay grounded in its mission to be the preferred provider for loans, support services and investment opportunities. Co-Advocates, Bruce Winter and Michelle Hintz explain the benefits of the Y.I. Club to members of Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, Silver Spring, Md. Page 7

Is Planning for the Future in Your Future? Mr. Bob Schulze is available to work with you and within your congregation as a Planned Giving Counselor. Bob s primary focus will be to work with congregational members to help them develop and implement potential gifts to ministries through estate planning and deferred giving. He provides leadership for this important segment of Christian stewardship and grace-filled giving and gift planning. The Southeastern District is blessed that Bob has gone through extensive training to serve in this role, as he is already familiar with working with individuals and congregations in the district. As the District Planned Giving Counselor, Bob s focus is to: Meet with members of SED congregations on an individual basis to help them work through the planned giving process. Arrange for group meetings within congregations as they develop strategic fundraising plans. Participate in speaking engagements and gift planning seminars. Prepare correspondence for the purpose of promoting the availability of planned giving resources. Create and maintain a working relationship with the LCMS Foundation. Participate in continuing education to maintain current knowledge. Mr. Robert Schulze Planned Giving Counselor We encourage you to take advantage of Bob s availability and expertise to serve you and the members of your congregation as a Planned Giving Counselor. Contact him for your gift planning needs at 815-861-5756 or bobschulze42@gmail.com. LCEF is a nonprofit religious organization; therefore, LCEF investments are not FDIC-insured bank deposit accounts. This is not an offer to sell investments, nor a solicitation to buy. LCEF will offer and sell its securities only in states where authorized. The offer is made solely by LCEF s Offering Circular. Investors should carefully read the Offering Circular, which more fully describes associated risks. LCEF StewardAccount access features provided through UMB Bank n.a. StewardAccount products are not available to investors in South Carolina. ConnectPLUS is not available to investors in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Rates as of July 2018. Balance restrictions apply. Rates subject to change. Visit lcef.org for details. A publication of the LCEF Southeastern District 6315 Grovedale Drive, Alexandria, VA 22310-2501 703-971-9371 or 800-637-5723 Steve Heemann, LCEF District Vice President Cindy Haupt, Administrative Assistant Vicki Edwards, LCEF Assistant Distributed to LCEF Congregational Advocates, Y.I. Stamp Coordinators, all SED Active Pastors, Ministry Assistants, SED BOD, LCEF VPs and current LCEF investors. Lutheran Church Extension Fund Missouri Synod 10733 Sunset Office Dr. Suite 300 St. Louis, MO 63127-1020 800-843-5233 lcef.org NMLS#3444 Page 8