St. John Lutheran Church is currently situated in the heart of Farmville, Va. The congregation continues to attract new people in worship, particularly from two colleges that are in the area. This growth was the catalyst for members to decide to relocate in order to better serve the community. After much prayer, the congregation decided to relocate to a larger piece of property about a mile outside of town rather than repair and renovate its current worship site. With the assistance of an LCEF loan, construction has started on a new 12,500-square-foot building that will include a sanctuary, fellowship hall, offices, a kitchen, eight classrooms, and large narthex.

Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colo., is getting a facelift that will expand the sanctuary and narthex, and add classrooms and a prayer chapel for small services and pastoral care. The congregation used LCEF’s demographics and loan services. “The demographic survey was of great help to us in our planning. It’s a fine tool,” said Rev. Donald Hinchey.

Members are excited about being able to meet community needs with more space, Hinchey said, including a youth center on the lower level, which “will have great impact on our youth ministry outreach.” They are adding a weekly “alternative worship service” also targeted for a younger demographic. Also serving young residents, Our Father operates a preschool, which is at full capacity.

Members of Concordia Lutheran Church in Chula Vista, Calif., are constructing an early childhood center, which opens the end of July and are listening to what residents want in such a facility. With LCEF’s assistance, Concordia conducted a demographic study of the area, which showed many families in this suburban border community were first-time homebuyers with small children. This research led to a marketing plan which included direct mail, newspaper inserts, banners, and fliers handed out at the farmers’ market, local schools, and new-home sales offices.

Zion Lutheran Church and School has been located in downtown Glendale, California, for about 50 years--a cornerstone location in the city. Over the past few years, the congregation's membership and attendance have diminished drastically. Zion was at a loss to explain what was going on, as everything looked about the same in the immediate neighborhood.

The congregation of Holy Cross, Clayton, N.C., is growing into its new church and outreach is impacting lives, said Rev. Bill Beyer, pastor of Holy Cross. “Our worship attendance has more than doubled since we built our facility a little over two years ago. Thanks to the support of LCEF, having a facility has enabled our ministry to grow in several ways,” he said. “In particular, our Open Arms Child-Care Center now accounts for about 25% of our new members. Our center has been a wonderful outreach to our community.”

Participation in ministries that are impacting the community is high. As examples, children and their families made food baskets for local firefighters and police officers who had to work on Thanksgiving and donated generously to two Salvation Army “angel trees” for Christmas. “Neither one of these ministries or outreach opportunities would have happened without our multipurpose worship and child development facility.”