An Astonishing $10.4 million Raised By Kick-off Event at Lutheran Church

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
November 17, 2024

Valparaiso, IN – On Sunday, November 17th, eight children stood on stage in the gymnasium at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Each child was given a poster board with a number on it. Eight children with eight numbers. Standing next to the children, Karl Keller, Campaign Chair, announced the current fundraising total from the Advance Phase of the “Renew & Rejoice: A Campaign for the Immanuel’s Next Chapter” Capital Campaign to the over 300 church members and school families in attendance. The number: $10,435,837.00.

In less than 20 weeks, and with just over 60 pledges, Immanuel Lutheran Church surpassed the halfway mark of their $20 million dollar campaign goal with ease and officially ushered in the public phase of their “Renew & Rejoice: A Campaign for Immanuel’s Next Chapter” Capital Campaign.

The 3-year capital campaign will center around expanding the church’s already impressive outreach within the community and its mission of continuing to spread the Story of Jesus throughout the Valparaiso community. This “Renew & Rejoice” Capital Campaign includes approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of new building additions to Immanuel Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran School. The new construction consists of a new middle school wing, a new gymnasium, new elementary and preschool classrooms, additional office space for staff, 3 new adult meeting spaces, a new HVAC system, a renovated youth room and parish hall, and an enlarged women’s restroom in the Gathering Space of the Sanctuary.

Throughout the campaign, Senior Pastor Andrew Fields has spoken passionately about the congregation’s commitment to living together in the Story of Jesus. “This Capital Campaign is Kingdom Thinking, and Kingdom Thinking is big thinking. This requires big sacrifice,” said Pastor Andrew.

“There is a phrase we often say during our committee meetings, and that is, ‘We need heavy lifting,’” Gregory Chadwick, Campaign Director with James D. Klote & Associates, stated. “And what this astonishing Kick-off Event shows is that the congregation is saying the same thing.”

With offices in Falls Church, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; and Toronto, Ontario, James D. Klote & Associates is the largest full-time, on-site stewardship consulting firm in North America. For additional information, please contact the firm at www.jdklote.com or (703) 532-7633.