Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church & School Vote to Proceed into a Capital Campaign

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
August 17, 2017

Yorkville, IL – The findings of a six-week Feasibility Study at Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, that included 20 Focus Group Meetings, validated to the Governance Board that now is the time to proceed with a Capital Campaign.

In a majority vote, the congregation approved the Klote recommendation to proceed with a Capital Campaign under the direction of a Steering Committee. The Campaign will begin immediately with a goal of raising $6 Million.

Senior Pastor, Erik Gauss, told his congregation, “Over the last several months (years really), the leadership at Cross has been looking at how we can best align our facilities with the mission and vision God has given us to help people mature as disciples that Walk with God, Grow in Faith Together and Love our Neighbor. This spring, the Ministry Feasibility Team concluded their portion of the assessment and recommended we move forward with a professional Readiness Assessment Study.” Based upon the results of this Study, the Governance Board and congregation voted to proceed with a Capital Campaign administrated by JD Klote & Associates.

This historic church has undergone 7 different building/remodeling programs over the last 136 years.  Erik Gauss, a true visionary, realized that growth would be limited the with the preschool and children’s ministry space at capacity. This situation calls for more efficient use and a realignment of space to meet the needs of the ministry. The Facilities Plan includes creating a new sacred worship space, repurposing the current sanctuary into 2-3 classrooms and a large group area for the preschool and children’s ministry. The plan includes relocating the nursery, moving the church & school offices and adding a dedicated space for youth ministry. A large entrance/foyer is designed as a warm welcoming area for visitors and members, and a sending space to prepare the members in discipleship as they go forth into their mission field (the community).

The Campaign will be directed by James D. Klote & Associates, Inc. JDK&A, a full-time, on-site capital stewardship consulting firm based in Falls Church, Virginia, recently ranked the #1 church consulting firm in the United States by Volkart, a market research firm in Minnesota. Gregory Holt is the consultant assigned to Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church & School.

With offices in Falls Church, Virginia; St. Charles, 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 (800) 360-2315.