St. Paul Lutheran Church
& Early Childhood Ministry

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     May 10, 2002, is a memorable day for Michelle and me. This was our first trip to Columbus, Indiana. A couple weeks earlier, at the Call Service at the Fort Wayne Seminary, we had learned that St. Paul would be our new church home.

May 10, 2002, was the beginning of you extending Christ’s love to our family. That evening Bruce and Natalie Pollert opened up their home not only for us to stay but also for a congregational meet and greet where more than 100 people showed up to welcome us to our new church family. The next day, Tim Arnholt had fifteen houses ready for us to tour so that we would have a place to land when we moved the following month, the home that we still live in to this day.

     Your extending of Christ’s love to us has continued for more than 22 years! Many made the trip to Fort Wayne to help us load the moving truck that June and even more were waiting here in Columbus to help us unload. You’ve prayed for us when our family has been in need, supported and encouraged us in ways too many to number or even remember.

Through the mission and ministry of this congregation, our family has been on the receiving end of Christ’s love. Nathaniel and Simeon were given a solid faith foundation through fifteen years of Christian education, beginning with our early childhood ministry and continuing through high school. Like so many others, Nathaniel was blessed through the faithful teaching and care of Mrs. Kruger. Simeon was a student in our first kindergarten class taught by Mrs. Behmlander, an expansion of our early childhood ministry that was made possible when the church was dedicated in 2009. Both Nathaniel and Simeon grew spiritually through Sunday School, confirmation instruction, and our youth ministry as they were blessed to participate in servant events, gatherings, and conferences that strengthened their faith and built friendships. Nathaniel continues to be on the receiving end of this congregation’s love and generosity as he attends the seminary, preparing to extend Christ’s love as a pastor in our Lord’s Church.

     When we embarked on Growing with Christ’s Love to complete Phase One of the Thirty-Year Master Plan in 2006, the construction of our present church, Don and Lucy Nolting were campaign co- chairs. During that time, I remember Don often sharing with fellow church members that Lucy and he were “paying it forward” through their support of Growing with Christ’s Love. Their five children had received a Lutheran day school education through our congregation’s support and their grandchildren attended our preschool. Don and Lucy felt their support of Growing with Christ’s Love was their opportunity to pay it forward, to give more families and children the opportunity to receive what they and their family had received—the unconditional love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

     As we prepare for the final phase of our Thirty-Year Master Plan, the construction of the Christian Education Center, Michelle and I feel the same way. By our support of this endeavor, we are paying it forward for present and future generations to know and receive the love of Christ. It’s clear that the space is needed—our Sunday School is growing, the enrollment in our early childhood ministry this fall will be the highest ever in our school’s history, and this past school year more than 175 children and youth were served through our three youth groups. For decades to come, even after we are with the Lord in glory, we know that there will be a space and place for old and young to hear, learn, and receive the love of Christ!

     In the coming weeks, I pray that you will prayerfully consider how you can support Extending Christ’s Love. Consider the countless blessings that, in love, our Lord has generously bestowed upon you.  As you are able, please offer a pledge to support this endeavor. Consider also how you may be able to offer your time and talent for this campaign. Like the construction of the church, this project is ambitious. Empowered by the Spirit, together we can make the Christian Education Center a reality so that Christ’s Love may be extended through our congregation for years to come!

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In Christ’s Love to Extend Christ’s Love,