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Pre-Campaign Feasibility

and Readiness Study

SPRING 2015L U T H E R H I L L M I N I S T R I E S A N D T H E T E X A S - L O U I S I A N A G U L F C O A S T S Y N O D

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BEGINNING THE MINISTRY: THE 1950’S• The first 25 acres of Lutherhill were purchased in 1954

from Phillips Petroleum who had used the location as a pump station.

• Four staff houses and a brick pump station were converted into summer cabins and an administration and worship center (now the dining hall).

• On July 11, 1954 the camp was dedicated with 1,700 people attending.

• Mr. L. L. Appelt donated ten additional acres to the site in 1957. A pool was also built.

ADDING TO LUTHERHILL: THE 1960’S-1980’S• In the early 1960’s six new cabins were added and an

outdoor chapel was constructed. • By 1975, four more brick cabins had been built as Lutherhill

began its third decade of operation.• Two other land additions were made: 7 acres of frontage on

FM 2145 plus 35 acres where the challenge course, pond, and RV loop are today.

RENOVATING THE SITE: THE 1990’S• All ten cabins, the kitchen, and the Tree Chapel were

renovated and refurbished.• Nearly every building on site was re-roofed and the Hillside

Store was added.

VISIONING FOR THE FUTURE: THE 2000’S• The Board of Directors entered a new visioning process for

the future, including a facilities master plan.• The Carby Chapel Center was completed in the spring of

2006.• The “A Place for All People” campaign is carried out.

With it, Lutherhill added the Broesche Family Center, six cabins, and laid the foundation of the new water and sewer infrastructure.

• In May 2009, the Lutherhill Board Board of Directors acted to acquire 9.22 acres of property from the Appelt estate. Located directly north of the Carby Chapel, the land allows for more options for placement of future facilities.

RENEWING ZION IN GALVESTON: THE EARLY 2010’S• Because of Zion Lutheran Church’s commitment to the

ministry on Galveston Island, the congregation voted unanimously to donate its assets to Lutherhill Ministries after voting to dissolve following Hurricane Ike. The congregation, Synod, and Lutherhill envisioned opening a retreat center on the island.

• Lutherhill Ministries assumed ownership of the Zion property on January 1, 2012.

• Fundraising efforts are being conducted through the Zion Renewal Appeal with plans to complete funding and renovation in 2015.

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS: 2014• During its 60th year of ministry, Lutherhill served

7,378 guests. Making it the biggest year ever for Lutherhill Ministries.

Lutherhill: 60 Years of

Ministry

DINING HALL 1960

DINING HALL 1954

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OFFICERSBrett Carleton, President Sugar Land TXJeff Brady, Vice-President Houston TXButch Wilson, Secretary Cypress TXSheri Alsguth, Treasurer Houston TXLucky Sahualla, Ex. Commity Member Houston TX

MEMBERSRev. Mike Button, Baton Rouge LARev. James Fowler, League City TXGeorgine Garbarini, The Woodlands TXMelissa Minieri, Conroe TXBill Mintz, Houston TX

Phil Oestreich, La Grange TXEd Spaulding, The Woodlands TX

Lutherhill Ministries… A place for all people, of every generation to experience the love of Christ in unique settings and new ways.

Lutherhill Year Round StaffL.to R. - Meredith Massey, Geoffrey Roach, Laura Lyons, Russell Dittrich, Naida Roden, MiLisa Gaertner, Nora Otto, Don Crowe, Matt Kindsvatter, Russell Weyand, Elise Riggs, Curtis Bradbury Not Pictured: Anne Liddle, Casey Born, Megan Myers

Russell Weyand, Maintenance ManagerDon Crowe, Food Service Manager

Nora Otto, Hospitality Manager

Elise Riggs, Program DirectorGeoffrey Roach, Program Director Curtis Bradbury, Program Assistant

Meredith Massey, Program AssistantMegan Myers, Program Assistant

ADMINISTRATIONMatt Kindsvatter, Executive DirectorMiLisa Gaertner, Donor RelationsNaida Roden, Finance

Laura Lyons, Guest RelationsRussell Dittrich, Office ManagerCasey Born, Special Events CoordinatorAnne Liddle, Special Events Coordinator

The Lutherhill Board of Directors

Lutherhill Year Round Staff

PROGRAM

OPERATIONS

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The Zion Retreat Center in Galveston is not included in this project. Funding for that development will be completed and renovation undertaken in 2015.

A Growing MinistryParticipation in the ministry of Lutherhill has grown steadily for a number of years. New and improved facilities have helped

Lutherhill to live out its mission as a place for all people of every generation.

A Plan To Enhance Lutherhill’s Ministry As A Place For All People.The Lutherhill Board of Directors has reviewed and updated the comprehensive master plan created ten years ago and developed a challenging plan to expand Lutherhill’s capacity to serve into the future.

There are three major facility components to the plan:

A new dining facility will serve up to 224 persons with the flexibility to seat all in one area or in separate dining areas. Also the facility can be used as a multi-purpose space for large group meetings, or other events. Three new cabins will be constructed to replace those displaced by the new dining facility.A new adult and family retreat complex village will house up to 72 persons and include a central meeting and gathering center sufficient to serve 100.A new office and welcome center complex will be located on the entry road into Lutherhill.

Other elements of the plan:

New site development improvements including access roads, parking and sewer expansion will be needed to service the new facilities. The $350,000 of the remaining debt from 2009 capital development projects will be retired.

EXPANDED MINISTRY IS LIMITED UNTIL NEEDS ARE ADDRESSEDCurrent facilities have reached, perhaps exceeded, the capacity to serve current participants well and prohibit expanded ministry until addressed.

THE DINING HALLThe Lutherhill dining hall is over 60 years old and once served as a pump station for Phillips Petroleum. The dining hall cur-rently serves approximately 5,800 people yearly, including campers, retreat guests, and staff. The dining hall can comfortably seat only 112 guests at the time; however, an average of 170 campers and staff need to be fed during the summer. This means that meals are served in separate “shifts.”

THE RETREAT FACILITIESLutherhill’s retreat guest attendance has increased by 60% over the past five years. In 2014, Lutherhill served 4,492 guests during the retreat season and projections indicate that growth will continue.The majority of the retreat housing that Lutherhill provides is cabin style, with an open room that sleeps 12-16 people in bunk beds. Family style housing, with private bedrooms and private baths, is limited to the three-bedroom Broesche Family Center.

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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Summer Camp

Summer Day CampRetreats/Events

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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Summer Camp

Summer Day CampRetreats/Events

CAMP AND RETREAT ATTENDANCE

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DINING HALL

RETREAT VILLAGE

COMPLEX

WELCOME AND OFFICE COMPLEX

THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN BUDGETRetreat Village Complex $2,780,000Dining Hall $1,465,000Cabin Replacement (3 cabins) $225,000Welcome/Office Complex $360,000Expanded Sewer System $225,000Site Improvements $170,000 Contingency $405,000

TOTAL $5,630,000

DECK

DECK

DECK

DECK

DECK

DECK DECK

KITCHEN

STORAGE

EACH POD• 12 Bedrooms• 2 Double Beds/room• Gathering Area• Meeting Space• Snack Kitchen

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The Lutherhill Board and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod propose a campaign to fund improvements at Lutherhill, retire a portion of Lutherhill’s existing debt and fund the Synod’s contribution to the ELCA Church-wide campaign, “Always Being Made New.” The campaign is proposed to begin late in 2015 and be conducted through 2018. Donors may contribute gifts in the form of cash or other assets readily converted to cash. Gift pledges of three to five years will be welcomed.

NAMING AND MEMORIAL GIFT OPPORTUNITIES

Naming and/or memorial gifting opportunities may be available to individuals and families contributing $25,000 or more to the campaign effort. Final determination of the policy regarding these gifts will be made prior to the launching of the campaign.

A Proposed Joint Campaign for Lutherhill and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod: $7 Million Goal

CAMPAIGN BUDGETLutherhill Capital Projects $5,630,000Lutherhill Debt $350,000Campaign Costs (Staff, Materials, Consultant) $320,000Always Being Made New $700,000

TOTAL $7,000.000

STANDARD OF GIFTS

In order to fully subscribe the $7 million campaign goal, the following gifts in the quanti-ties listed will need to be received from individuals, families, foundations and individual congregation campaign efforts:

NUMBER OF GIFTS AMOUNT1 gift $1,000,000 or more2 gifts $500,0003 gifts $250,0005 gifts $100,00010 gifts $ 75,00020 gifts $ 50,00028 gifts $ 25,00030 gifts $15,000150 gifts $ 5,000And many other gifts of other amounts totaling $100,000

CONGREGATION GIFTS

Each of the 112 congregations of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod will be asked to participate in this challenging campaign effort through a careful three-step process:

Receive a congregation council visit to learn the specifics of the campaign projects, timetable and activities.

Select a member of the congregation to serve as the campaign leader and have that selected leader attend an orientation and training program.

Set a goal for the congregation and then conduct a five-week campaign effort that offers each family of the congregation an opportunity to participate through a contribution.

SYNOD SUPPORT FOR “ALWAYS BEING MADE NEW”The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod proposes to support the ELCA campaign “Always Being Made New” with a tithe of $700,000 from the campaign effort. The following are the segments of the campaign that are proposed for consideration for the Synod’s participation:

ELCA WORLD HUNGERSupport our comprehensive approach in nearly 60 countries and expand support to communities in at least 10 countries, including the United States, as they work to solve challenges that perpetuate hunger and poverty.

RENEWING CONGREGATIONSAccompany and equip 1,000 congregations in their renewal efforts through ELCA synods.

NEW CONGREGATIONSSpread the good news far and wide by planting more congregations in the United States and the Caribbean.

ELCA FUND FOR LEADERSGrow the permanent endowment fund so that, for generations to come, hundreds more of the most promising leaders can respond to the call to serve our congregations.

GLOBAL MISSIONSupport our missionaries and give 200 additional young adults the opportunity to participate in a year of global service.

CONGREGATION GOALSEach congregation will be asked to set a nonbinding, three-year goal for their campaign effort. Recommended goal levels are proposed on the basis of the average weekly worship attendance of the congregation. Most pastors and lay leaders consider this statistic to reflect the effective size of their congregation.

The following are the proposed goal levels for congregations.

Basic Goal $200 per worshipper

Advance Goal $300 per worshipper

Challenge Goal $400 per worshipper

For example, a congregation with an average weekly worship attendance of 100 persons could select from among the following three-year goals:

Basic Goal $20,000

Advance Goal $30,000

Challenge Goal $40,000

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Donor SupportListed below are individuals, families and businesses that contributed annual fund gifts of $250 or more to Lutherhill in 2014.

OAK SOCIETYLIVE OAK $10,000 or moreMr. & Mrs. Carsten Alsguth Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Phil Beckler Spring TXMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey L. Brady Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Brett S. Carleton Sugar Land TXMr. & Mrs. J.M. Garbarini The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. David Harris Spring TXMr. Kenneth Heideman Richardson TXMr. & Mrs. Patrick L. Higgs The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Clarence Jaster Round Top TXMr. & Mrs. Howard L. Peterson Round Rock TXMr. & Mrs. Dudley Piland La Grange TXMichael & Elaine Riggs Houston TXMs. Becky Roach Whitney TXJames & Dana Walker The Woodlands TXNorman Winkelmann Hockley TXMr. & Mrs. Robert Witte Monument CO

WATER OAK $5,000Mr. & Mrs. K. C. Adams Spring TXMr. & Mrs. Randy Baden Austin TXTim & Susan Brady Spring TXLena & Jerrod Gross La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Ronald Lee Held Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Keith Hitchcock The Woodlands TXDiane & Stan Humphrey Galveston TXMr. & Mrs. Ed Kruse Brenham TXRev. & Mrs. Sidney Roden La Grange TXMrs. Joyce Teinert Victoria TXButch & Angela Wilson Cypress TX

PIN OAK $2,500Mr. & Mrs. Brian Adams La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Carl W. Albers Sugar Land TXRev. George Bement & Barbara Strobel Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Jonathan Born Spring TXMr. & Mrs. Brian Chaffee The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Atlan Citzler La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Michael Dittrich Orchard TXTimothy & Katrina Donoughue The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. David E. Ehler La Grange TXPaul & Namieta Janssen Houston TXMelissa & James Larkin The Woodlands TXBecky Linsenbardt Mont Belvieu TXWilliam Mintz & Kathy Collins Houston TXPeter & Tande Moreau The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Scott Charles Saenger Houston TXLucky & Maureen Sahualla Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Milton C. Schmidt La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Richard Schmidt La Grange TXEdward & Anne Spaulding The Woodlands TXMike & Julie Taetz Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Dwight Vorpahl Sugar Land TXBrady, Chapman, Holland & Associates Spring TXHeritage Wealth Management Houston TXL/k Oil Field Products, Inc. Houston TXThrivent-Willow Creek Community Houston TX

OAK SOCIETY $1,000Dr. Kenneth & Suzanne Albers Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Chuck Anderson Little Rock ARRev. Lawrence & Sharon Bade Kenney TXRev. & Mrs. Richard Baker Brenham TXMr. & Mrs. James Barolak The Woodlands TXMr. Pat Blough The Woodlands TXDon & Carol Blue Spring TXJody & Kim Born Tomball TX

Peter & Kristen Bridgeman Austin TXMr. & Mrs. Jason Carstens Round Rock TXAtlan & Jeanette Citzler La Grange TXJoey & Deborah Cox Conroe TXVijay & Amy Dhodapkar Katy TXMr. & Mrs. Miles Dollinger Alvin TXTom & Lisa Donahue Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Bill Espegren The Woodlands TXMandy & James Faucett Tomball TXBrenda Ferri League City TXTaani & John Follis Magnolia TXMr. & Mrs. Herbert Goessler Brenham TXMichael Hannah Austin TXRev. & Mrs. Arlyn J. Hausmann Conroe TXMr. & Mrs. David W. Heise New Braunfels TXCarolyn & Donnie Hill Deer Park TXRev. & Mrs. Charles Kindsvatter The Woodlands TXMatthew & Jennifer Kindsvatter La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Phillip Kramer Missouri City TXChristine & Robert Kuehl Katy TXMr. Eugene Lawson The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Todd Lawson Austin TXMr. & Mrs. Bobby Leonhardt Cypress TXMr. & Mrs. R.J. Leonhardt, Sr. Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Jeff Liddle Houston TXAlex Linder Houston TXAlbert H. Loehr, Jr. La Grange TXKristine & Douglas Mayo Spring TXGaynell Meyerholtz Austin TXNalco Champion Bay City TXMr. & Mrs. Philip H. Oestreich La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Patrick Olfers Cypress TXRon & Ann Pare The Woodlands TXKeith & Marla Patterson The Woodlands TXMike & Suzanne Rose The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Mark H. Ruch The Woodlands TXSabi Boutique College Station TXMr. & Mrs. Donald E. Schlaudraff Round Top TXJeff & Christy Schnellhardt Katy TXMr. & Mrs. David Stancik La Grange TXFrank & Sandra Teykl La Grange TXKarla & Greg Vesey Sugar Land TXJohn & Eileen Weida Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Barry Wren Seabrook TXMr. Donnie Wunderlich Fayetteville TXPiland, Adams & Associates, Inc. La Grange TXSonoco Houma LASouth Texas Corrugated Pipe, Inc. Bay City TX

GARDNERS SOCIETYBLUEBONNET $750Patrick & Vicki Beecher Tomball TXMr. & Mrs. Bruce Berlin The Woodlands TXRev. & Mrs. V. George Brookover Kingwood TXMr. & Mrs. Doug Chester Katy TXAshley & Mark Dellagiacoma Round Top TXMr. & Mrs. Ralph Frerichs La Grange TXMichael & Marilyn Johnson Plano TXMr. & Mrs. Dan Kaldor Conroe TXThomas & Elizabeth Kuper The Woodlands TXJeanne Lawson The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Edward LeBlanc The Woodlands TXBrett & Christi Matens Austin TXNatalie Stancik La Grange TXMichael & Donna Strickler Houston TXDoris & Cullen Thompson Houston TXMr. Jay Tillis Pearland TXChris & Karen Whitefield Houston TX

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH $500Carol Bark The Woodlands TXBerdene Bethel Sugar Land TXMr. Richard R. Beyer Austin TXWesley & Gretchen Bruner Mont Belvieu TXMr. & Mrs. James R. Bulau Kingwood TXGail & Clay Cook La Grange TXGloria Dietz Brenham TXJohn & Lee Fackler The Woodlands TXRev. Jeremy & Jaymie Freye Katy TXMr. & Mrs. Dennis Gerland Carmine TXMr. Wilbert Gross La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Jack Hank La Vernia TXRev. Kathy Haueisen Houston TXRichard & Annette Haut The Woodlands TXRev. & Mrs. John Hunsicker Weimar TXJohn & Jane Jacobi Houston TXMs. Sue Jahn Richmond TXLouise A Johnson Taylor TXLaVerne Kalbow La Grange TXLester & Jeanette Keilers Fayetteville TXMrs. Carolyn Kirk Houston TXHuey & Colleen Kliebert Spring TXMr. & Mrs. Floyd Koch The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Milroy Krebs Fayetteville TXMr. William Lutz, II The Woodlands TXGayle Lyons Spring TXMr. & Mrs. Frank Macaulay La Grange TXBob & Maryellen Madsen Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Daniel P. Michalk The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Mote Houston TXMrs. Julie Muery Taylor TXTravis & Ashley Nelius Round Top TXMr. & Mrs. Chris J. O’Sullivan Houston TXRev. & Mrs. Brad Otto Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Charles Payton The Woodlands TXLee & Virginia Petersen The Woodlands TXMrs. Claudette Pfennig-High Pearland TXNaida Roden La Grange TXMr. Arthur Rodiek Bellville TXMr. & Mrs. Donald Rosseisen Houston TXGarry & Leonita Sanders Carmine TXBennie H. Schramm El Campo TXMichael & Brenda Sewell Spring TXMr. & Mrs. Scott Shank Spring TXChuck & Debbie Spiess Magnolia TXMr. & Mrs. Charles Sternau The Woodlands TXTbs Spark Foundation Houma LAMr. & Mrs. Bruce Tobecksen The Woodlands TXMelvin & Carolyn M. Tobola Schulenburg TXTom & Barbara Van Akkeren Houston TXRev. Jill Vivroux Brenham TXMrs. Joyce Weiss Brenham TXMichelle Wiedrich Kingwood TXMr. & Mrs. Kenneth R. Winkelmann Houston TX

FRIENDSRev. James & Dr. Louise Abbott Bryan TXMrs. Evelyn Akerman Houston TXBarbara Bone & Paul A. Antolik Houston TXRev. & Mrs. Larry Beck Cypress TXMr. & Mrs. Leroy Bennetsen La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. David Bockhorn Brenham TXMr. Dennis Braaten Katy TXCarmel Bradbury Richmond TXMr. & Mrs. William H. Broman Katy TXRobin & Aaron Bruso Houston TXVelon & Martha Burnett Houston TXRichard & Sara Byrnes The Woodlands TXClayton & Tara Childs La Grange TX

Dr. Annette Citzler La Grange TXStephen & Sheron Citzler La Grange TXDavid & Becky Collins New Ulm TXPhil & Sherri Crepinsek League City TXMarilyn & Dan Cupp Grand Prairie TXMr. Eric Draper, Jr. Houston TXMrs. Karen Eikenhorst Brenham TXPeter & Pauline Eng Tyler TXRev. & Mrs. Mark England Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Vic Fair New Ulm TXMark Flora The Woodlands TXMs. Christine Franke Chappell Hill TXStephanie Gossett Bryan TXKevin Gregory Pasadena TXDavid & Jacqueline Halfaday Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Jack Hauglie Spring TXDede Heidt Sugar Land TXRev. & Mrs. Walter Hildebrandt Schulenburg TXJon & Ruth Hoyme Slayton MNMr. Donald L. Hynek Shenandoah TXMr. & Mrs. Timothy Jackson Houston TXJon & Laura Jennings Austin TXAdriana Johnson Houston TXMr. & Mrs. James Kelley Magnolia TXMr. Fred Korge & Mrs. Patricia Hogan Houston TXKrause & Jaster Family Fund Round Top TXDr. Gayle LeBon & Paul Sonnemann The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Gary Lincke La Grange TXAmber Lisman Crossroads TXRev. Kinndlee Lund Brenham TXRev. Blair & Donna Lundborg Conroe TXMr. & Mrs. James Kelley Magnolia TXMr. & Mrs. Joel Markert Baton Rouge LAPeggy & Harold Mathis, Jr. Richmond TXRobert & Melissa Minieri Conroe TXMr. & Mrs. Don H. Morrison Columbus TXLinda Morrison La Grange TXDr. & Mrs. Kenneth Mueller Victoria TXRev. & Mrs. John David Nedbalek Round Top TXRev. Kerry Nelson & Ms. Kelley Keller Houston TXMelanie Nelson & David Kingery Houston TXMike & Thelma Newton Waller TXMike & Linda Nicolosi The Woodlands TXMr. Wayne Norden & Mrs. Joni M. Weir Houston TXLaverne Peter Bay City TXLloyd Pieper Family Brenham TXMr. Mark Pokluda Houston TXMr. & Mrs. G. L. Prenzler Burton TXRev. & Mrs. Steve Quill Missouri City TXRobert W. Reinicke Bellville TXMr. Ben Remmert Houston TXMs. Annette Richards Fayetteville TXMr. & Mrs. Gary A. Roesler Willis TXEd & Mary Ross The Woodlands TXDane & Anna Sever The Woodlands TXMarian Shelton Houston TXCharles L. Smith Brenham TXMr. & Mrs. Rick Smith Klein TXAlexis Stacy Houston TXMr. & Mrs. William Steiner The Woodlands TXMr. & Mrs. Joseph Stock Houston TXMr. & Mrs. Mark Torrison The Woodlands TXTrue Expressions Photography Spring TXCindy & Scott Vermilyea Houston TXPieter Visser & Marsha Seale Houston TXAllen & Hildy Warner Houston TXLaurie Wilmoth Richardson TXRoger & Mary Lou Winkelmann Brenham TXZigal Insurance Agency La Grange TXMr. & Mrs. Lloyd Zuehlke Cypress TX

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TX-LA GULF COAST SYNOD12941 I-45 North Freeway #210Houston, Texas 77060-1243Phone: 281.873.5665www.gulfcoastsynod.org

P.O. Box 993782 Lutherhill RoadLa Grange, Texas 78945-4132Phone: 888.266.4613www.lutherhill.org