LCEF’s Board of Directors announced that Mr. Richard C. Robertson of Peachtree City, Georgia, will serve as the organization’s new president beginning Jan. 14, 2010. He succeeds Merle Freitag, who announced his retirement in July, after serving for more than 11 years.

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.

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.

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.