Ministry Expansion Campaigns for Congregations
Our Ministry Solutions team partners with your congregation to expand your ministry and strengthen your stewardship. While each campaign is unique, the goal is always the same: to help your congregation joyfully fulfill its God-given mission.
Timeline includes six months of active campaign followed by three years of fulfillment.
Prep
8+ Weeks
Goal
Design and Prep the Campaign
Public Phase
12+ Weeks
Inform
During the Inform Phase, we aim to address and answer every question that may arise in relation to the campaign and its goal. Ordinarily, this is done through informational documents, videos, mailings and forums. Our team works with you to find the most effective ways to communicate with your congregation and quickly answer any questions. By the end of the Inform Phase, your congregation should fully understand the campaign’s case.
Publicly Launch the Campaign
The heart of the campaign is the Inspire Phase, where we lift up the campaign into the larger vision of Christ’s work among us. This can include an optional sermon and worship series, Bible studies, devotions, prayer services and member visits.
Focus On Christ’s Call and Plan a Commitment Celebration
Commit
The culmination of this phase is Commitment Celebration Sunday (or weekend), where the congregation is invited to declare with one voice, “We are all in!” Personal and financial commitments are made, and your members are invited to celebrate the future God has laid before them.
Hold a Commitment Weekend and Follow-Up
Fulfill
3 Years
Giving Begins, Campaign Events Continue, Hold a Final Celebration
LCEF has guided congregations through capital campaigns for many years.
Campaigns are about Ministry, not Money.
Money is simply a vehicle to see ministry expand in your congregation. Whether you are retiring debt, purchasing property or building a new facility, we help you focus on the ministry impact of the project that moves the hearts of your people to generously give.
A Spiritual Conversation.
As we focus on the ministry impact of your project, we ensure the members hear the clear call of Christ to engage and commit to this essential future ministry.
Basecamp Project Management.
Instead of binders, campaigns live inside of our easy-to-use project management software. Each person on the leadership team will have access and be able to use the powerful platform to stay on top of their tasks as well as access all the materials at any time on their phones, tablets or computers.
Every Campaign is Unique.
Our process is time-tested and intentionally flexible to fit the culture of your congregation. Together with your team, we ensure that your campaign resonates with your members, while reaching your funding goal.
A Family Conversation.
Our Ministry Expansion Campaign process encourages a family conversation between the brothers and sisters in Christ of your congregation, encouraging every member to commit to the family project with their prayers, service and financial gifts.
We Don’t Stop after the Campaign Ends.
The three years of commitment to fulfillment require multiple ministry celebration events, reminder mini-campaigns and stewardship emphasis moments. We walk alongside you throughout this critical phase to ensure you capitalize on critical moments to maintain giving momentum.
A Lutheran Conversation.
In financial campaigns, it is easy to lean into the Law to drive giving. The LCEF process is unique in its presentation of a Gospel call to giving that grows disciples as they see God provide for them as they provide for His kingdom.
Campaigns by the Numbers
%
St. Paul’s, Des Peres, Mo. Goal: $15,000,000.00 Committed: $14,302,000
%
Fellowship of Faith, McHenry, Ill. Goal: $2,000,000. Committed: $3,050,286.00
%
Grace Lutheran Church, Lafayette, Ind. Goal: $1,500,000.00 Committed: $1,667,608.00
Join Congregations Like Yours
Rev. Dr. Glen D. Thomas
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Mo.
"We are delighted with the leadership that LCEF provided for our ministry expansion campaign. Our consultant had experience as a LCMS parish pastor and this experience, combined with his campaign knowledge and expertise, made him the perfect choice to lead us through this campaign. We researched other campaign consultant companies and decided that LCEF was the best choice in terms of capital campaign experience, affinity with us as a congregation of the LCMS, and value for the services they provided."
Rev. Joel Hess
St. James Lutheran Church, Chicago, Ill.
“Five years ago, by God's grace, St. James had that Gospel fire lit under them, which created a passion to share the Good News of Jesus with Chicago. But this good desire needed an effective strategy. LCEF provided an outstanding long-term planning template and outstanding advisors so we could put our faith into action. Two ministry campaigns later, we have expanded our ministries and schools and joyfully look forward to regular ministry campaigns so more and more Chicagoans know Jesus.”
Rev. Dr. Mark McCrory
Desert Foothills Lutheran Church, Scottdale, Ariz.
"The LCEF Ministry Expansion Campaign was a fantastic experience, thanks to our consultant's expert guidance at every step, from planning to hands-on support during execution. The results spoke for themselves as our congregation exceeded fundraising expectations, raising substantially more than anticipated!"
Rev. Dr. Daniel Prugh and Principal Kelly Reilly
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Tampa, Fla.
"It was a joy to work with LCEF on our campus expansion project. The support that LCEF provided was instrumental in the execution of a clear and successful campaign for our multipurpose education building and sport court."