Town Hall Meeting

Summary of the meeting from September 4, 2024.

Devotional with Pastor Ahlersmeyer: “Why Old Men Plant Trees”

·       Campaign Theme: Rooted in Christ, Reaching Across Generations

  • Emphasis on laboring for the benefit of others.

Pastoral Search Progress

  • Committee Composition: Primarily younger members.

  • Committee Role:

    • Skills required: Preaching, leadership, embracing multiple forms of worship, experience with Christian day school, commitment to Fort Wayne, engagement in building campaign.

    • Initial candidates: 29, narrowed to 9, aiming for 3.

    • Final selection by search team and elders, new pastor to start in 2025.

  • No questions about the search process.

Building Project Updates with Henry Graf and Andy Hesterman

  • Immediate Needs:

    • Roof: Church and school buildings, $300K grant from Lutheran Foundation.

    • Windows: Replacement needed, possibly now looking to be completed by spring.

    • Security Doors: New installations required.

  • Fundraising Goals:

    • Raise $4 Million from HC, $1 Million from Lutheran Foundation.

    • Adjust project scope based on enrollment projections and interest rates.

    • Confirmed projects: Roof, windows, doors.

  • Project Scope:

    • Voted on a max $15 Million scope.

    • Contractor: Michael Kinder and Sons.

    • LCEF: Lutheran Church Extension Fund will be the lender, bank affiliated with LCMS.

    • Roof: Possible partial preservation above the church, school roof needs replacement.

Questions and Answers

  • Does moisture damage include mold remediation?

    • Majority of the issue was due to the exterior of the building. They came out and fixed that for free. (All mold tests were negative.)

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  • Has there been a date set for the fundraising campaign?

    • Fundraising happening as we speak. Lead gifts (now), then advanced giving, and final push will happen in October for church/school wide support.

  • How is this being introduced to the school members?

    • Campaign has a dedicated committee working with the school side.

  • Is there a reason to separate them (church & school)?

    • A lot will be done in church so wanting school families to be included.

  • To be clear, there is a church and school committee?

    • Yes, there is a church committee and a school committee because there is so much planning that has to go on behind the scenes.

    • First mailing (Vision Brochure) to be mailed out September 30.

    • Church services in October will be full of things about the campaign culminating in November with prayerfully participating.

  • When will solidifying the plan with financing?

    • Really the scale could change until January.

    • By this time next month we’ll have 80% accuracy.

  • What is the next thing after the roof, door, windows?

    • We’re determining that now. Determining both the students and money.

    • Restrooms are determined the next most important thing but determined on the project.

  • What are other plans that you would like to make?

    • Big question is can you add students to the population, keep the school’s culture, have the teachers that can do it, and make it sustainable?

    • Found that salaries were not near the top and determined if we want to improve the culture and grow the school, we need to pay our teachers better. Quick answer is expanding the school. Add all those things (in the school) that would go with it.

  • Has there been any money put away from something like this (school expansion/renovation)?

    • No.

  • Would you consider liquidating an asset? Like the shopping center?

    • Could look at selling out right to making into a cash flow positive. We’ll know more by January.

    • This is separate corporate entity from the church and school.

  • Was the shopping center bought with the idea of school expansion?

    • It was seen as a possible investment that we wouldn’t lose money on.

    • The goal is that HC would receive income off of the redevelopment.

  • If we keep this building, can we afford to do deferred maintenance on this building? Don’t understand how we do the school and this (shopping center).

    • That is why we would need to partner with a developer to remedy this sooner than later.

    • There are a range of options and taking all those into account very carefully.

  • Does this property include the land all the way to the street?

    • Yes, up to the gas station.

    • For the first time we’ve owned this (shopping center) we’re at capacity.

    • Chad has been working diligently with the property manager to get clients in here.

  • Have you already started fundraising with key people?

    • Save the Date for first event went out this morning.

  • Do you have a projection on the first group that you know?

    • There are some projections, but you never know until you get into it.

    • 20% of people will give 80% of funds and vice versa.

  • What does the revised “scope” include?

    • Henry is meeting with lender tomorrow to know more.

  • What were some questions asked this afternoon that we haven’t discussed this evening?

    • Questions about capital campaign. When are we giving? How do we ensure the money goes to where we want it to go?

    • Are you working with the city of Fort Wayne?

    • Can we touch the endowment? No.

    • How does the Lutheran Foundation determine how much they can give?

      • We have to phase this in increments to line with this.

    • Are we still getting the COVID money?

      • Those funds are still on moratorium.

      • That would be about $1.2 million.

    • Is the high school looking or interested in this (shopping center) space?

      • They were in discussions to partner with us on this property and they opted out. As of now, they are still not interested.

      • CLHS is also doing a campaign.

    • Instead of building a new gym, is there a way to expand and upgrade our current gym?

      • We’re looking into all that.

    • Henry can’t say enough positive things about LCEF and Andy to optimize every square inch of this.

    • Is there anything else, regarding other grant money, to help cover?

      • Mark Dixon sent them info on 9 foundations we can reach out to and see if they are possible options for support.

Pastor Ahlersmeyer closed the meeting in prayer.

·       Visit the HC website for more info. Online blog with updated details. Campaign button on the front of the website.

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