Mission and Ministry On the Road Luther Crest lived out our theme of Everlasting this summer as we took our mission and ministry On The Road with two Mission Trips to Kansas City and the Youth Gathering in Detroit. In addition to instilling strong Christ-centered, servant hearts, Luther Crest Mission Trips also build strong relationships between participants, as well as the people we meet on the road. Both of these trips had a relational focus. As one participant noted, A great trip that emphasized people before projects. Story continues on Page 2 Inside this Issue: Welcome Staff p. 2 On the Road Ministries p. 2 Volunteer Opportunities p. 3 Wish List p. 3 Operation Torch p. 4-5 Quilt Extravaganza p. 6 Fall Creative Retreat p. 6 Christmas Bake Sale p. 7 Upcoming Events p. 7 Annual Meeting p. 8 Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/luthercrest A Look Back at SUMMER 2015: Everlasting! Summer 2015 has come to a close, but we are still filled with joy from the memories. It was a summer full of sharing. We shared laughter, bug spray, songs, high fives, jokes, campfires, and most importantly we shared God s word. We shared the good news that God s love for us is Everlasting! God shows us His love through His Promise, Care, Community, Grace, and Call! God has given us these gifts so that we may be reminded of His Everlasting love every day and in every way. Thank You Summer Ministry Team! Luther Crest is so grateful for the 50 summer staff that came to Alexandria to serve this summer. The summer staff came from all over Minnesota and the mid-west. We feel so blessed to have been surrounded by such gifted and talented young men and women as they served God and shared God s Everlasting love this summer! Fall/Winter 2015 Christ s Everlasting Love is like a torch that continues to burn forever. Just as the torch continues to burn at Luther Crest, so does the love of Christ remain Everlasting as the torch is passed on throughout the entire year.
Welcome Maddie, Renae & Kelsey! Maddie Gray: Assistant Director of Program Ministries You may have already had the chance to meet Maddie Gray this summer. She is our new Assistant Director of Program Ministries and we are very excited to have her passion and excitement for camp present at Luther Crest every day. Maddie is thrilled to be a part of the Program Team, creating the best Christ-centered, amazing, life-changing programs possible for everyone who comes to Luther Crest. Renae Rush: Office/Environmental Education In addition to helping Luther Crest as an Environmental Ed Instructor for the past few years, Renae Rush now brings her accounting expertise and knowledge to the office, assisting with office communication, deposits, and registration. Kelsey Degerman: Ministry Associate (Grace/Brandon & Faith/Evansville) We are very excited to have Kelsey Degerman as the newest member of the Luther Crest Year-Round Ministry Team! As a Ministry Associate, Kelsey will be involved in providing hospitality, hosting and programming retreats, assisting with outdoor education, PLUS working as the Youth Director for Grace in Brandon and Faith in Evansville. M Luther Crest: On the Road Ministries! ELCA NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING: DETROIT 73 participants and 4 Luther Crest staff headed to Detroit in July for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Luther Crest provided charter bus transportation and program to and from Detroit. On the way to Detroit, stops were made in Manitowac, WI, Muskegon, MI and Grand Rapids, MI. The SS Badger ferried the two busloads across Lake Michigan. One day was focused on mission opportunities at the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. A day of fun was also enjoyed at Michigan Adventures, Michigan s largest theme park. Of course the Gathering itself provided meaningful experiences through large group worship, mission work at many sites in Detroit and the thrill of over 30,000 youth and adults together in one city for a common mission. The congregations that attended with Luther Crest were: United/ Elbow Lake, Messiah/Hoffman, Immanuel/Wadena, Our Savior s/hibbing, Cormorant/Lake Park, Esther/Parkers Prairie and Osakis Lutheran. MISSION: KANSAS CITY Kansas City was the destination for 2015 s Mission Trips. Luther Crest transported 70 participants over two weeks in June and August. Youth and adults from St. John s Lutheran of Jamestown, Hope Lutheran of Fergus Falls, Glenwood Lutheran, Ottertail Area Churches and Shepherd of the Valley of Clarissa attended. Bridge of Hope provided four days of mission work in downtown Kansas City. Luther Crest staff provided Bible Study, worship experience and fun entertainment each day, including waterpark and Twins baseball. This trip was rewarding as participants experienced life-giving and faith-growing in an urban environment. R K S2S: Scattered 2 Serve (Luther Crest Volunteer Program) He presented another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 A mustard seed, although it is small, can grow to be quite large and when scattered, can be found over a very large area. So too, Luther Crest volunteers are scattered to serve others, both at Luther Crest and in congregations. Although we may seem small individually, many volunteers working together can become something monumental, making a huge difference, like a tiny seed becoming a tree. Benefits of Being a Volunteer... 1. Personal satisfaction through serving others; 2. Contributing to the great ministry of Luther Crest; 3. Building relationships with other S2S Volunteers; and 4. Celebrating at our Volunteer Appreciation Days. PLUS! You will get a cool purple S2S, Scattered 2 Serve T-shirt to wear each time you volunteer --- to show your spirit of Christian Hospitality! Become a Part of S2S Today! Whether you are an individual looking for opportunities OR a group that can grow together through a Group Volunteer Day - Scattered 2 Serve Volunteer Club has several areas of interest. No matter what age or where you are at in life, we believe that everyone has a gift to share! Join S2S today! Go online to complete a Volunteer Interest Form or contact Jody to get started. jodyj@luthercrest.org In any of the following volunteers areas: Office Kitchen/Baking Grounds/Maintenance Guest Hospitality/Cleaning Program Resource Gardening Large 4-Seater John Deere gator or similar Bike Rack New or used enclosed trailer for our off-site adventure/mission programs New Four-Six Person Tents for Wet & Wilderness Program and Campouts Commercial-sized vacuums for the Dining Hall, Retreat and Program Center New Carpeting for the office area Wish List! New or used Golf Carts Kayaks and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboards) Copier Paper Bar Stools Music Stands 40-inch or larger flat screen televisions 2 3
Operation Torch Operation Torch, Bringing Light to the future of Luther Crest Building on 70 years of history and tradition, Luther Crest has begun a new initiative called Operation Torch that will guide us as we seek to share the good news of our Everlasting God for years to come. Thrivent Financial was instrumental in the implementation of Operation Torch, providing $25,000 in matching funds that support the growth of specific areas. This initiative will guide Luther Crest in every area of operation as we take a long term view of where God is calling us, and how we can reach out to the thousands of people we interact with each year. Operation Torch has three objectives: 1. To pass the torch of generosity to a new generation of children, young people and Millennials; 2. To embrace new people from non-traditional constituency groups; 3. To educate current donors about the value of giving estate gifts to support Luther Crest and other ministries and charities. Operation Torch will enable Luther Crest to sustainably practice ministry for years to come, and we re excited to share with you, some of the new areas that you can be a part of. Luther Crest Buddies is our new Youth Giving Club that encourages youth of all ages to take the camp community with them, sharing the everlasting love of Christ, not only with those here at camp, but also at home! As a member of Buddies, youth have the opportunity to share their camp experience with others via (1) social networks, (2) Buddies Pen Pals, and (3) special Buddies Events both at Luther Crest and Local Congregations. Additionally, youth are informed about the work God is doing at Luther Crest and how they can be a part of sustaining it, via (1) donations, (2) Service days like our planned Buddies Service Day on September 26th, or (3) exclusive merchandise that supports scholarships to Luther Crest. We ve had over 200 young people sign up to be a part of buddies this summer and we are looking forward to expanding the reach of this new club. Our first Buddies event will be our Buddies Service Day! on September 26th at Luther Crest. Buddies Welcome Packets just went out, with wristbands and information on events, and their new Buddies Pen Pals. Buddies gave over $5,000 to Lutheran World Relief and Luther Crest this summer at camp! Thank you Buddies for your generosity and giving spirit!!! Check out our Buddies Facebook Page for continuing updates and photos!!! 2015 Alumni Reunion: 70 Years of Passing on the Torch Over 150 alumni and their families came to celebrate 70 years of ministry this summer at Luther Crest. We would like to thank everyone for sharing their time and sharing their Luther Crest stories with us. Through amazing meals, campfire fun, time at the beach, arts and crafts, camp games and much more, it was wonderful to see so many alumni families connecting and re-connecting not only with the history of Luther Crest, but feeling and sharing the excitement about the future of this place as well. CALLING ALL LUTHER CREST ALUMNI! It is not too late to tell your story about your Luther Crest Experience. We had 12 former staff record videos during the staff reunion. 3 people wrote about their experiences. Be an Alumni Torch and pass on your stories, experiences and insights to those who need to hear how important Luther Crest is to children, families and adults as they develop their own faith stories while they are at Luther Crest. Tell your grand relatives how important Luther Crest is to sharing the message of Christ! Help Luther Crest plan for a secure future through building a strong Endowment Fund. Please encourage them to see a Financial Advisor or contact Dave Holtz or Marcus Anderson for help creating a plan for the future. A Message for All Alumni: Keep sharing your stories. Through Email, Luther Crest Facebook, Mail, Send your written stories or video to Jody at jodyj@ luthercrest.org. Were You Born After 1980? Luther Crest is looking for Millennials With the inception of Operation Torch, Luther Crest is taking a greater interest in millennials who are former campers or staff members. Many of these individuals are now beginning to send their kids to camp. These folks can be, and are the future leaders in creating a sustainable future for Luther Crest. In 2015, we ve seen considerable growth in our millennial donor base through our capital campaign. As we emphasize a larger relationship with our millennial supporters and participants, we ll be looking for ways to connect them with seasoned givers, who not only provide an example of faithful giving, but a faith that encompasses all parts of life. We ll do this by: Creating local teams that develop relationships between young and old supporters of Luther Crest; Holding special events for millennials and their families at Luther Crest; Reaching out to our current supporters to identify themselves or future donors as millennials, allowing us to take advantage of current and future matching dollars from our Thrivent Grant. As such our biggest hurdle in this category, is identifying who falls within it, so we need your help, to spread the word, to connect with us, and to pass the torch to a new generation of participants and supporters. Rachel Mullin, a 2015 Summer Staff member and a Millennial, encouraged others to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Luther Crest with gifts and pledges of $19.45. Will you or others follow in her footsteps? Either a one-time gift or perhaps even a monthly gift of $19.45. All gifts, large or small, can make a huge difference! Prepare the Way Campaign The Luther Crest Prepare the Way Campaign has continued to progress in the past year with congregations, WELCA Groups, Men s groups, families and friends turning out to support the growth that has become an annual occurrence. This summer, our board approved an accelerated schedule for construction of the new cabins to begin, and we re excited to say that with over $800,000 in pledges and one time gifts, we are just under $100,000 away from beginning construction on our first two cabin structures. This fall we ll be emphasizing reaching out to the Fergus Falls, St. Cloud and Brainerd Lakes areas, to join with us in this call to Prepare the Way for future generations at Luther Crest. On March 9th we had Pledges and One time gifts of $601,701.77 On September 9th we had Pledges and One time gifts of $808,524.22 Over 40 Congregations have run campaigns or set goals for giving to Prepare the Way! With goals totaling over half a million dollars! 4 5
QUILT EXTRAVAGANZA! Saturday, October 17, 2015 This is also the Annual Apple Fest Weekend at the Carlos Creek Winery. Activities include Live Music and Wine Tasting, LCBC Cookie Tent, Craft Sale, Silent Auction, Apple Bakery with a Buy Now Option during the Quilt Viewing from 11:00am - 2:00pm. LIVE AUCTION AT 2:00pm!!! NEW FOR 2015 - Luther Crest Apple Bakery will be open AFTER THE AUCTION until the event concludes at around 6:00pm. QUILTERS! Quilts must be at Luther Crest by Friday, October 9 to make the Live Auction. Challenge the members of your group to create a unique and clever name for your quilt. Also, we love knowing the story that goes along with your quilt. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!! Fall Creative Retreat Friday - Sunday, November 20-22 (Thursday, November 19 - Early Bird arrival option) Cost: $135; Early Bird - $155.00; Extra $30.00/night for single room (Deposit: $50.00) Create in Me A Clean Heart O God, And Renew a Right Spirit Within Me. Scrapbooking, Stamping, Quilting and any other creative projects that you are working on but can never find enough time without distractions to work on them? Come to Luther Crest for the weekend to spend 3-4 days with nothing but CREATIVE TIME TO YOURSELF!!! Registration begins at 6:00pm on Friday. The retreat concludes at 3:00pm on Sunday. There is an Early Bird option for those who would like more time for working on projects (early birds are responsible for their own meals until Breakfast on Saturday). Annual Christmas Bake Sale No time for Holiday Baking but you would love to have an assortment of goodies to serve your family and guests? Let the Staff at LUTHER CREST do your Holiday Baking for you! Mark your calendars today! To order, call 320-846-2431, Email bonniep@luthercrest.org OR fill out an order form from at www.luthercrest.org ORDER DEADLINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 PICK UP FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY! Please consider being a volunteer for this fun, seasonal event. We have several weeks where we will be asking for help on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Perhaps you work with a youth group or have a group of friends that could get together for the day. If you are interested, please call 320-846-2431 or email Bonnie Praska. Mark Your Calendars For These Upcoming Events!!! Annual Meeting... Saturday, October 10 Luther Crest Quilt Event... Saturday, October 17 2016 Summer Registration Opens... Sunday, November 1 Give to the Max Day!... Thursday, November 12 Fall Creative Retreat... Friday - Sunday, November 20-22 Christmas Bake Sale Order Deadline... Friday, December 4 Christmas Bake Sale Pickup... Friday-Saturday, December 11-12 Summer Early Bird Deadline #1... Friday, January 1 (New Year s Day) Summer Early Bird Deadline #2... Thursday, March 17 (St. Patrick s Day) Elementary Retreat... Friday-Sunday, March 18-20 Middle School Retreat... Friday-Sunday, April 1-3 Vibrant Faith Certification School... Monday-Friday, May 1-6 To Register: Go to www.luthercrest.org OR call 320-846-2431 for more information. 6 7
Luther Crest Bible Camp 8231 County Road 11 NE Alexandria, MN 56308 Non-profit org US postage PAID Duluth, MN #1003 Annual Meeting Invitation! EVER WONDER WHAT S NEW AT LUTHER CREST? WANT TO KNOW HOW THE PREPARE THE WAY CAMPAIGN IS GOING? CURIOUS ABOUT NEW BUILDING PROJECTS AND NEW PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES? COME TO THE ANNUAL MEETING TO FIND OUT. Our Annual Meeting will be Saturday, October 10th. Come for coffee and rolls at 9:30am with our meeting beginning at 10:00am. This is usually the peak weekend for fall colors in Alexandria. Stick around after the Meeting to enjoy a hike amidst the red and orange maples.