With God's Hope~Our Journey Continues...

Luther struggled constantly searching for ways for God to love him. It was in this journey that Luther discovered Jesus Christ on the cross. It was this great act of grace from God on the cross that gave salvation to all — nothing that Luther or anyone else did. Grace was God’s gift to humanity and not what one earned. This discovery made Luther known as the Father of the Reformation.

It is still this reformation that we share as Lutherans in this time and place. We are constantly challenged by God’s grace for us and how we might share it with others. This is why we are called to share the Vision of Ministry here so that others too might know of God’s love. For our Mission Statement reminds us that this reformation of “Living in God’s Love and Reaching Out with Hope” is the special gift we’ve been given to share with the community we live in. This is why we held the capitol campaign called “God’s Hope and Our Journey!” As we try to follow our vision with the gifts we are sharing and have promised over the next 2 ½ years, we are challenged. Events have happened beyond our control that have increased costs ridiculously. Katrina was enough and Rita isn’t helping us.

As a result Ron Lorenz and the Building Ministry Team are having to make many difficult choices to bring the rising costs into budget. Remember we are already paying new staff from the gifts being given for GHOJ. We hope to have a Contemporary Music Director in place soon. We have interviewed an excellent person and are continuing that process. A committee is also prioritizing where we will send our benevolent gifts too.

However, the biggest challenge is bringing the 2 million dollar costs down to the 1.5 million that we are allowed to borrow from the Mission Loan and Investment Fund. This means the following: nothing east of the current kitchen will be touched; the basement under the new sanctuary will have a dirt floor ; the building height has been lowered by about two feet; windows have been taken out of the north and south part of the ceiling; very little steel is being used; we will remain on two phase power instead of building three phase; the side-walk on the east will be delayed until absolutely necessary for city code; landscaping will also be delayed and possibly done ourselves; and the sound system is being cut back. Remember, these aren’t changes we want to make but the budget forces us into this position. 1.5 million dollars will only allow us to build this amount. All the above and a few other things will be prioritized alternates that will be added as funds become available.

Please pray for the Building Ministry Team to make wise and difficult decisions for us. We hope to have a Congregational Meeting in November and begin building as soon as possible after that date. We want to inform you as best we can in this painful process. May the Reformation continue for the Atonement family as we follow our Lord’s calling into the future.

Pastor Del