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Introduction:
Our Savior has always understood God's Vision to be: Turning
irreligious people into fullydevoted followers of Christ. We're all irreligious
at some level, and full devotion will not happen until we are standing at the
feet of Jesus. Between now and then, Our Savior will be about searching for those
who have lost their way. At the same time, we are committed to going the distance
in our own walk with Jesus Christ.
Our History, Growth and Opportunities:
God has blessed Our Savior Lutheran Church throughout its 40+
year history. From the very first worship service in Howser/Fillmer Mortuary on
July 30, 1961, to the present day, the Holy Spirit has been at work in our midst.
Our Savior was formally organized on January 7, 1962. In the beginning, there
were only 152 people who called Our Savior home. In the first year of existence,
Our Savior averaged 105 in worship attendance.
As a result of growing worship attendance, the congregation
quickly outgrew its first worship location at Howser/Fillmer Mortuary. Worship
services were moved to Norfolk Junior College auditorium. The first service there
was April 7, 1963.
By then, plans were well underway to construct a church building.
On February 23, 1964, the original building was dedicated to the service of God's
Kingdom. In 1964, this forward thinking congregation built a sanctuary that could
seat 450 worshipers when there were still only 105 in worship. God's plans to
"build" Our Savior and the congregations desire to be used by God had
just begun. In 1976, an addition was built and dedicated to the glory of God.
Again in 1998, a third addition was dedicated.
Today, 40 years later, Our Savior Lutheran has more than 1654
members and 5 different worship services. By the end of 2002, Our Savior averaged
721 in weekly worship.
Under the grace of God, we will continue to serve His kingdom
and purpose: Turning irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Christ.
Our Challenge:
Today, we are again faced with challenges that could halt our
effectiveness in God's kingdom. We currently owe approximately $686,000 on our
1998 addition. This debt must be eliminated. We are also faced with great facility
needs. There are currently 350+ people worshiping in the Family Life Center, a
room we desperately needed 5 years ago for fellowship and youth activities. The
need for space still exists today. Adequate facilities are needed for the implementation
of God's vision for Our Savior.
God has used Our Savior in amazing ways for the past 40 years.
Rest assured, God is going to use Our Savior in even MORE amazing ways in the
future. Consider for a moment what He has done among us in just the past few years.
At the end of 1997, Our Savior averaged 428 worshipers per weekend. By the end
of 2002, average worship attendance had exploded to 721 worshipers every weekend.
By the grace of God we experienced a 68.6% increase in the number of worshipers
in just 5 years. If this continues, we can expect over 1217 people worshiping
Christ every weekend at Our Savior by the end of 2007. Even if our growth rate
is cut in half, there will still be 968 people in worship every weekend.
It is not coincidental that our growth took off in 1997, shortly
after our last building project. We needed more room if the church was going to
continue to grow. Today, we are faced with the same dilemma. We need more space!
To do nothing would mean a plateau in most of our current ministries. A step of
faith would create new space ready to be filled by our good and gracious God.
Study and Preparation
Several options have been considered. We've looked at four
major solutions to our current challenge. One possibility was to start a new church.
We also considered taking the praise service to a second location. We even investigated
relocating the whole church. All of these ideas were deemed unrealistic for reasons
varying from cost, to a fear of splitting the church. Since Christ's Great Commission
(Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations) still stands, the idea of doing
nothing is also not acceptable.
Therefore, it was decided the best stewardship for Our Savior
was to stay where we are, increase the size of current facilities and better utilize
the space we currently have.
The Plan:
Current building debt $686,000.00
Estimated building/remodeling cost $1,300,000.00
Going the Distance Goal $2,000,000.00
This is indeed a very large sum of money, yet it pales in comparison
to the cost of doing nothing. Doing nothing is what James the brother of Jesus
was speaking about in James chapter 2 when he said, "What good is it, my
brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save
him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of
you says to him. 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing
about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if
it is not accompanied by action, is dead." To do nothing is for Our Savior
to say "I realize you don't know Jesus and as a result of that you will spend
eternity in hell, but there is nothing we can do." We cannot sit idly by,
just as our founding members did not sit idly by. As long as there are lost sheep
on planet earth, we must prayerfully ask our heavenly Father how he wants to use
us in the fulfillment of His Great Commission.
The Stewardship Campaign:
Going the Distance ... Forward in Faith Going the Distance
... Forward in Faith provides each household an opportunity to make a three year
financial commitment, over and above their weekly tithes and offerings, to retire
our debt and expand our current facilities. Your pledge to this campaign will
be a personal decision made after much discussion, thought and prayer. No one
will suggest a pledge amount for you. That is a matter between you and God.
We are asking each of our members to make a sacrificial pledge
to this campaign. Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice acknowledges the biblical
principle of giving in accordance to what God has given us ... in other words,
being a good steward of God's earthly blessings.
Prayer is the foundation to all God pleasing decisions. Please
know that the Going the Distance ... Forward in Faith leadership team is praying
for you, for Our Savior and for God's blessings on this campaign. We ask you to
join us in prayer.
- Ask God to guide you as you consider
what a sacrificial gift is for you and your family.
- Pray that Going the Distance ...
Forward in Faith will create an environment that will effectively motivate each
member to seek God's will for his or her life.
- Pray for the leadership of Our Savior,
who with God's help, will guide us through this campaign.
- Pray that God will reveal to each
of our members what it means to Go the Distance ... Forward in Faith.
Schedule of Events:
Small Group Meeting (August 25 - September 5) During this period,
all of our small groups will host an informative meeting about the Going the Distance
... Forward in Faith campaign. At these meetings; we will share information, answer
questions regarding the campaign, and encourage individuals to commit to prayer.
No financial commitment will be requested or accepted; this is a time for sharing
information.
Inspirational Period (September 7 - October 5) This will be
a time for intensive communication to our congregation in the form of both factual
information and biblical teachings. We want members to be informed in order to
personally share in a decision that will influence the future of the church. Brochures,
posters, newsletters, Bible study lessons, small group studies and a special series
of sermons will help spread the message throughout the church family.
Special Event (October 5) This is an opportunity for the entire
church family to meet for fellowship and inspiration. Everyone is encouraged to
participate in this important event. Those who attend will be given the opportunity
to register their commitment to the Going the Distance ... Forward in Faith campaign.
During the Special Event there will also be a special emphasis for all children
through grade six. Be sure to reserve this date on your personal calendar.
Response Caller Team (October 13 - 18) This period will provide
those who were unable to attend the Special Event and those who have yet to respond
to the Going the Distance ... Forward in Faith campaign an opportunity to register
their response. Callers, comprised of church volunteers, will be responsible for
phoning every household from whom a commitment card has not been received by one
week after the Special Event. The callers will encourage those they contact to
return their commitment cards to the church before Celebration Sunday.
Celebration Sunday (October 19) On this day, the congregation
will gather and celebrate our victory in the Lord. We will take our first step
forward in fulfilling our commitments as we praise God for the opportunity to
share His love and move forward by faith.
OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH
2500 W. Norfolk Ave. Norfolk, NE 68701 Phone: (402) 371 9005 |
