The Pacific Southwest District Lutheran Church Extension Fund welcomes you to our web site! LCEF is a major ministry of our Lutheran Church, with 28 of our LCMS Church Districts having joined together to form the organization that now totals $1.5 billion in assets. Nationwide there are 75,000 individuals and organizations (such as churches and schools) who have invested over $1 billion, which has allowed LCEF to fund 3,000 low interest loans to our churches, missions, schools, universities, and the Synod itself. These loans total over 1 billion dollars. LCEF is a unique ministry and mission arm of the Lutheran Church that has formed a partnership with the whole church for the expansion of God’s kingdom here on earth.

The mission of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund is:

To support the Church in fulfilling its mission of sharing
the Gospel of Jesus Christ by being a Christ-centered servant
partner of the LCMS, ensuring that the funds and services
are available now and in the future.

In the Pacific Southwest District, over 5,400 Lutherans and their congregations have chosen to become a part of this ministry by investing some of their funds with LCEF. Over 105 million dollars has been entrusted to the organization, and these funds have been used to fund loans to churches and schools throughout the district for new facilities, school expansions, mission sites, and the starting of new congregations. As the funds are repaid, and as new investors are added, the fund grows larger and more ministry happens!

Today, LCEF in the PSD has over 200 loans in place totaling more than $185 million. Most of the congregations of our district think first of LCEF when they undertake building and expansion programs. We expect the numbers to continue to grow, as there are numerous plans for expansion among the congregations of our district, which will mean a continued need for new investments and new investors.

Investment opportunities and current interest rates are available on the LCEF website, www.lcef.org. LCEF also offers a number of professional services designed to help congregations meet the various ministry opportunities that come before them, including:

  • Demographic Studies
  • Capital Funding Services
  • Consecrated Stewards
  • Laborers for Christ
  • Architectural Consultation
  • Strategic Ministry Planning
  • Gift Planning Services

Consecrated Stewards – A service of Capital Funding Services “Want to raise Christian stewards while experiencing a significant increase in annual envelope giving?”

Your Investment at Work…
At Promise Lutheran Church – Murrieta, CA

Recently the two LCEF Vice Presidents, Gary Spencer and Tom Butz were excited to participate in the Grand Opening celebration for this just completed early childhood and worship center in the growing community of Murrieta, about 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

During the festivities all were invited to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony as the doors of the attractive and brightly colored 38,000 square foot multi-use building were opened. Then all were welcomed in to a worshipful and prayerful service dedicating the central worship area to the glory of God, and the surrounding educational ministry centers dedicated to the bringing of the Gospel message to all of the young within the community. One of the highlights of the celebration was a presentation by the Riverside County director of First Five the state of California’s program for bringing early childhood education to as many as possible. He commended the congregation on making a major contribution to the reaching of these little ones, eventually to a total of 300 at a time, while preserving a worship space for 400, and doing so with a building that will be a major component of the city’s development for many years to come.

This ten acre site is located at the confluence of the I-15 and I-215 freeways, with a view of the striking architectural facility available to drivers coming south on both of these major transportation arteries.

LCEF was instrumental in the acquisition of the site through its Recognized Service Organization, Church Development Partners, who assisted in locating the site, negotiating the purchase and assisting with the early development steps. LCEF then provided the major financing that allowed the master planning and permitting for the full three phases of the congregation’s eventual use of the site, and the construction of this first unit.

 

 

 
In the final analysis, the words of Church Development Partner’s President echo throughout – GOOD JOB, GOD!!

For more information about LCEF, call the District office at 1-888-773-5267
and speak with:

  • Gary Spencer, Vice-President for LCEF
  • Sylvia Knight, Administrative Assistant