After you have considered the level of your generous gift to the 2008-2011 Growing in Faith Capital Campaign, please also consider the level at which you can support two additional opportunities -- Beyond Our Walls.

In 2004, when we air-conditioned our sanctuary, we challenged ourselves to fund the building of a chapel in Kolakaravadi, India. In our 2008-2011 Growing in Faith Capital Campaign, we have the opportunity to contribute to an international building project and a local program.

In addition to a pledge for St. Luke's building, you can designate funds for the Mount of Olives Housing Project, which consists of 84 apartments and a community center that will alleviate the critical shortage of housing for Palestinian Christians and strengthen the dwindling Christian presence in Jerusalem. St. Luke's hopes to cover the $80,000 cost of one apartment over the next three years.

You also have the opportunity to designate funds for the Early Childhood Scholarship Fund of Concordia Avondale Campus, a ministry of Concordia Lutheran Church's extensive community outreach on the Northwest side of Chicago. St. Luke's hopes to contribute $60,000 to this scholarship fund over the next three years.

On the Growing in Faith commitment card, after you indicate your Capital Campaign pledge, you may designate an additional gift for the Mount of Olives Housing Project and the Early Childhood Scholarship Fund of Concordia Avondale Campus.

Beyond Our Walls – An International Opportunity

Mt. of Olives Housing Project

When St. Luke’s air-conditioned our sanctuary, we challenged ourselves to fund the building of a chapel in Kolakaravadi, India. We did it!

In our 2008 Growing in Faith Capital Campaign, we have the opportunity to contribute to a Holy Land housing project that will alleviate the critical shortage of housing for Palestinian Christians and strengthen the dwindling Christian presence in Jerusalem.

The Situation:

• In 1946, over 31,000 Christians lived in Jerusalem, but today they number fewer than 10,000.
• Christians are leaving Jerusalem due in part to a lack of affordable housing.
• Those who leave Jerusalem are forced to give up their rights of residency, including health care, pensions, and freedom of mobility.
• The Christian community in Jerusalem is committed to peace-making and preserving the culture of a shared city between Jews, Muslims, and Christians. The Christian presence is important to continue this tradition in the Holy Land.

The Response:

• 84 apartments (average cost, $80,000) and a community center will be built.
• 4 acres of Lutheran World Federation (LWF) land on the Mount of Olives was donated by LWF.
• $8.4 million will fund the total cost of the project.
• Over $600,000 has already been raised by ELCA congregations and individuals. (ELCA hopes to contribute $2 million of the total.)
• Churches involved: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, U.S.A., Canada, Jordan and Palestine. (The Church of Sweden has committed $4.6 million.)
• Ground breaking will be at the beginning of 2009; completion at the end of 2011.

St. Luke’s Opportunity:

In addition to your pledge for our building, designate funds for building an apartment for a family in the Holy Land.

As Bishop Mark Hanson notes, “The Mount of Olives Housing Project is vital to the future of the Christian presence and witness in Jerusalem and it is important, therefore, to the future of Jerusalem as a city of peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, an example of reconciliation for the world.”

Beyond Our Walls – A Local Opportunity

Concordia Avondale Campus Scholarship Fund

In our 2008 Growing in Faith Capital Campaign, we have the opportunity to contribute to the Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund of Concordia Avondale Campus, a ministry of Concordia Lutheran Church’s extensive community outreach in the Northwest Side of Chicago.

The Situation:

• For working parents, high-quality reliable child care is of the utmost importance.
• The Avondale neighborhood has no Head Start programs and only 65 full-day pre-k slots to serve more than 4,000 children.
• Current statistics show that 94 percent of the families of children at the local elementary school are at or below the federal poverty line.
• Concordia Avondale Campus tuition is charged on a sliding fee scale, enabling families at all economic levels to attend the highest-quality program in the area. (70 percent benefit from the sliding tuition scale.)
• Circumstances arise that mean families must choose between child care and paying the rent.
• Concordia Avondale Campus Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund spends more than $60,000 annually to ensure that every child who starts in the program stays in the program.

The Response:

• Members of Concordia Lutheran Church, fewer than 200 in number, committed $300,000 in seed money toward the purchase of the vacant century-old buildings of St. Veronica Roman Catholic School and Rectory.
• With help from elected officials, private donations, and city, state, and federal grants, the $12.5 million project (construction, program development and operations) was completed in 2006.
• Programs include infant care through full-day preschool for 200 children, summer camp, teen/youth leadership programs, adult education, English as a Second Language, tutoring, senior services, computer laboratory.

St. Luke’s Opportunity:

• In addition to your pledge for our building, designate funds for the Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund.
• Partner with Concordia Avondale in volunteer service opportunities. Watch for future announcements.

As Concordia’s Pastor Nicholas Zook asked his members, “Why is the vision of the church limited to the perimeters of the building? Why do the walls define how far we could go? We believe in creating involved communities where all our neighbors can gather, learn and grow.”