On Sun., May 23, Life Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn., became the latest WELS congregation to dedicate a new worship facility with the help of WELS Church Extension Fund, Inc.

Rev. Stephen Meyer, Life's lead pastor, says, "The Church Extension Fund (CEF) made it possible for us to celebrate a dedication so quickly. They gave us generous matching grants when we purchased land and when we built the facility. They also have provided us with an excellent mortgage rate. Their general guidance and support through the purchasing and construction phases have also been very valuable. We realize that CEF's generosity is really a product of many, many WELS members' generosity—all those who have invested with CEF or given gifts to CEF."

As Tim Probst, vice president of marketing and development for WELS CEF, explains, "Our mission is to provide financing to mission congregations so they can acquire land and build or renovate worship facilities used for gospel outreach. On average WELS CEF has funded 10 building projects per year during the past three years, and we project similar activity during the next two to three years."

Life's new facility is an outreach ministry of Resurrection in Rochester. It is considered a second site for Resurrection. The two sites share one budget, one pastoral staff, and one church council. This is one more way that outreach can expand, even during a time when WELS Board for Home Missions may not be able to financially support opening many new congregations. Another example of innovative ways to fund new congregations comes from Fort Worth, Tex., an example featured in this month's WELS Connection.