Teamwork

The building expansion story

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

In the story of the building expansion at Christ the King Lutheran Church, one running theme stands out when speaking of the process: Teamwork! In picturing how the foundation, beams, brickwork, and all the other elements and systems that make a building solid and functional came together, we can also picture the many people who worked together, building upon one another’s strengths, laying a foundation of faith and raising hope along with walls, making the whole much more than just the sum of its varied parts.

As the idea and process unfolded under the guidance of Senior Pastor Chuck Neugebauer and Associate Pastor Mark Goble, two people stood out in the four- year drive to bring the ideas laid out in emails and committee discussions to an actual plan to present to the congregation and then, with approval from the voters, to bring the plan into reality. Mike Jurgensen, then-president of the congregation, and Rusty Lulloff, CTK’s director of operations, formed a mighty duo as leaders of the project. How blessed CTK has been to have these two men take the helm. As Pastor Neugebauer stated, “Our gracious and generous God, as He always does, provided CTK with exactly the kind of amazing people we needed….Their incalculable time and sacrifices over these past years have greatly blessed our Savior, our congregation and our community. I couldn’t be more thankful!”

They divided the responsibilities thusly: Jurgensen, as president and long-time member of Christ the King, served as the “face” to the congregation, leading voters meetings, fielding questions about financing, handling differences of opinions with prayer and determination to do what was best for Christ the King; Lulloff, with a career-long knowledge of building and construction, was the “face” to the architect (Hord Architects) and the general contractor (Grinder Taber Grinder). Having one voice for each aspect served to keep decision-making and communication running smoothly.
As a result of the professionalism and commitment shown by these two men, as well as the leadership of Dr. LaVerne and Peggy Lovell as co-chairs of the “Now Is Our Time” capital campaign, and the unflagging support elicited from the congregation — even when faced with delays caused by the wettest season in recent memory, not to mention the COVID19 pandemic — Christ the King is nearing completion on a 20,000+ square foot, $6.3 million building project featuring an impressive rotunda, a state-of-the-art Fellowship Hall, multiple offices and classrooms, facilities to host Room in the Inn, a large youth area, a library, an expanded nursery, and many other top-of-the-line features, all ADA-approved and energy-conscious.

Jurgensen, in looking back at the time that has passed since his initial emails to Pastor Neugebauer broaching the subject of aging facilities and needed space for ministry, said, “The support of our congregation has been absolutely amazing. Our members have continued to support this building campaign prayerfully and monetarily. All glory be to our God in Heaven!” And praise be to God for providing the pivotal leadership to carry forward the vision needed for Christ the King to grow and bear fruit in ministry to its community and beyond.

Soli Deo Gloria

Genie Swan, with assistance from Mike Jurgensen and Rusty Lulloff