Patience, persistence, prayer, and vision.
Seven years after first having the idea, members of Grace Lutheran Church in Caldwell, Idaho can now look West from their church building at a beautiful 7,760 square foot, brand new full-day childcare center. The Grace Lutheran Childcare Center, which began as just a small thought, is just about ready for a grand opening this summer.
For more than 49 years, Grace Lutheran Preschool has served the Caldwell community with its well-known dependability, consistency, and focus on faith and learning through play. Although deviating from the original plans the church congregation had, this new vision of a childcare center and extending hours beyond morning preschool began to take hold. With the planning and guidance of a childcare committee and approval by the congregation in early 2024, they watched as the ground was broken for what was once just a vision and thought.
Beginning in October 2024, the ground moved, and a foundation was cemented with a loan from LCEF. With their partnership and financial assistance, this dream became a reality. It was not long before the walls went up, roofing went on, and doors and windows went in. After a dedication ceremony, prayers and Bible verses were written along the framing and on the two-by-fours in the walls. Fast forward to May of 2025: the building and landscaping is almost complete, bringing us closer to our August 2025 opening.
Many people have been moving to Idaho in the past 5-10 years, bringing substantial economic growth and more people to our surrounding communities. As a result, the need for childcare was on the rise, to the point of even being shorthanded. With Grace Lutheran’s location, they are the perfect place to carry out God’s vision to serve the community more than ever before.
It is clear that the Lord’s hand has been in every stage and development of this building and outreach opportunity. Along with our approved LCEF loan and donations from contractors in the community, this building has been put together far below what it should have cost. So many people poured into this building and became part of the vision.
The new building will serve families in the Caldwell and surrounding communities with full-day care for children from infants through age five. With enough room for about 100 kids, it is a hope and desire to share the love of Jesus with all of the children and families that walk through the doors. We live in a broken world, but we pray that our building and service can continue to be the consistency and bright light for those we serve.
Beyond the building, God blessed us through a $100,000 “Let’s Build Fundraiser,” where the congregation reached the goal in under a year for money to cover interest payments on the construction loan. We then brought in over $24,000 in donations to go towards our first-ever Grace Lutheran Childcare Center Dinner & Auction, which brought in $39,500. LCEF once again walked beside us by being our head sponsor and attending this first fundraising event.
Blessing after blessing, we have seen God’s hands at work in carrying out His plans, including two grants from local businesses.
We are so thankful for the prayers, hands, and feet that have poured into this new center. Registration is live, but there is still so much to do. There is nothing more exciting than watching the Lord’s plans come to fruition. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new center is scheduled for July 18 for those interested in attending. Please continue to pour out your prayers for our new endeavor – that God would bring families through these childcare doors, that we would be blessed with amazing teachers and aids, and for God’s guidance in the obstacles we may face. God is good!
