By God’s grace and through the partnership with the NOW District, Trinity Lutheran Church in Rupert, Idaho is expanding their campus and adding a preschool and childcare program to its slate of ministries.
In January 2022, Trinity Lutheran Church was the recipient of two magnificent and course-altering gifts. A church congregation that owned a facility next to the campus decided to close their ministry; their facility was made available for purchase, and Trinity decided to act on that provision. Simultaneously, Trinity was the beneficiary of a substantial gift from the distribution of an estate of a generous donor that covered a significant portion of the real estate purchase.
After the purchase was complete, the congregation was faced with the question: “How can we expand our reach into our community with new ministries in a new facility?”
They began several new ministries and expanded existing ministries but were convinced that they had only begun to scratch the surface of possibilities. In November of 2022, the congregation decided to embark on the journey of opening a preschool and childcare program as a means for reaching children and families in the community that they might not reach any other way.
Remodeling began immediately with the replacement of windows throughout the entire facility, remodeling classrooms and the lunchroom, and adding fresh paint, new lights, and carpet. But some important components were missing. They did not have a secure entrance/exit for the safe drop-off and pick-up of the children. They did not have child-appropriate bathrooms. They did not have a suitable director’s office. They did not have acceptable access to the playground area.
With the provision from a 2023 NOW District Catalyst grant, Trinity has made great strides in constructing an addition to their newly remodeled facility that will provide a welcoming and safe atmosphere for parents and children, safe and appropriate bathrooms for preschool children, and efficient and secure transitions from classrooms to the outdoor playground.
The first day of school is Aug. 19, 2024, and Trinity is eager to see children learning, growing, and experiencing the love of Christ in these wonderful spaces. Again, they are thankful for the ministry partnership with the NOW District — and for the Catalyst Grant that enables them to move forward with confidence and enthusiasm.
For more info about the NOW District Catalyst Grant, download the guidelines here.
