Annual report 2015

ᄗNSPᄘRE 2015 Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries

Annual Report

PLACES Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries

MISSION

We are called by God to be a Christ-centered, Spirit-powered ministry: - to equip, teach and excite people for discipleship through camp experiences,

Carol Joy Holling Camp Sullivan Hills Camp 2015 Day Camp Sites Nebraska Synod Congregations

Kansas

- to provide our conference and retreat guests with places set apart and to serve with sacred hospitality, - to nurture leadership for service in the church and world.

Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries enjoys being a serving arm of the Nebraska Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

ᄗNSPᄘRE 2015

Think about it. Who inspires you? What a positive experience it is to take a moment to sit back and think about people you know who have inspired you to grow and to become more fully you.

Here’s what I want you to know…YOU inspire us. Oh, yes. It’s true. You and so many others like you have inspired Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries to always seek new and exciting ways to make differences…especially for the children entrusted to us each summer. Thank you!

The year 2015 was the year that NLOM became debt free! Hundreds of people helped to pay down and, finally, to pay off the $2.5 million debt. On top of that, 2015 was also the year NLOM added a pastor to its staff to serve exclusively as pastor. What a blessing to campers, staff and guests!

That’s just a sampling of the ways that you bless and inspire us. Take a look through the rest of this report to see many more ways that your difference-making support inspires us.

Blessings!

David Coker Executive Director

Dave Coker, Executive Director Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries with the 2015 Summer Ministry Team AND Carol Joy Holling Camp, Conference & Retreat Center's most popular facebook post of 2015!

INSPIRE 2015 • ANNUAL REPORT

ᄗNSPIRED TO Worship

It is exciting to hear people respond with favor whenever there is a new experience or opportunity added to the already dynamic offerings through Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. In 2015, upon the request

BY PR. PAULA of the NLOM Board, the LAWHEAD Nebraska Synod called a Pastor pastor to serve full time at NLOM. The vision of the board to seek a pastor has opened new opportunities for worship and spiritual growth in the significant spaces and experiences that make up our ministry.

Having a pastor present has prompted new requests for worship events, Bible studies, and conversations around faith. For example, where we have provided a space for the National Youth Leadership Summit in the past, this year we were able to provide the additional aspect of worship leadership; not just in our pastor planning and leading worship services and devotions, but more importantly, that we were able to encourage and equip the youth leaders in this kind of planning for future leadership in the greater Church.

One goal of ministry at NLOM is to provide deep and meaningful worship that is focused on the particular context of the guests who are present. With the quilters or the youth leaders or the administrative professionals, we seek to tailor the devotions and worship to each group. This kind of particular focus has been meaningful to those who have attended and inspires them not only to go deeper in their worship in this place, but to carry the message back home with them.

“Having attended the Administrative Professionals

Retreats since its inception four years ago, I have to say the addition of the dedicated worship element last year was wonderful. Pr. Paula Lawhead provided a needed spirituality. Her meaningful worship brought a true "retreat" atmosphere to an already great event. Along with excellent collegial conversation, many laughs, wonderful food, beautiful location, and good workshops the spiritual aspect is much needed for us to return to our ministries feeling renewed.”

Mary Lou Gustafson Lord of Love Lutheran, Omaha, NE In our mission to be a Christ-centered, Spirit-powered ministry; we seek to provide consistent worship, devotion, and faith-forming opportunities. 2015 has

ELCA Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, leads worship at the National Youth Leadership Summit held at Carol Joy Holling Camp.

seen this mission through and as a complete staff we are blessed to continue offering such valuable experiences for the many guests that cross through our entrance.

Inspiring people to deepen their faith through worship in its many forms is a holy work of NLOM. This past year, we have provided worship opportunities for staff, summer staff, campers, retreat guests, and conferences.

We have welcomed bishops and laity alike and all have expressed gratefulness for the quality of the devotions and worship services provided. As each person we serve experiences God’s Word for them in this place, we trust that it is carried home with them as a blessing to others.

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ᄗNSPIRED TO Serve

NLOM Volunteers are generous. They come to us from lots of different places and for lots of different reasons, Bud Dasenbrock says, “It’s just who I am; it's part of me.” Roger Knight says, “Dave invited me and

BY ROGER MAXON I enjoyed it, still do.” Byron Director/ Vogt adds, “I never had time Site & Facilities when I was younger, now it’s a place to help people and I have spare time to give.” The one thing that they all have in common is that their kids, grandkids or both have come to camp and enjoyed it.

This year I have been to a number of funerals for some of our past volunteers. It has been eye opening for me.

I had always thought that it was Carol Joy Holling Camp and Sullivan Hills camp getting most of the benefits from these relationships. Grass has been mowed, buildings built, streets laid, trails chipped, camp set up and many other things too numerous to list. But, as I listened to each of their life stories, I learned how important their time at camp had been to them. I found out that what they gained during their time volunteering added value and meaning to their lives and they were proud of that.

Volunteers Roger Knight and Byron Vogt are regulars at Carol Joy Holling Camp.

Some came because of grief and found companionship and new friends needing them. Some came because they needed something to keep them busy and fell in love with the place and what happens here. Another came because he already knew what happened here and wanted to keep it going. But all of them became a part of this place and as they left took a part of it with them.

Isn’t that just like God, you give what you can and he gives even more back.

13,418 Volunteer Hours

931

Volunteers

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ᄗNSPIRED TO

INSPIRE 2015 • ANNUAL REPORT

Share our Sacred Places

Welcome to this Sacred Place. Please make it your home.

Our Guest Services team strives to make our guests feel as comfortable as they do in their own surroundings. We do

BY BRENT THOMSEN that by providing a warm Director/ Guest Service greeting upon arrival, a clean and comfortable living space, hearty home cooked meals and the natural beauty of the outdoors. It is exciting to see a first time guest in awe of the solitude and beauty of Carol Joy Holling and Sullivan Hills.

provided by NLOM. Their roots in: respecting interdenominational faiths, appreciation for discovering one’s authentic calling, intentionality to safe spaces and a commitment to inclusivity and acceptance, makes NLOM not only a strategic partner, but the home and embodiment of a movement that embraces those most vunerable and gives voice to the powerless."

Krystal Boose, Inclusive Communities Chief Operations Officer

Guests

Guest Groups

The groups we serve have big goals to accomplish during their time with us. Ted E. Bear Hollow uses our facilities to program an overnight retreat for teens that have experienced a significant death. The weekend is designed to be both fun for the teens as well as to help them talk about and process their grief in a peer support setting.

"I remember the first time we hosted our camp at

Carol Joy Holling Center, I read a plaque that explained the center’s history. When I read that George and Irene Holling had gifted the land in order to establish a camp in honor of their teenage daughter who had died, I knew that we brought our teens to the right place. It seems only right that we spend a weekend remembering loved ones in a setting that was established to remember a loved one."

Julian O’Keefe, Ted. E. Bear Hollow Program and Outreach Coordinator

"Inclusive Communities has over 350 volunteers;

many of them were introduced to our programs as participants and return year after year. These volunteers kindly refer to camp at Carol Joy Holling as “coming home.” For over a decade, thousands of youth continue to call Carol Joy Holling 'home' as they learn to be change agents and allies."

Inclusive Communities is able to continue our work in the community because of the support

632

17,258

Inclusive Communities participants share stories and life experiences during a game.

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"From the moment I walked into CJH, I knew this was

the place for me, and for our retreat attendees. There is a thing called, "theology of place" and the people at CJH must know about this. With great attention to detail, from the smallest to the greatest element, the staff members of CJH helped to make space for our little group to make our way to God — individually and collectively. This making space is, in my opinion, the epitome of grace — trusting God to be who God says God is, and to meet us where we are, however disheveled we may be. CJH is, indeed a sacred space.

Thank you for your stewardship of place and your kind embodiment of grace."

Deidra Riggs, Jumping Tandem Group Leader As a place set apart, we give our guests the peace and quiet of the God’s nature with very little of the distractions that are often found in an urban space.

As one of our hosts said, he enjoys starting campfires for groups. Having them gather around the flames, sometimes in silence with just the stars above in the sky and the sounds of owls hooting from the trees is a peaceful way for a day to end.

We have developed relationships over the course of a weekend and even over the course of many years.

We do that by establishing trust and providing a great product with gracious service.

Sullivan Hills Camp hosted two FULL UnFinished Objects (UFO) retreats in 2015!

"Being able to spend the night in this environment

creates an atmosphere of bonding between brothers in Christ that for a time is closer than family. The coordination with getting the things we needed could not have been better. Grant even gave us the story of Carol Joy Holling and how the center came to be."

Andy Payson, Bellevue Church of Christ Our staff loves to tell the stories of Carol Joy Holling and Lillian Sullivan and and how our retreat operations are an extension of our mission to equip, teach and excite people through camp experiences. We are so blessed to work in these sacred places and we are inspired to share these places with so many people.

A participant in the Jumping Tandem retreat for writers, bloggers, artists, entrepreneurs, took a leap of faith on a high ropes course.

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ᄗNSPIRED TO

INSPIRE 2015 • ANNUAL REPORT

Build Disciples

The sun is shining and the sky is a bright blue. To my left is Western Town, host to Ranch Camp. A village of campers is headed to ride horses in their blue jeans and boots, while another village is in deep

BY KELSEY ELLIS conversation working on Director/Programs their tie-dyed bandanas.

To my right is the lake.

Laughter is filling the air as Trailhead campers excitedly find their way to the pool, and Tipi campers are playing games on the lake in their paddle boats and canoes. I take a deep breath and soak in the fresh air, thanking God for this space.

A space set apart from the worries of the world, where young people can come to learn, to grow, and to experience God in a new way. What a gift we have in this space.

The summer of 2015 was nothing short of phenomenal. Over the course of the summer, 1,584 campers at Carol Joy Holling, 184 at Sullivan Hills, and campers at 18 Day Camp sites were able to experience the gift of camp. By challenging themselves with Co-Op games and high ropes courses, growing in

their faith together through Bible Study and worship, and being a part of an intentional faith community, campers are able to see God in new and exciting ways.

“He was so excited to talk and share with me! The

singing is still going on in our house! So fun to learn the moves! He tucked me in the first night home and asked me if I would pray with him – what a special moment for us. He opened his heart to God. THANK YOU!” -2015 Camper Parent Our campers come from all over the state – a diverse group, from different Christian backgrounds, different social statuses, different family situations, different likes and dislikes, and different upbringings. They come from all of those different places, to Carol Joy Holling and Sullivan Hills Camps. These are places where none of their differences matter. A place where you can be your authentic self, knowing that you are accepted and loved as a cherished child of God. At camp, you see a child whose mom may be the president of her company make a positive life-long friendship with a child whose mom may have a drug addiction. You will see a young camper who has grown up in the foster care system open a Bible for the first time to hear the story of God calling Moses to do some really BIG things, and think to herself, “I can do

big things too!” At camp, you see a middle school boy who is way too cool to sing camp songs on Sunday, but on Friday he is almost in tears as he says goodbye to his friends.

Campers leave their time at camp with meaningful relationships; excited about their faith and knowing that they have a faith community at camp, at home, and at their church to walk alongside them in the journey.

A large part in making that hope a success is our amazing Summer Ministry Team. In mid-May last year, 67 college age young adults packed their bags and dedicated 10 weeks of their summer to accompanying children as they experience life and faith outside of their norm. This job is tiring and not easy at times, but our 2015 Summer Staff was one-of-a-kind. Our summer staff consisted

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of education majors, youth ministry majors, resident advisors, biology majors, sorority presidents, recreation majors, college athletes, undecided, and the list goes on. These individuals from all across the country, and from foreign lands, as well, used their gifts and talents all summer long to help others explore their faith – and to explore their own faith – all the while, with a smile on their faces and excitement beaming out of every word. These young adults are a large part of what makes summer camp so special. There is no better role model for a young child than a cool (responsible) college kid whose faith is on fire!

“I was a little nervous about my son being away to

camp, but his response to it and his stories about his experience makes me so proud and blessed that he was

able to go! Thank you to all involved for such a great program! He can’t wait for next summer!”

– 2015 Camper Parent The Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries mission statement says “We are called by God to be a Christcentered, Spirit-powered ministry to equip, teach and excite people for discipleship through camp experiences.”

I leave each summer so grateful to be a part of that call, and so excited about the ways God works through each and every one of us. I am hopeful that for years to come, campers and staff alike will be inspired to show the world God’s love, grace, and acceptance - just like they were shown through their camp experience.

Total Campers

Includes Carol Joy Holling Camp, Sullivan Hills Camp and Day Camp

2141

2013

2288

2014

2295

2015

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INSPIRE 2015 • ANNUAL REPORT

ᄗNSPIRED TO

Live Faithfully Forward

Carol Joy Holling Camp is about to take its next step Faithfully Forward!

Our desire to attract more kids to camp and serve more year-round retreat guests turns our eyes back to where our site development began. The old dining

BY JASON GERDES Director/ hall was the first building Development constructed on the property after the Holling family made the gift of the land. It was once the gateway to camp for all the kids who were checking in, the dining hall for the entire site and the place where a lot of memories were made. The scope of our ministry has grown significantly since those early days of camp and we look forward to what God will make happen through these new facilities. We are inspired by the generosity of our friends who continue to help NLOM move Faithfully Forward!

FAITHFULLY

Forward

The Springs Lodge

The Springs Retreat House

The Springs Lodge is the largest piece of the Faithfully Forward Campaign. The new facility will replace the old dining hall and help us better serve our campers and retreat guests by providing more dining hall and gathering space, breakout meeting rooms and accessible restrooms and showers.

The Springs Retreat House fulfills requests from church leaders who bring their kids for Confirmation Camp. They want to be housed on the same site as their campers so they can be more involved with them throughout their time at camp and develop stronger connections. This facility will also be ideal for year-round use for small group gatherings.

“We all need spiritual

guidance in our lives and kids need us to make it happen.

This was one way I could help them.”

Helen Monke – Lead Donor, Phoenix, AZ

“The vision shared for the

camp’s future moved us greatly.

Here is a safe place where an increasingly more diverse group of children and adults will be touched in a unique way by the love of Jesus.”

Pr. Harold and Caroline Rice – Lead Donors, Plattsmouth, NE

A FAITHFUL HISTORY BECOMES A FAITH-FILLED FUTURE

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Mission Builders Partnership We are excited to share that Mission Builders, a group of volunteer construction experts, will construct The Springs Lodge and The Springs Retreat House and will involve volunteers from across the region to assist.

Family Campground Pavilion & Shelter The Sjogren Center Picnic Pavilion The Family Campground Pavilion & Shelter will provide a comfortable place to gather for our Campground guests. It will also be equipped with a storm shelter and accessible restrooms and showers.

“We saw a wonderful

opportunity to enhance NLOM’s efforts to provide adequate facilities and lifelong Christian Values experiences to youth and their families.”

Tom and Janice Lippincott – Lead Donors, Blair, NE

Swanson Center Improvements The Swanson Center, which opened in 2005, has significantly expanded NLOM’s ability to serve guest groups desiring the highest level of accommodation.

Increased usage requires that we refresh and refurbish high traffic areas.

The Sjogren Center Picnic Pavilion will offer outdoor dining and meeting space for our campers and retreat guests. It will also add the convenience of restrooms.

“We have seen many youth & adults touched by

the Spirit of Jesus at NLOM; inspiring their faith, and evoking them to go on and serve God. We want to be a part in helping expand this special ministry where the outreach of Christian love abounds, and we can see God is working through the presence of Jesus!”

Anonymous Lead Donors

Vehicles, Maintenance Staffing, Equipment Added facilities, usage and guests means more maintanence needs. In order to provide adequate upkeep and care for all of Carol Joy Holling Center facilities and grounds, NLOM will provide for replacement of vehicles, increased staffing and on-site equipment.

Mission Builders is a unique extention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. According to Steve Schenk, Project Coordinator for Mission Builders, "I do this because I know God has blessed me through my life, and I'm thankful for what Jesus did for me. I want to share my God given talents with others to His glory.”

This unique business model serves a specific and needed purpose for churches and outdoor ministry sites across the United States. While Mission Builders provides skilled leadership for these projects, local volunteers are invited to participate throughout the project. The value of such a model for organizations like Carol Joy Holling Camp, Conference & Retreat Center is the extension of the mission that the project provides.

Docks & Trails Dock & Trail improvements to the areas around Crystal Springs Lake at Carol Joy Holling Camp will allow more people of all abilities to experience our great outdoor sanctuary.

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INSPIRE 2015 • ANNUAL REPORT

BY DAVE COKER, Executive Director

Be Debt Free Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries has always enjoyed strong financial support. It is an added blessing that this support comes from a growing number of donors who make gifts in a wide variety of ways.

In 2015, financial support of our ministry rose to an all-time high and was sufficient enough to completely eliminate our indebtedness.

“When I first learned that my

life-long friend was giving such a significant portion of his estate to “a religiously affiliated camp,” I thought he might be making a big mistake. Now, that I’ve seen Carol Joy Holling Camp, met the staff and learned about the difference it makes for so many, I have come to believe that Bob made a very wise investment.”

Swanson Center mortgage as well as the debt on NLOM’s line of credit that had helped with our cash flow.

With no debt, we are enabled to better live out our mission and will target more funds to direct support of our programs. We’re inspired to: • provide hundreds of campers with a week at camp for half-price Robert Reimer, Estate Executor The majority of the debt we • offer spring, fall and winter were carrying stemmed back retreats for camp-age kids to early 2006 when NLOM borrowed $2.5 million to at cost finance half of the Swanson Retreat Center project.

• continue the position of full time pastor The other half had been covered with generous up • invite people of all ages who “don’t look like us” to front gifts from donors. Though we could not have share in the benefits our ministry can make for them built such an amazing facility as the Swanson Center • become the leadership resource center of the without the debt, it was a real challenge to stay ahead Nebraska Synod/ELCA of the debt service.

• shepherd the “God’s IDEA” program to increase the intentional conversations around vocational ministry.

By mid-2015, the debt had been significantly • share our talented leadership staff with the whole reduced by generous donors and two decisions along church to make differences for ministry beyond the way to refinance took advantage of dropping Nebraska interest rates. A bequest from the estate of Robert Selander provided the capstone gift to eliminate the

Carol Joy Holling Camp campers

DEBT REDUCTION

$2,551,137

$2,434,754

$2,355,938 $2,272,839 $1,800,000 $1,557,455

$979,554 $759,078 $599,814

-$599,814 DEBT FREE! 2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

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4 E!

1

á„—NSPIRED TO Celebrate

There is no shortage of ways that we celebrate the ministries of Carol Joy Holling Camp and Sullivan Hills Camp. And, we are blessed with an abundance of generous volunteers and givers who make these events successful.

BY CASEY FUERST Director/Marketing & Communications

The celebrations, in the form of Quilt Auctions, Golf Tournaments, Gala, Fun Run, Fall Family Festival and more, serve such an important purpose for NLOM. In addition to exciting folks for the ministry we do together, they raise much needed funds to make it all possible.

Each year more and more people come to give of their time and resources so that NLOM can continue to live our mission in faith-filled ways. In 2015, more than 2,000 individuals attended a special event at CJH or SH; and more than $290,000 was raised. These funds are used in a couple of different ways. First, and foremost, NO child is ever turned away from our summer camp programs because they can't pay the fee. In addition, every camper's fee is subsidized to make it more affordable. The NLOM Board's policy that expresses this

philosophy has led many other Outdoor Ministries sites across the United States to do the same.

The work of volunteers is the key to the success of these events and celebrations! Volunteers share their talents through quilting, organizing, inviting others, donating items and participating in ministry. These gifts and resources are priceless in sharing the story and inviting others to be a part of Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries.

Runners enjoy the scenery at Carol Joy Holling Camp's annual Empyrean 5K Trail Run!

Guests enjoyed a beautiful day at the 2015 Sullivan Hills Quilt Auction.

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2015 Financial Highlights

INSPIRE 2015 • ANNUAL REPORT

Revenue - $3,243,660

Expenses - $2,879,099 Building & Grounds

Guest Services

28%

20% 10%

14% Donations & Grants

43%

3% 10%

Camp Fees

Guest Services

Development

26% 20%

Program

Nebraska Synod

Events

Marketing

13%

11%

2% - Other

Administration

NOTE: NLOM’s 2015 Audited Financials are available for review at www.nlom.org/financials

It was the year of the Cicadas at Carol Joy Holling!

Highlights

CJH's Food for the Hungry garden produced abundantly.

All was donated to area food banks.

Sullivan Hills campers and staff show off a quilt that was made as part of the Summer Service Project. 389 quilts were made and donated to local, regional and international causes.

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Assets

Cash $ 475,688 Other current assets 154,213 Investments 874,244 Property & equipment, net 5,885,946 Beneficial interest in trusts 855,401 Total assets $ 8,245,492

Liabilities

Deferred revenue 142,483 Other current liabilities 136,982 Total liabilities $ 279,465

Net Assets

Unrestricted $ 5,645,182 Unrestricted-board designated 410,562 Temporarily restricted 824,572 Permanently restricted 1,085,711 Total net assets $ 7,966,027 Total liabilities and net assets $ 8,245,492 Net assets end of year Net assets beginning of year Increase in net assets

$ 7,966,027 $ 7,356,181 $ 609,846

Board Membership Campers worship at Inspiration Point at Carol Joy Holling Camp.

Board of Directors Ms. Tanny Akerson Ms. Stefanie Balcom Mr. Tom Birner Mr. Cecil Bykerk Ms. Hannah deFreese Ms. Ramona Edwards Mr. Rodale Emken Mr. Dale Fornander Ms. Beth Forney Pr. Mark Grorud Mr. Dale Hanson Pr. Brian Julin-McCleary Pr. Tim Koester Ms. Lisa Kramme Bishop Brian Maas Mr. Dennis Magnuson

Ms. Kelley Miller Ms. Katie Parsh Pr. Kelley Pedersen Pr. Jan Peterson Ms. Mary Schroeder Ms. Linda Stubbendick Mr. Bruce Wendt Pr. Adam White Ms. Stephanie Wood

Foundation Trustees Mr. David Coker Ms. Brooke Gregory Pr. Mark Grorud Mr. Larry Hinrichs Ms. Linda Miller Mr. Donald Quinn

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gracious

People

Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries www.nlom.org • 402-944-2544 27416 Ranch Road • Ashland, NE 68003

sacred

Places

Sullivan Hills Camp www.sullivanhills.org

significant

Experiences

Carol Joy Holling Camp, Conference & Retreat Center Camp: www.caroljoyholling.org Conference & Retreat: www.cjhcenter.org