Ar 2013

Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries

NEBRASKA LUTHERAN OUTDOOR MINISTRIES

Carol Joy Holling Camp, Conference & Retreat Center

MISSION

Sullivan Hills Camp

VISION

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

gracious

People sacred

Places

significant

Experiences

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

It is only by

God’s grace & your

generosity that we can do what we do.

TWO THINGS MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE You continue to amaze me! Throughout my nearly 23 years at Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, I’ve marveled at the powerful, life-changing experiences that people have at our Carol Joy Holling and Sullivan Hills camps. Some kids come to camp alone and angry but leave a few days later with new best friends, smiles on their faces and the knowledge that they have a Christian community caring for them. Some of our summer staffers show up for staff training afraid they won’t fit in and that they’ll surely fail but, after 10 weeks of learning, leading and, yes, some leaning on others, they leave with a renewed purpose and a deep interest in making a difference back home. And, it’s not at all unusual for adult guests to come for retreats and conferences and experience God in life-changing ways as well.

None of this life-change would be possible if it weren’t for the grace of God and the generosity of our donors. It’s almost that simple. God’s

grace has spilled over our ministry every day since our earliest beginnings and will continue even further than we can see. For that, all of us at NLOM say, “Thank you, God!” And…we are quick to add our, “Thank You!” to you for your generosity. You are generous with your financial assets and you’ve given unselfishly of your time. We are also the grateful recipients of your prayer support. Seriously, God’s grace and your generosity make it all possible.

I think you will also be amazed and I hope you will be filled with joy as you read this report of all that you, with God’s grace, are accomplishing through Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries!

David C. Coker Executive Director

“At camp, my son learned that God is always there. Even when he is sad or mad and he does bad things that God will always forgive him. When he was on the high ropes course he was scared but felt God helped him through this.�

- Camper Parent

ACA Accreditation Carol Joy Holling Camp and Day Camp are accredited by the American Camp Association.

SUMMER CAMP Summer camp impacts a young person’s life forever. A week at camp enables children and teens to experience genuine community and true friendship. While camp is all about faith development, it also offers a healthy dose of fun. In 2013, campers lived out the Faith Alive theme by making and donating 380 quilts to Lutheran World Relief for needy people in Chad, Africa. Camp was the highlight of the summer for 1560 campers at Carol Joy Holling Camp, 118 at Sullivan Hills Camp and hundreds more at Day Camp.

Campership Support 280

Number of campers receiving scholarships

251

255

2011

2012

182 144

76

2008

2009

2010

2013

The Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Board of Directors has a policy that no child will be turned away because they can’t pay the fee.

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The Lippincott Stagecoach Inn opened in 2013.

CONFERENCE & RETREAT NLOM helps busy people re-focus their lives. Conference and retreat centers provide a special time and place for reflection, restoration and rejuvenation. While away from the pressures of the world, guests focus on deepening their faith, advancing their personal goals and strengthening their relationships. In 2013, 18,765 guests and 490 groups experienced NLOM’s gracious hospitality and sacred places, including the new Lippincott Stagecoach Inn, a wonderful addition to the Angels Gulch Western Town.

“We were very impressed with the continuous flow of smiling greetings from the staff, the clean lodgings, the excellent food service, and the ability to accommodate all of our programming needs” - Stacia Vawter, Rejoice! Lutheran Church, Omaha

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9 More than 100 congregations provided materials so that more than 1600 campers and 60 volunteers could make quilts. These 380 quilts were donated to Lutheran World Relief and have since been distributed in Chad, Africa.

Laying the bricks for Randolph, NE Road in Carol Joy Holling Camp’s Western Town.

VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are the lifeblood of NLOM’s ministry. Not a drop of their experience, expertise and energy is wasted. It is invested in anything and everything that happens in and around our facilities, from stuffing envelopes to running lawn mowers to laying bricks to caring for horses to serving as board members.

In 2013, 265 volunteers contributed more than 8,200 hours of service to NLOM. Volunteers of all ages serve God and serve NLOM by making life change possible through camp, conference and retreat experiences.

NEW IN 2014!

Summer Service Project 2014 Together, NLOM, Mosaic and Lutheran Men in Mission will create and distribute more than 1000 “boost boxes” to hold the treasures of the people served by Mosaic. They will also make 2,000 bean bags and 30 game boards for Mosaic.

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT NLOM is in the business of developing leaders. Each year 65 college-age young adults participate in our summer ministry leadership program where they receive specialized training and hands-on skill development opportunities. Because of working at camp, many experience God’s call to serve in their careers and in their communities. In 2013, NLOM introduced Leadership U for nine full-time staff members and extended its leadership development programs to other audiences.

“This summer, I learned how leadership is different from counseling. The difference was staggering, and the most rewarding part for me was being able to empower staff to do their jobs effectively, while also demonstrating the behavior expected.”

- Summer Ministry Team Site Coordinator

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FRIENDS OF NLOM Donors make it all possible. Each person who gives to NLOM invests in the lives of all the people we are privileged to serve.

Every gift and every giver is important. We are grateful to those who help us send children to camp, who financially sponsor our summer counselors and those who support our summer ministry programs through direct gifts or special events. We honor those who give to facility improvement projects. We are humbled by the 180 families who have remembered NLOM in their wills and estates. In 2013, 1,314 donors made gifts totaling $2,187,876.

After thanking a donor for his gift, he responded... “No, thank YOU for the ministry you are providing on our behalf.�

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PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS God’s love compels NLOM to serve people of all abilities.

Through our programs for people with special needs, we communicate their worth as children of God and we celebrate their faith. The year-round Jay Novicki Program provides enriching retreat experiences that expand the horizons of people with disabilities. Overnight summer camps give teens and adults the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. In 2013, 241 people with disabilities participated in 18 day camps and four overnight camps.

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NEW IN 2014!

Thanks to expert consultation from our partners at Mosaic, NLOM is investing $50,000 into accessibility improvements to enhance our programming for the comfort of our guests with disabilities.

Improvements will include: - Upgrades to outdoor walkways and select trails to improve accessibility - ADA-approved ramp and wider doorways at Holling House - Bathroom accessibility improvements across Carol Joy Holling - ADA improvements at The Swanson Center - door bells, phone strobe indicators, chair rails, braille signage, audible elevator controls

REVENUE - $2,940,560 Events 7.8%

Other 3.5%

NE Synod 3%

Donations & Grants 45.2%

Camp Fees 14.4%

2013 REVENUE

Retreat & Conference 26.1%

IS UP $262,869 FROM 2012

EXPENSES - $2,384,657 2013 EXPENSES ARE Administration 12.7%

DOWN $10,881 FROM 2012

Retreat & Conference 26.5%

Marketing 11.5%

Development 9.8%

Camp 19.2%

Building & Grounds 20.3%

The 2013 Audited Financials are available for review at www.nlom.org/about-us/financials 17

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

December 31, 2013

Ms. Stefanie Balcom

Ms. Tanny Akerson Mr. Cecil Bykerk Mr. Rodale Emken

Assets

Mr. Dale Fornander

Cash and cash equivalents $ Pledges receivable Investments (primarily restricted) Property and equipment, net Beneficial interest in perpetual trusts Other assets Total assets $

Net Assets, end of year Net Assets, beginning of year Increase in Net Assets

$ $ $

880,708 44,636 792,782 5,886,400 557,582 116,242 8,278,350

7,049,967 6,050,822 999,145

Ms. Beth Forney Ms. Wendy Grasz Pr. Mark Grorud Mr. Dale Hanson Ms. Vera Hummel Pr. Brian Julin-McCleary Pr. Tim Koester Ms. Lisa Kramme Bishop Brian Maas Mr. Dennis Magnuson Ms. Kelley Miller Ms. Katie Parsh

Liabilities

Pr. Kelley Pedersen

Notes payable $ Deferred revenue Other liabilities Total liabilities $

797,078 142,822 288,483 1,228,383

Pr. Jan Peterson Mr. Bruce Wendt Pr. Adam White Ms. Stephanie Wood

FOUNDATION TRUSTEES

Net Assets

Mr. David Coker

Unrestricted $ Unrestricted - board designated Temporarily restricted Permanently restricted Total net assets $ Total liabilities and net assets $

5,058,878 247,393 733,259 1,010,437 7,049,967 8,278,350

Pr. Mark Grorud Ms. Margaret High Mr. Larry Hinrichs Ms. Linda Miller

SENIOR MANAGEMENT Mr. David Coker, Executive Director

2013 NET ASSETS ARE UP $999,145 FROM 2012

Ms. Kelsey Ellis, Director/Programs Ms. Casey Fuerst, Director/Marketing & Communications Mr. Jason Gerdes, Director/Development Mr. Roger Maxon, Director/Buildings & Grounds Mr. Brent Thomsen, Director/Guest Services

Carol Joy Holling Camp, Conference & Retreat Center

Sullivan Hills Camp

Camp: www.caroljoyholling.org Conference & Retreat: www.cjhcenter.org

www.sullivanhills.org

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