In a world that’s hyper focused on the here and now, we’re called to build something lasting.
Over the past 173 years, Salem has grown from a few people on a 3-acre lot, to more than 120-acres and a congregation of thousands worshipping every weekend in-person and online. We are so thankful for the sacrifices of so many before us who have helped us get to where we are today!
Since 1851, Salem has been a city on a hilltop, drawing people into a closer relationship with Jesus through dynamic worship, high quality Christian education, and significant ministry in the Tomball area and beyond. Through God’s extraordinary favor and grace more than 2,600 people call Salem their church home today.
Our passion always has been to find significant ways to reach more and more of our community with the Gospel, and that’s not just a Sunday thing! All week long over 500 children come together with our exceptional faculty and staff – who talk to them unapologetically about Jesus!
But we can’t be satisfied with the status quo. We know God is calling us to something even greater. Many of our facilities were designed in a different era of ministry, and they’re aging. Our school was built when we were much less concerned about the number of entry points, and easy access was considered a benefit. Our preschool is maxing out its available space – just as it is beginning to receive applications for children who are the 8th generation of local families!
Our culture is shifting, our community is expanding, and new highways are making Salem convenient from the entire northwest quadrant of the Houston area – the fastest growing portion of the 4th largest and most diverse city in the U.S. New people are already here, with more to come, and there are many new and up to date churches and schools from which to choose.
We need to update and maximize our entire campus for God to grow all our ministries. We need to plan for what’s NEXT – honoring generations who have gone before while embracing our new neighbors and pouring into the generations to come.
Our mission is “Imperfect people boldly sharing the thrilling hope of Jesus every day.” We believe it is time for a bold vision to advance this mission for the next 20 years.
WHY NOW?
Our neighborhood is growing – big time! The population within the Tomball ISD grew from 74,505 to 93,743 between 2017-2022. Within Magnolia ISD it grew from 61,712 to 72,748. That rate of increase is projected to increase even more. That’s more than 30,000 new neighbors right in our own backyard! Taking action now better positions us to love and serve them as our community grows.
In zip code 77377 (ours) there are 1857 children aged 0-5 with two working parents, and only 1347 early childhood seats
In neighboring 77375 there are 3110 children aged 0-5 with two working parents and only 938 childcare seats!
We’re currently hitting maximum capacity in our preschool. Expanding now allows us to provide welcoming space to meet more young families as they seek an authentic relationship with Jesus.
Our Community Center is 16 years old, the Worship Center is 30 years old and parts of the current school are pushing 50+. Salem is ready for a major update in preparation for the coming decades of ministry.
Last year’s in-depth feasibility study indicated that trust in staff and leadership is high. By God’s grace, Salem is in excellent financial health and our current level of generosity has us poised for effective expansion.
Our focus will be to update and expand to accommodate growth and to strategically position us to reach future generations for Jesus Christ into the 2030’s and beyond.
Judges 2:10 reminds us that we are only one generation away from people not knowing the Lord or what He has done. With all that He has entrusted to us - we’re not going to let that happen!
Salem NEXT is about …
The next generation of children and students: Children and teens today face unprecedented cultural challenges in this new world of technology and rapidly changing social norms. We must reach this vulnerable generation by creating very safe, more compelling, and relevant environments that nurture authentic encounters with Jesus.
The next generation of the unchurched: As the increasingly diverse culture shifts into a post-Christian era, we must adjust our methods and reorient our facilities to introduce the unchurched of the 2020s and 2030s to the lifetransforming power of Christ. People long for beautiful places to linger, enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend, listen to some music and have conversations.
The next generation of disciple-makers:
As Matthew 9:38 tells us, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” We must increase our efforts to equip, send out and multiply more disciples – more every day workers – in our church, community and our world who naturally, and effectively, share the good news of Jesus through their actions and words.
We believe the time is right to pursue Phase 1 – beginning with a $10 - $12m ministry expansion initiative, above and beyond our current Financial Operating Plan of $10.3 milllion.
With God’s provision, our ministry expansion will include these projects, phased over the next 10-15 years:
PHASES 1a & 1b
1a - New Community Deck
Phase 1a Estimate: $5 - 8M
Phase 1b Estimate: $10 - 12M
Our building entries are the first impression for many newcomers to our church. Entry One (the existing main entry) will be expanded to be more open and welcoming. Entry Two will be improved and linked to the expanded lobby by a new Community Deck.
The new entries allow for safer and easier dropoffs, more accessible parking spaces and a more welcoming flow and experience for gatherings.
The Community Deck and outdoor spaces will provide new places for friends and neighbors to have fun and meaningful times together. There will be plenty of places for people to linger and engage in relationship enhancing conversations!
The goal is to help move our campus from being transactional to relational.
1a - Renovated Worship Center
When we gather for worship, we come as imperfect people who by grace alone have been given the gift of eternal life!
Worship gatherings are often a time when we’re more aware of God’s presence and how He is bringing us His gifts of grace and mercy – connecting with us in Word and in Sacrament, as we connect with others. Because of this, our Worship Center is often a place where many are introduced to Jesus for the first time.
Making key improvements in technology, atmosphere, and decor will create an engaging yet comfortable space for the next generation of believers to encounter Jesus in ways that are meaningful to them. Reconfiguring the seating, bringing the preaching position closer, controlling outdoor light, and improving sightlines will create a more intimate environment for meaningful engagement.
1a - Expanded and Renovated Worship Center Lobby
Our Lobby has been many things over the years – a Chapel, a Bookstore and a Resource Center, though it has never been a particularly comfortable place to gather and linger! It is still the primary connector to the largest restrooms and on to the Fellowship Hall and School. It’s often congested, acoustically noisy and not well suited for conversations.
Imagine a place designed for people to connect with each other and to build relationships; a place that encourages important conversations and connections. We plan to make room for an expanded gathering space with casual seating areas and a natural transition between the Lobby, Community Deck, Worship Center and new spaces for Kids Ministry, Student Ministry and Adults.
1a - Renovated Worship Center Rehearsal Facility for Student Ministry and Arts
The area behind the Worship Center stage was originally designed as a large chorus rehearsal hall. Over the years it has become a workshop, tech support area, chair storage, building decoration storage, band practice area and an improvised video studio among other things.
We plan to renovate the entire area to better support our Worship and Tech Arts, provide room for Salem Lutheran School musical groups during the week, and ultimately bring Salem Student Ministries into closer proximity.
1b - A New Building for Salem Lutheran Preschool
You may recall that in the summer of 2023 we opened 3 new classrooms in our Early Childhood Center (currently on the ground floor of the Community Center) which increased our capacity to approximately 195 children,12 weeks old through age 5. In less than 10 weeks we were nearly 100% enrolled.
The data is clear. The demand is present. We believe this new facility, located just south of the Community Center, will open even more doors to the community and increase the number of children who transition into Salem Lutheran School. Imagine 250 children, their parents and grandparents learning about Jesus from their earliest age!
Reimagining Our Campus
Imagine that you don’t know your way around Salem. That’s probably hard because many folks have been around here a LONG time – maybe for generations! Time erodes awareness, so try to imagine our Sunday guests’ perspective:
Most folks arrive here for the first time by driving up Lutheran Church Road. They turn into the south lot and follow the signs to Guest Parking. Then they unload their children and head into the Worship Center entrance – by the porte cochere. Shortly after they’ve found the ladies restroom (they walked past it on the way in), they ask somebody where to take their children – and they’re told “in that other building back there.” So, out they go, over to the Community Center, checking in their little one at the Nursery, and then up the stairs, find Salem Kids Check-in, get the older two squared away, and head down the stairs in search of coffee –which is back over in the main building lobby.
By the time they get back there the opening music is starting – so they skip the coffee and hustle into the Worship Center, where a friendly greeter will welcome them – but not have time to talk – worship is starting! So, they’ll pass the “temporary” sound booth (installed in 2013) and find a seat. No coffee, AND now they’re wondering, “who laid this whole thing out?” No doubt the music will be uplifting, and
What if the story was different?
the Gospel-focused message will be both challenging and encouraging. But Mom may be thinking about their toddler – WAY over in that other building, while Dad is thinking I sure hope Junior (their 12-year-old) doesn’t try to take off before we get back there. So, after worship – they skip the coffee (again) and the Info Counters (thinking they already did the QR Code thing) and hustle back to get their children. You know the rest – over to the nursery, up the stairs, find cutie pie, collect junior, back down the stairs – and thankfully – their SUV is right there – in Guest Parking! Homeward bound! Having never had the time or the place for a conversation – with anybody!
What if Salem was designed with all its many parts working together as one body (sort of a 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 approach) all day Sunday AND every other day of the week?
Our facilities have been built over 50 years. The time has come to take a holistic approach to preparing our campus for the NEXT 50 years of safe and effective ministry.
The ‘New’ Salem Lutheran School PHASE 2
Phase 2 Estimate: $10.5 - 11.5M
Does it look familiar?
Been to the Community Center lately?
Salem Lutheran School is the oldest continually operating private school in Texas. Since 1853 we have been known for partnering with families as we educate the whole child - spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. We unapologetically teach the truth of God’s Word and the love of Jesus!
Two years ago, our staff and Governing Board prepared a revision of our Master Site Plan and began financially modeling the cost of renovating facilities, adding parking, athletic fields and building a new school to serve 475 students in K-8. That’s 100 more students than this fall’s enrollment, and every indicator points to growing demand. The cost projections were staggering, coming in well over $45 million. Our leaders paused. We sought wise counsel. We prayed. We reached out to three nationally known design firms and invited their teams to visit. One team walked into our Community Center for the first time and exclaimed, “This is a beautiful facility. It’s nicer than most Christian High Schools and Colleges!” After observing our K-8 students transitioning back and forth every day from the
school to the Community Center and back for both lunch and PE they popped the question, “Why don’t you make this your school? It would be much more cost effective than building a new school. And, it would be much safer.”
That’s how a fresh look at what the Lord has entrusted to us began. After weeks of space study and conceptual design, the question was answered. Our Community Center – the newest building on our campus – is very well suited to be the 475-student school we are called to develop.
An extensive, detailed space study revealed that classrooms, School Administration, Media Center, Art, Innovation Lab, Study pods, storage, and more will fit into the Community Center – nicely! A newly designed school will offer significantly enhanced security, up to date technology throughout, and reflect the God-honoring excellence of a Salem Lutheran education.
And, with the “school in the school”, the church portion of the campus can become more open and easily accessible for ministry and community activities every day of the week – when it is no longer locked for security purposes to protect our children.
PHASE 3
New Gathering Area, Salem Kids, Adult Training, Missions, Community Use and Chapel
Phase 3 Estimate:
Once the new Preschool is completed and Salem Lutheran School is relocated into the renovated Community Center, we’ll repurpose the existing school. That part of the facility is actually better positioned to be a part of our Sunday morning and during the week community-oriented ministries.
Since January (when we changed service times), our Kids Ministry has grown by 15%. What a joy to see all those young faces! (Though, if you don’t venture over to the Community Center, you may never see them.) Safety and security are of utmost priority when serving our children and families. Our plan is to remodel space currently occupied by Salem Lutheran School to accommodate all ages of Salem Kids together in the main building.
The Sunday morning Nursery will also be relocated to newly remodeled space in the existing School! This consolidation provides a more secure space for ministry and allows for a more streamlined, effective check-in procedure. The youngest children will be much closer – just through the new Lobby! Investing in this space helps us better serve our children while giving parents peace of mind as they worship.
New Adult Spaces
At Salem we believe that small groups and relationships with trusted Christian friends are essential for believers to navigate life’s challenges while remaining tethered to a community of faith. We believe being in a biblical community is the best way to achieve this, and we are passionate about creating opportunities for this kind of connection.
We also know it can be challenging for families with young children to find meaningful
opportunities for Bible study and Christ-centered conversations due to childcare needs, work schedules, and the realities of life Monday-Friday. That’s why we are so excited about creating new adult ministry spaces – remodeling significant space in the current School for this purpose. This is much more than just more adult space – it’s a ministry tool that we pray will be used to build up Godly men and women, strengthen marriages, equip parents, and ultimately raise up the next generation with a profound love for the Lord.
New Chapel
Our team has identified one area for renovation which could accommodate 250 adults when configured for seminars, group studies, or even a small worship service, like a funeral or wedding. A reception could easily follow in the new Gathering Area – which is adjacent to the present Fellowship Hall kitchen.
PHASE 4
New Athletic Fields
We’ve already made significant improvements to the multi-sport field to the west of the existing school. We’re working with another community minded business (similar to Alodia) to model the use of new fields for both school use and community outreach.
Phase 4 Estimate: $4 -7M
We’re revamping the funding model for the fields – seeking both major gifts and ongoing capital investment from our school operations. The timing of their development will depend on the success of our Salem NEXT campaign, other capital gifts, and the continued growth of Salem Lutheran School.
Building On a Strong Legacy – Preparing for a Bright Future
The legacy the previous generations have prepared for us is not one of brick and mortar, but of a church that is surrendered to Christ and living out bold faith and sharing thrilling hope among friends and neighbors.
We believe God is ready to use us to reach the lost in our community in unprecedented ways, and these physical spaces are merely tools for furthering this mission.
What Happens Next?
Continue Due Diligence
These explanations and renderings are the product of working with trusted advisors (Proverbs 15:22) to see if our ministry expansion dreams can be accommodated. Though not set in stone, the vision is developed enough to get a sense of the scope of the project.
Capital Funding Initiative
If our due diligence and feedback continue to point positively to these projects, we will engage our entire Salem family this spring with an opportunity to fully understand and embrace the projects and the significance of their short-term and long-term impact. Then, in April, we will ask each person to prayerfully consider their part through a three-year financial pledge of support for that future.
For this vision to become reality, the people of Salem must once again prayerfully embrace the mission to which we have been called, so future generations can pick up the torch and carry it forward for decades still to come.
Salem Family Feedback
We recognize that ultimately this project impacts all of us. Church leadership has pursued the early stages, but our church and school family’s strong support for this proposed future is a critical element of its success. To make sure we’re on the right track, we’re in the process of giving updates to the congregation and collecting feedback. The renderings in this document are all preliminary, and subject to change. The cost estimates in this document are rough order of magnitude estimates prior to value engineering. As we receive and process feedback we’ll dial it into the next stages of the design process.
For questions or feedback, please contact us by email at SalemNext@salem4u.com.
Be sure to be in worship on October 27th!
On that day, we plan to conduct a formal churchwide survey in both worship gatherings to seek your feedback and potential level of support. We will not be asking for a commitment or pledge at this point, but for planning purposes need to know a range of potential multi-year financial support from everyone who calls Salem home.
