Places of worship offer comfort and hope as spiritual anchors in times of strife. During its 112 years, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Spring Grove has been an anchor to thousands of congregants. Modeled after the great cathedrals of Europe, the building’s stunning architecture earned it a place on the National Registry of Historic Sites.
Today, St. Paul faces many of the same challenges as other traditional places of worship. While it lives its mission by attending to the needs of the local community, it has seen a decline in new membership, especially among youth and young families. And this congregation has the additional financial challenge of maintaining a true architectural treasure.
In 2012, St. Paul began partnering with YCCF by creating three funds to perpetually provide support for the ongoing maintenance of the cathedral and grounds, and organizational costs. Permanently endowing the church’s legacy gifts at the Community Foundation allows this nonprofit to focus on its mission of inspiring new congregants for the
next century.
