Taking joy in being generous
By early 2000, growth in Minneapolis’ already flourishing western suburbs was set to accelerate. Looking around, no ELCA congregations were within a reasonable distance to minister to this thriving area. Enter Mount Olivet, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Recognizing the area’s needs, and that many congregation members had moved to the western edge of Minneapolis and were eager to serve their neighbors, the congregation began a second campus. “We are one church with two campuses,” explains the Rev. David Lose, senior pastor at Mount Olivet—noting the original Minneapolis Campus and the West Campus, 30 miles away in Victoria, begun in 2001. Construction of a sanctuary and fellowship hall followed there in 2005.
Mount Olivet’s distinctive community and youth outreach continue at its West Campus. Illustrating just how vital the ministry has become, the campus recently embarked on an ambitious expansion featuring a 50,000-square-foot addition with a youth center, administration offices, three rehearsal halls, 13 new classrooms, interior winter garden area, improved parking, and a new deck facing the lake.
Reaching out to MIF for the West Campus loan was “good business and good church sense,” says Pastor Lose. “We like that our MIF loan benefits other ELCA building projects. MIF was wonderful to work with and listened to our needs and has been very responsive. It’s been a great experience.”
The West Campus highlights Mount Olivet’s tradition of responding to “the least of these” as it has for more than 100 years, since its founding in 1920. “We are still seen as a place committed to the community, and still seen as an active partner,” shares Pastor Lose, noting that many ministry ideas come directly from congregants and neighbors. The congregation itself has innumerable ministries reaching directly into the community and serves through six affiliated ministries, including a youth camp, a conference and retreat center, an adult day program, two senior care facilities and multiple services for people with disabilities.
“Mount Olivet is a partner,” says Pastor Lose, “eager to walk with people wherever they are.” For example, Mount Olivet absorbed music programs eliminated by nearby schools into a school of music run by the congregation. And the congregation recently increased preschool offerings to five days a week—all day, all year. At Mount Olivet, a continuum of care exists for the very young to the very old, and every stage in between. “It’s about relationships,” shares Pastor Lose. “People have described Mount Olivet as the biggest small church you will ever encounter. People here take joy in being generous, and this has never been more evident than in the past two years. We serve at our Lord’s command.”
