History
It was the dawn of the 20th century, 1901, when a group of our Lutheran forefathers, both clergy and laymen, came together and conceived an innovative notion – a shared financial fund that would be available to new mission congregations throughout Michigan for building their first worship facilities through affordable loans. This was the beginning of Michigan’s Church Extension Fund.
Through the ensuing decades, CEF helped build up God’s Kingdom with affordable loans to congregations throughout the Michigan District. At the same time, the Fund offered individual Lutherans a growing variety of savings plans and investment services. In a century that saw two World Wars and the Great Depression, no one has lost a single cent in their CEF investments.
Today, Church Extension Fund continues its important ministry. It supports the borrowing needs of Michigan District congregations by providing a source of affordable loans for buying, building, expanding, and equipping facilities. Church Extension Fund also provides an advance site program in partnership with the Michigan District, and consulting services to guide a church through the many phases of a building project. Affordable housing loans are also available for church workers.
The opportunities for individual Lutherans continue to expand as well, enabling them to partner in building God’s kingdom in the Michigan District. These investment offerings are designed to meet the needs of all living generations ... from CEF Savings Stamps, to fixed- and variable-rate notes, to IRAs ... all paying attractive rates of interest.
From its founding more than one hundred years ago, Church Extension Fund has grown from assets of a few thousand dollars to be the District’s major source of capital funding for Missouri Synod Lutheran churches in Michigan. Together, we can assure that this blessed Christian mission continues for future generations as well.
Our Mission:
Church Extension Fund is a ministry of partnering Christians to make resources available for members and churches of the Michigan District in carrying forward the Great Commission.
