"You will be my witnesses...to the ends of the Earth." Acts 1:8
A Unique Ministry
There are many ways Christians do that, but one unique opportunity available to Lutherans is the Church Extension Fund (CEF) program.
CEF is a program designed to provide funds to purchase advance sites and to construct and expand facilities for congregations and schools of the District. This in turn will help equip them with an effective tool for worship, education, fellowship, witness and service to its members and its community.
These funds come from members of the CA-NV-HI District Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod who have invested their dollars with CEF. They, in turn, receive a double benefit...a reasonable rate of return on their investment and an opportunity to help finance the construction of a space and place needed for preaching and teaching God’s word and administering the sacraments.
This is the unique ministry of Church Extension Fund
THE HISTORY OF CEF
The Church Extension Fund began in the old California and Oregon District in 1889 with approximately $7,000, the proceeds from the sale of gift property. For many years it was sustained by gifts and monies from District income.
Since that time, through the investments of individuals and congregations, CEF has grown into a fund serving over 198 congregations with more than 5,000 investors having entrusted CEF to manage over $60,000,000 in investments.
An Offering Circular is filed with the State of California on an annual basis. Contact CEF for a copy of the current Offering Circular which provides complete financial information with respect to the Fund.
The Fund primarily provides loan dollars for the purchase of sites for new churches, the construction of new churches and educational facilities, and the expansion and renovation of existing church and school facilities. CEF is able to do this with loans that charge rates and fees less than or competitive with commercial lending institutions, while at the same time helping to forge a new and unique partnership between the individual investor and District congregations.
The CNH District Church Extension Fund is managed and promoted solely by the CA-NV-HI District. In this way, CEF and the investor are more closely tied to the opportunities for ministry.