Fall Letter
Tag: gifts
Fall 2023 Update
Dear Friends of the MLS Foundation,
I hope this letter finds you with a thankful heart for all of the blessings our God provides from his gracious hand. I’m writing to express my sincere appreciation for your ongoing support as we strive to fulfill our mission of supporting our beloved school, Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
At Michigan Lutheran Seminary, we hold firm to the belief that faith and family serve as the cornerstones of a thriving and vibrant campus. Every aspect of a student’s life on campus is focused on strengthening their faith and nurturing relationships that make them feel part of a larger family. In a world filled with challenges, it is often our faith and the bonds of family that provide us with strength and resilience to persevere. These are wonderful gifts from God! That is why your partnership is so vital in supporting the students who attend MLS. Your gifts play a pivotal role in sustaining the training and operations of MLS, enabling it to continue preparing future pastors and teachers at a time when the world needs more faith and family.
I pray you truly understand what a blessing your support is to the MLS Foundation and how it daily impacts the lives of the MLS students. Here are some areas where your support is needed most at this time:
- Gifts Given for the Greatest Need — This critical funding gives the Board of Directors flexibility to address the areas where help is needed most. By setting up a monthly donation of $10, $25, $50, or $100, you can support both current and future needs. Monthly support is invaluable for effective budgeting and planning. Our goal is to secure 100 donors to partner with us by establishing a monthly commitment to this fund. Please scan the code on the back of the reply below to schedule your recurring gift today! It will truly make a difference!
- Student Assistance Fund — Providing financial support to students is a very high priority of the MLS Foundation. We want to continue to provide a $100,000 annual distribution from this fund to MLS for tuition assistance. We have been blessed to provide this consistent support for several years. Funds given here may be used for tuition assistance, an educational program, a mission trip, or any other program that would benefit the students as a whole. Your gift to this fund ensures that students at MLS are receiving the necessary support to nurture their faith and develop as leaders in our synod and its churches.
- Capital Improvement Fund — The home and visitor bleachers, press box, restrooms, and concession area have been completed and enjoyed since the fall of 2021. It has been a wonderful addition to campus! We are now seeking funding to reduce the remaining loan balance of $372,840 associated with this phase of the Big Backyard Project. While using borrowed funds was part of the plan to complete the project promptly, eliminating this debt has now become a priority. Clearing this debt will free up resources for additional projects and programs. In recent years, the MLS Foundation has also been acquiring real estate around campus, now owning six properties. We intend to secure land on and around the campus for future strategic planning. Your contributions will enable us to maintain these properties and seize opportunities to acquire more if they arise. Please consider making a contribution to our capital improvement fund to support these endeavors.
Over the years I have witnessed the generosity of God’s people, and it continues to amaze me! Thank you for considering our appeal, and for embracing the values of faith and family. Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of students who are preparing for work in the public ministry. On behalf of the MLS Foundation and its board, I want to personally thank you for your support and wish you a blessed Thanksgiving!
In Christian Service,
Joshua Wakefield
Donor Relations Director
MLS Class of 1996
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead!’ ” Matthew 28:5-7a (EHV)
Dear Friend of the MLS Foundation,
Easter greetings to you and your family! The tomb is empty! He is risen; he is risen indeed! May your hearts be filled with the peace of forgiveness as a redeemed child of God.
We can rejoice today and every day that our hope remains in Jesus for what he has done for us. His life, His death, and His resurrection were done for us. Now we get to share that hope and good news with the world; it is part of our calling.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary continues to teach, prepare, and encourage students for public ministry. What an awesome privilege it is for us to support that mission here at MLS!
Your partnership with the MLS Foundation helps with the training of those who will publicly undertake the call to share His gospel.
The MLS Foundation has provided much-needed support to MLS and its students for over twenty years! Since 2018, we have been able to provide over $100,000 each year for tuition assistance to help families provide a Christian education for their student(s). It would not be possible without your generous gifts! It is an investment in the future generation of gospel proclaimers. This is just one way you are able to directly impact the lives of students attending MLS.
Here are some other ways to support our mission as the MLS foundation continues to grow and expand.
- Gifts Given for the Greatest Need—Gifts of financial support help the MLS Foundation carry out its mission. This critical funding gives the foundation’s Board of Directors flexibility to help where help is needed most when making grant requests or giving out a distribution. Please consider a monthly gift of $10, $25, $50, or $100 to help us fund current and future needs. These monthly gifts would be a tremendous blessing!
- Long Term endowment—We are continuing to build a stable endowment fund. Each year only a portion of the fund is distributed to help with projects, tuition assistance, budget shortfalls, or whatever else MLS might need. The most recent distribution from the unrestricted portion of the endowment fund was nearly $50,000.
- Capital Improvement fund—Donations to this fund will help offset the remaining $379,801.62 loan for the Big Backyard Project. The project has been completed and in use for just over a year. It has been a great improvement to campus. All donations above and beyond that amount will help us support future projects MLS would like to plan for. We will be putting a concerted effort to pay this loan off as soon as possible so we can be in a position to help with other projects around campus.
Thank you again for partnering with the MLS Foundation in making MLS a great place for students to learn and grow in their faith. Your generosity has helped the students, the faculty, and the campus of MLS remain a strong part of the WELS preparatory system for the future called workers in Christ’s kingdom.
In Christian Service,
Joshua Wakefield
Donor Relations Director
MLS Class of 1996
Welcome Back, Seminary Family!
It’s hard to believe, but summer is nearly over and classes began this week at MLS. As we begin another school year, we reflect and thank God for the blessings He has given the foundation and Michigan Lutheran Seminary. More information is available in our annual report.
Big Backyard Update
The home bleachers are now installed on campus, and they look great! We are excited for this improvement to campus, which will provide safe and comfortable seating for all who attend outdoor events at MLS.
The next phase of the Big Backyard project includes a permanent press box, a concessions area, and restrooms. Learn more and watch for updates on our projects page.
Tailgate Party
We have finalized plans for this year’s Homecoming Tailgate Party, and you’re invited! Join us under the big tent on October 4 for food, fellowship, and fun! Many reunion classes are planning to join us. If you are planning a reunion at homecoming, contact us and we will reserve your class a table together.
Scrip Program Updates
If you purchase gift cards for gifts or for your regular shopping, consider ordering them through the foundation to earn donations on every card you purchase! Physical cards are available as well as electronic gift cards that can be immediately delivered to your email address (or sent as a gift to any email address you specify).
A recent update includes the ability to easily link your bank account for payments and the ability to pay online with a credit or debit card. Using a card or instant payment means that your electronic cards will be delivered instantly – with no waiting for us to process your order!
Contact us for details and to get started with Scrip!
EAster Greetings
As we rejoice in our risen Savior, we can appreciate the earthly analogy that Martin Luther used about the resurrection: “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” What a wonderful reminder that the message of Easter is seen in all God’s creation as it awakens from the darkness of winter. From the beautiful Easter lily on the church’s altar to the budding of every shrub and tree in our yards, the renewal of the promise of our salvation and Christ’s victory over sin is shown to us.
This quote from Luther is also a simple way for us to share the message of what our Lord has done for all people. The awakening of the earthly world from the gloom of winter to the rebirth of spring is often a conversation between family, friends, and acquaintances. What an opportunity to compare the darkness of sin and the joy of the resurrection and salvation with these same people!
The calling to proclaim the Easter message to all nations has always been the foundation of Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Since 1910 the president, faculty, and staff have encouraged students to consider the work of the full-time ministry. We should never take this work lightly; but strengthen those at MLS with our prayers, conversations, and support.
The MLS Foundation joyfully continues our mission of supporting Michigan Lutheran Seminary and its students for the work of the church. It is our privilege to help with MLS’s current needs while also considering the needs of the future. Through the support of donors like you, we are able to make a difference in the lives of students attending our WELS preparatory school. We are grateful to you for partnering with us in the support of this training!
Below are some of the ways you can help with this life changing work.
Student Need Fund—We just made our second annual distribution of $100,000 to MLS for tuition assistance! Our goal is to do this every year! We currently have a balance of $32,578 in this fund. Your gift to this fund will directly impact MLS students, as gifts from this fund have been used for tuition assistance. Your gift to this fund will make sure the students at MLS are being supported so that they can grow in their faith and training as they prepare to be leaders in our church.
Capital Improvement Fund—Big Backyard Update—Thanks to many generous donors we are making progress and getting ready to start construction of the home side bleachers and a new press box. As many of you know, we installed new visitor bleachers last summer. Safety was a major concern for replacing both sets of bleachers. The old press box has been demolished and a new three-level press box that will include a concession area, storage, and bathrooms is planned for this summer. We need your help; your gift will help us pay down our Lutheran Association for Church Extension (LACE) project loan. The approximate cost to complete this phase will be $345,000.
Greatest Need—Gifts of financial support help the MLS Foundation carry out its mission. This critical funding gives the Board of Directors flexibility to help where help is needed most when making grant requests or giving out a distribution. These needs may be critical or emergency individual or campus needs.
Long-term Endowment—We want to continue to build a solid foundation and a lasting revenue stream for the future. Gifts to the endowment fund help make future budgeting more predictable based upon projected distributions. We currently take a distribution of 4% of the fund, based on the valuation date of December 31 of each year. Over the past three years, over $149,500 has been distributed from the fund to support the mission of the foundation.
In Christian Service,
Joshua Wakefield
Donor Relations Director
Please take a moment to visit our giving page to see more opportunities to make an impact immediately! You can also follow our Facebook page to see the many ways that the MLS Foundation assists MLS and its students through events and activities.
We’re Placing a Scrip Order Soon!
Order Deadline: 12/14/2018
We will be placing a Scrip order for physical gift cards, to arrive in time for Christmas.
Give a gift that gives back! Order gift cards through our Scrip program to earn donations for the MLS Foundation. Then use your gift cards for everyday purchases, like gas and groceries, or give them as gifts this Christmas season.
There are over 700 different retailers that participate with the Scrip program! View a list of cards available by visiting ShopWithScrip.com. For a limited time, many retailers are offering gift cards in denominations as low as $10!
Link your bank account using PrestoPay® to order eGift cards that you can download within minutes, or email to gift recipients!
View the Promotions page of our website or call for more information on how to participate in our Scrip program.
How it Works
- Buy physical gift cards, eGift cards, and reloadable gift cards at face value
on ShopWithScrip.com or the mobile website, MyScripWallet.com. - Easily pay online and earn a rebate between 2% and 16% that immediately
goes toward funding for the MLS Foundation. - Use gift cards for your shopping, or to give as gifts.
We’re Placing a Scrip Order Soon!
We will soon be placing a Scrip order for physical gift cards. Place your order by Wednesday, December 6, to ensure that your cards will arrive before Christmas.
With our Scrip program, your gift card purchases earn donations for the MLS Foundation at no extra cost to you! In addition to physical gift cards, you can also use Scrip for electronic gift certificates or reload a physical card you’ve purchased through the program.
Scrip cards are a great way to finish your Christmas list or to have a convenient gift on-hand for a teacher, mail carrier, or anybody else who deserves a special treat around the holidays!
There are plenty of options to choose from, and cards are available starting at just $10. Choose from thousands of your favorite retailers, including: Bath & Body Works, Starbucks, Walmart, Meijer, Subway, Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Kwik Trip, Target, Shell, BP, Red Lobster, Wendy’s, Papa John’s, several movie theaters, and LOTS more – including Visa, American Express, and Discover universal prepaid gift cards!
Click here to browse the list of cards available. If you prefer to complete a paper form and pay by check, click here for an order form to return to the foundation office.
Contact us for our enrollment code to sign up and start shopping with Scrip!
