Atlantic District News

LuHi Names Congregation of the Year

- by Tracey Gove - Director of Communications - LuHi
Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School

March 17, 2008 at 3:45 PM

 

Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School

Names Lutheran Crusader Fund’s

Congregation of the Year

 

Ascension Lutheran Church of Deer Park, NY was recognized by the faculty, staff, and students of Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School (LuHi) as the 2008 Lutheran Crusader Fund Congregation of the Year.  The Congregation of the Year award is managed by the Lutheran Crusader Fund of Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School.  Provided by an anonymous donor in 1998, a generous $1 million contribution enabled LuHi, located in Brookville, Long Island, to establish the Lutheran Crusader Fund.   The focus of the LCF is the creation and enhancement of innovative programs that spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that benefit Christian institutions and support others in times of significant crisis or need.  To date, over $800,000 has been awarded to 300 deserving organizations through the LCF.  This year marked the first Congregation of the Year recognition.

 

LuHi Headmaster Dr. David Hahn presented the award on Sunday, March 8 affirming Ascension as a congregation that serves as a model for other ministries by effectively sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helping God’s people in need.  “God has richly blessed me,” commented Rev. Dennis O’Rourke of Ascension, “calling me to serve such a wonderful congregation these past fifteen years.  Often I have marveled at the depth of this church’s Christian witness and how far reaching their corporate ministry is.  I have been and still am proud to be their pastor and I am delighted that this award recognizes their ministry.” Ascension’s active congregation demonstrates such ministry in a number of innovative ways, including service to others in fundraising for a Lutheran School in Tanzania, Africa, providing meals and clothing for the hungry and lonely, offering multiple worship opportunities through services, retreats, youth programs, Latino ministry, and community outreach, and supporting their own membership through personal phone calls to each family of the church each year. 

 

“Your award was chosen by our Selection Committee in a difficult (but joyful) process,” remarked Dr. Hahn, “In wrestling with the selection process, our Committee was impressed by your congregation’s leadership activities in the three areas emphasized by the Lutheran Crusader Fund:  Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Helping people or organizations in times of significant need, and Piloting innovative programs that can serve as a model for other ministries.”   Recognition as the Congregation of the Year includes a $10,000 gift from LuHi’s Lutheran Crusader Fund to continue and enhance the many ministries offered at Ascension Lutheran Church.  Rev. John Krahn of Ascension expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for the further work that can be done with such a gift, saying, “We are excited by the possibility of using the generous financial gift to fund additional ideas to advance the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

 

Located on a 32-acre campus in Brookville, NY, Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School is a Christ-centered, college-preparatory school whose mission is to educate its students in body, mind and spirit.  Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a “School of Excellence,” LuHi serves 614 students in grades 6 through 12.   For more information, call LuHi Admissions Office at (516) 626-1700, ext. 545 or visit www.luhi.org.