As the city grows, the mission of Zumbro Lutheran Church grows along with it.
Imagine more than 80 groups using a church each month. Zumbro Lutheran Church, in Rochester, Minnesota, was experiencing just that.
But they wanted to do more.
Building renovations would allow the congregation to do even more within a versatile, comfortable setting.
Rochester, a quickly growing medium-sized city, home to Mayo Clinic, faces challenges in common with many urban areas. Food insecurity. Homelessness. Lack of connections. “The congregation had a strong desire to redesign the space to be welcoming, leaning into downtown,” explains Zumbro’s directing pastor, the Rev. Rob Zahn. “We started the brick-and-mortar changes,” adds Sarah Lichty, Zumbro’s director of mission, “with a commitment to mission, deepening relationships with our partners.”
The three-story church building boasts a redesigned sanctuary and a renovated second-floor office that better serves its intended function. Zumbro turned to the ELCA’s Mission Investment Fund for a loan. “The congregation knows MIF as a financial ministry of the church. I like that using MIF assists other ministries, both rural and urban around the country,” says Pastor Zahn.
A vibrant cross greets worshippers at Zumbro’s new sanctuary.
The sanctuary was redesigned to be multiuse, with movable chairs in place of stationary pews to reconfigure the space for meetings, performances and other events, all week. Accessibility features enhance both in-person and online participation. Worship is enriched by a new cross behind the altar framed by a crown of thorns above and a new glass baptismal font in shades of blue and green—indicative of the new life in Christ beginning at baptism. Inlaid tiles from the cross to the baptismal font represent the nearby Zumbro River, for which the congregation is named.
The offices support three ministries at work in the city, including a youth drop-in resource center operated by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSSMN), Luther College programs and a mobile food truck ministry.
“The LSSMN center is specifically for youth aged 16 to
24 experiencing homelessness or an unstable living environment,” notes Lichty. Complete with a teaching kitchen, the program provides meals, personal care items, a respite from the weather and the opportunity to engage with a caseworker.
Rejuvenated office space at Zumbro draws in community partners, including Luther College nursing students.
Zumbro Lutheran Church also supports Luther College, which offers experiential education with two immersive internship opportunities, including a Nursing College Program and a new Rochester Semester program. Students and faculty use the office space at Zumbro for teaching, studying, relaxing and building relationships. Significant input by congregation members benefits both programs.
Open Table, a mobile food truck ministry, prepares and distributes hot meals every week. In concert with a local food bank, the ministry also provides take-away meals.
Participation by Luther College students highlights service intersections encouraged between the ministries.
“‘Our journey of faith leads us to build bridges of understanding and peace, to reach out with compassion, and to share the hope of Jesus.’ That is our mission statement,” shares Pastor Zahn. “The heart of Zumbro Lutheran Church is reaching out to the world because of faith. We are not here to be about ourselves, but as a resource to our community.”
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