Sign just one of changes to come
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
A new sign out at the entrance of Lutherdale Ministries just north of Elkhorn on highways 12 and 67 is shining not only as a welcome beacon, but also as a literal sign of things to come.
Lutherdale Ministries Executive Director Jeff Bluhm said the new sign was installed at the end of August thanks to a donation from local philanthropist Thelma Meyer. Bluhm said Meyer’s donation is what made the sign a possibility.
“She’s a great friend to the camp and a great friend to the community as well,” Bluhm said, noting Meyer has given a gift to the fairgrounds to build a new facility, donated funds to the Darien Fire Department, sponsored scholarships for FFA students and more.
“She gave the money for that sign and it is fantastic.”
While the former sign sat down in the swale near the edge of the highway and was easily missed, Bluhm said the new sign stands much taller and is internally illuminated with LED lights.
“That sign is like a beacon of welcome to everybody,” he said. “We’ve gotten so many comments from people that have seen it and have said what a great improvement it was. They’re glad to see it.
“It really is a bit of an eye-catcher.”
Bluhm said the new sign is part of a strategic plan at Lutherdale Ministries, a plan to become more engaged and become more of a resource for the community.
When looking at the sign, Bluhm said one of the key things that stands out is the addition of the Lauderdale Lakes Conference Center to the sign.
Bluhm said the conference center is something Lutherdale Ministries is growing into and is currently in the process of a capital campaign to construct a physical conference center.
“That is yet to come, but we’re letting people know it is going to be here,” he said.
Bluhm said Lutherdale Ministries already has groups that use the location for conferences – such as Aurora Healthcare, which recently held a conference there – and building a dedicated conference center seemed like a logical step in not only advancing Lutherdale Ministries, but better serving the community as well.
However, the conference center, while still off in the future, isn’t the only development occurring out at Lutherdale Ministries.
Bluhm said this fall, thanks to another generous donation, Lutherdale Ministries will be constructing a baseball diamond and a soccer field on the property, to be named Anderson field after the two local people who left the money for the fields as an estate gift to Lutherdale Ministries after their passing.
“We’re looking forward to getting that up and ready for the spring season,” he said.
“We’re trying to get the word out because we know there’s sometimes a shortage of places to play soccer in the community.”
Bluhm said Lutherdale Ministries, open since 1944, has been looking to expand things in the community and has been working with numerous groups, serving as the host site for Camp Hometown Heroes this past summer – a camp for children who have lost a family member in military service – holds a week long camp for children with Crohn’s Disease and colitis and will be holding a camp in 2017 for children with congenital heart disease.
“We’re always doing new things and more things here,” he said.
To learn more about Lutherdale Ministries, visit
