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CEF Interest Rates

The mission of the Texas District Church Extension Fund is to extend God’s Kingdom by boldly and responsibly assisting congregations to acquire land and buildings and by linking investors with congregations.

CEF CHATTERTexas CEF serving Congregations since 1888

April 2018 Volume 30, Issue 4 Texas District Church Extension FundThe Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod7900 E. Hwy 290 • Austin Texas 78724Visit us on the Web: www.TexasCEF.org E-mail: Invest@TexasCEF.org512.646.1233 • 1.888.951.1233

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Subscribe to Extension Extratexascef.org/subscribe.html

Investment Fixed Rate (2) Floating Rate (2)

Rate APY Rate APY One Year Note (1) 2.000% 2.02% 2.000% 2.02% Three Year Note (1) 2.375% 2.40% 2.375% 2.40% Five Year Note (1) 2.750% 2.78% 2.625% 2.65% Flex Savings 1.000% 1.00%Accounts For Congregations Congregation Savings 1.250% 1.26% Building Fund Savings 2.750% 2.78%All individual Texas District CEF investments (FLEX, fixed and floating rate notes) may be included in a person’s IRA portfolio, through our custodian GoldStar Trust Company. www.texascef.org/ira.html (1) Subject to penalty for early withdrawal. (2) Rates subject to change. Rates reviewed monthly. Texas District Church Extension Fund is a nonprofit religious organization; therefore, CEF investments are not SIPC- or FDIC-insured bank deposit accounts. This does not constitute an offer to sell or a request to buy. The offer is made solely by CEF’s Offering Circular.

YOUR SAVINGS PLACEIN TEXAS

“For Such a Time as This” 30th Annual CEF Conference Theme More than 200 CEF congregation reps, spouses, and special guests gathered at the Doubletree Hotel in Austin, March 2-4th for the 30th Annual CEF Conference. The theme was, “For Such a Time as This”. One of the focuses for the weekend was recognition for CEF Executive Director Stephen Block’s 25 year anniversary and his upcoming retirement.

Conference Logo

Mark Matson Raelyn Pracht Wes Krueger Sara Frank Donna Hicks Pam Herber John Hunt

Stephen Block Wayne Harned Don Rawe Keith Howanitz Gene Bode

Bill Siegrist

2018 Conference Leadership TeamMark

Herber

Lanny Moore is the Texas Partners in Mission Director of Development. He served as a conference sectional presenter.www.txlcms.org/tpim

Gary Juhl is the Legacy Deo Director of Planned Giving www.legacydeo.org

Applause for Terry!Once again,

Terry Brown served as the conference emcee.

PRESIDENTRev. Hennings as Texas District Executive Director of Missions in 1991, started serving as a presenter at the Annual CEF Conference. Since becoming Texas District President, he has continued as a presenter year-after-year. This will be his last year to serve as Texas District LCMS President.

BANQUET ENTERTAINMENTIn 2009, Katie Stam was crowned Miss America. She grew up in an LCMS congregation and spent years working on the family dairy farm in Indiana. Her banquet testimony and songs were a highlight of the conference. Her first book will be launched April 1st, Easter Sunday.

CHAPLAINRev. Mike Newman, Mission and Ministry Facilitator for Area “C” served as the conference chaplain. His messages were based on the conference theme, “For Such a Time as This”. He used the book of Esther as the basis for his presentations. Newman emphasized, The Lord is working through each of us. He is working through your church. There is victory in God’s mission!

Becca Jones will be the next executive director of the Texas District Church Extension Fund. She was formerly the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Customer Support with LCEF in St. Louis. In the next issues of Chatter, we will provide a more detailed introduction. She will start with Texas CEF at the beginning of April. (L–R) Kenda Zawadzki, Raelyn Pracht, Pam Herber, Becca Jones, Bill Siegrist, Ruby Cruz, Joan Zieschang, and Debbie Potter.

During the weekend, President Ken Hennings introduced Becca Jones.

$1 Million in CongregationInvestments Recognition

(L-R) Frank Litt serves as CEF Rep at Christ, Ft. Worth

Richard Hansen serves as CEF Rep at Faith, Huntsville

Tobie and Elaine Hall serves as CEF Reps at Messiah, Keller

Rev. Ken Krueger is the CEO of the Lutheran Federal Credit Union located in St. Louis. All members of LCMS congregations are eligible to join the credit union.

Dr. Jerry Kieschnick serves as the Legacy Deo CEO. They were sectional presenters.

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Stephen Block 25 Year Anniversary and Retirement Recognition

KEYNOTEBryan Flanagan - His three presentations were entitled: • Why Can’t People Be More Like Me? • Public Speaking and Other Coronary Threats• I Learned it All at Youth Baseball. Since 1988, Bryan holds the record for serving five times as a conference keynote presenter.

KEYNOTEDr. Leonard Sweet - His three presentations were entitled: • Buds, Blossoms, Flowers • The Secret of Creativity and Connection• Intercessory PrayerThis is the third visit for Dr. Sweet as a conference keynote presenter. Sweet is a church historian and author.

Stephen Block has served as CEF Executive Director for 25 years.His two presentations were entitled: • For Such a Time as This • Basic Training for CEF RepsAt the Saturday evening banquet, he recounted the joys he has experienced during his time with Texas CEF.

Meredith Wright, Texas District Office manager, created a quilt from previous years’ conference polo shirts that were donated by the CEF staff. The anniversary and retirement quilt was presented to Stephen and Sandra Block during the opening Friday evening reception.

(L–R) Ruby Cruz, Loan Administrator; Meredith Wright; Pam Herber, Director of Operations, the Blocks, Raelyn Pracht, Rep Coach; Kenda Zawadzki, Investor Services Representative; Sue Eckert, Transaction Processor; Bill Siegrist, Director of Marketing and Training; Joan Zieschang, Investor Services Representative; and Debbie Potter, Investor Services Representative. Additionally, there was a tribute video for Block featuring several Texas District leaders, pastors, and the CEF staff.

Bill Siegrist CEF Director of Marketing and Training served as the conference facilitator, presenter, and banquet emcee. During the conference he was recognized for serving in the CEF ministry for 30 years.

He originated the CEF training conference in 1988.

Conference resources available for downloading: www.texascef.org

• Powerpoints • Workbook • Photo Album

The Sunday worship service offering was more than $5,000. CEF matched this amount. The combined total of $10,000+ is designated for “Ken and Val Hennings Mission Support Endowment.”

• The new Super Savers video featured at the conference. • Tribute video for Stephen Block

Kyle and Kristy Smith were music accompanist during the devotions and worship service. Their song selections beautifully captured the theme. Their graceful blend of music throughout the conference was well appreciated by the attendees.

• CEF Conference photos: www.texascef.zenfolio.com

We give thanks to God for the ministry of the Congregation Reps!