A Journey of Faith and Growth

The 20-Year Road to Immanuel’s New Sanctuary

For more than 150 years, Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Crystal Lake, Illinois, has served its community and shared Christ’s love. But when growth outpaced their space, they faced a difficult choice—one that would take them on an unexpected 20-year journey filled with obstacles, setbacks and, ultimately, a breakthrough they never saw coming.

In 2009, leaders at Immanuel found a new property in Crystal Lake—a vast 64-acres in the heart of town. The possibilities were exciting. However, they didn’t have the funds yet to build both a new church and a new school. They’d have to choose.

“The school facility was antiquated and declining, and we agreed that centering on children and families was best,” said Rev. Larry Tieman, senior pastor at Immanuel. “We decided we could build the school and then worship in a multi-purpose room there temporarily.”

So, Immanuel built a school on 25 acres, while retaining their historic church and school just blocks away. With plenty of space left on the new property, it was only a matter of time before they could carry out their full vision.

That “matter of time” turned into 15 years.

While the church and school grew and thrived during that time, it also meant 15 years of challenges and compromises. There was the setting up and taking down of chairs every week for worship, moving tables back and forth and the occasional double-booking of the worship space.

It was clear: Immanuel needed to sell some of its land in order to fund the building of a new sanctuary once and for all.

STUNTED GROWTH

A railroad on the east side of the property brought their would-be plans to a halt. Federal regulations made railroad crossing approval too costly for developers.

Eager to get a new worship space underway despite not yet having the full funding they’d expected, Immanuel decided to move ahead with the plan anyway. At capacity with three worship services, they sold their historic property in January 2020 to finally complete the project that began 15 years earlier.

Then, as many 2020 stories go, the pandemic hit. It was painful.

Immanuel rebounded post-pandemic, restoring attendance within two years. By 2022, they revisited plans to develop their land and build the sanctuary—this time with LCEF’s support.

TURNING A NEW LEAF

“Joe Willmann [LCEF district vice president for the Northern Illinois District] came by, and we went out to lunch,” recalled Tieman. “We showed him the property and shared our vision, and he advised that before we sell any property that we should call LCEF first. They had just started LCEF Real Estate Solutions (RES), and they could partner with Immanuel on a plan that would mean a revenue stream for the church plus the opportunity for ministry on the property as well.” That fall, a developer made a multi-million dollar offer on the property. Under RES guidance, Immanuel opted for a feasibility study instead, revealing a local housing need.

“Tom Campbell [senior vice president of LCEF Real Estate Solutions] came out and looked at everything and talked us through a bit of how LCEF could help us find a developer who would provide us with ministry opportunities,” Tieman said. “They found Three Leaf Partners for us, and plans were made to build an apartment complex. LCEF and RES were with us every step of the way.”

SLOW AND STEADY

It turned out that Immanuel wasn’t the only one experiencing growing pains. The prospect of change and growth was painful for the community and neighbors, too.

“The neighborhood was adamantly opposed to any development going in,” explained Tieman. “They were used to having the vacant land there.” Immanuel, with LCEF and Three Leaf Partners, spent a year demonstrating how the development could be a benefit and blessing to everyone.

“We showed them a short video presentation of what the new apartment campus was going to look like, answered their questions and dispelled lots of myths that were circulating,” said Tieman. “We listened to our neighbors and modified the plans.”

The church and school had endured petitions against them, and the developer attended countless city council and zoning meetings; and through it all, they resolved to be the most patient and compassionate neighbors they could be.

“Our strategy was to turn the other cheek,” Tieman shared, “and even the city manager commended us for being a positive Christian witness. We said and did nothing disparaging and just focused on loving our neighbors.”

A WIN-WIN

In the end, the adjusted development plan was approved unanimously.

Slated to break ground in 2025, the apartment complex will generate steady revenue and provide outreach opportunities, connecting new families to worship and school programs.

“It’s going to be a beautiful development,” Tieman said. “The designs are great, but best of all, it gives us an opportunity to minister to these 200+ families right across the street. We’ll invite them to worship and other activities, and we can invite their children to our school or to our Upward sports ministries. It’s a win-win.”

With Three Leaf Partners, they also don’t have to worry about handling any apartment management or business logistics.

“Jesus has had good use of the people and will continue to have good use of them in the future,” shared Willmann. “While working with the people of Immanuel on this project and introducing them to our RES team has been a wonderful experience, the best part of this whole journey is learning about the faithfulness of the congregation.”

A LONG TIME COMING

Finally, the growing pains could give way to growth.

“We’d been trying to do this for 20 years and could never get it done on our own,” explained Tieman. “We couldn’t have done it without LCEF. They’re all about expanding God’s kingdom, and that’s the business we’re in, too.”

Through it all, RES looked at everything through the four lenses of helping people, being a positive impact in the community, incorporating ministry opportunities and establishing alternative sources of revenue for the congregation.

“Sometimes people’s initial reaction is, ‘We’re not a business, we’re the church!’” said Jonathan Ward, senior director of RES. “And that’s true. But in all cases with RES, we ensure that the congregations don’t do the property management. That is done by professionals; the churches are silent partners who invest their land into these projects and have access to do ministry there. But they don’t take on any business or financial burdens.”

With the apartment complex underway, Immanuel can now move forward with its long- awaited sanctuary, set to break ground in 2026.

“The plan is to finish architectural drawings over summer 2025 for the new sanctuary,” said Tieman. “Immanuel is a vibrant, energetic, Spirit-filled community. It’s been a long time coming, but what’s interesting is that through lots of ups and downs, in the end, we will do more ministry with the apartments ‘under our roof, beyond our walls.’ Ministry isn’t limited to just our facility. It’s the culmination of that vision that we’ve had all along.”