A Legacy of Faith and Generosity
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Dale Kruse and his wife, Karen, have family trees with “Lutheran” written all over them. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—all Lutherans who grew up in the church, attended Lutheran schools and passed on the faith to the next generation.
So when the Kruses’ grandson, Brett Salamone, announced that he wanted to be a Lutheran school teacher, the family rejoiced and vowed to support him in any way possible.
“Our daughter, Kristen Musgrove, was teaching school at Trinity Klein Lutheran School [in Spring, Texas], and her son, Brett, was planning to be an engineer,” explained Dale. “But when he started tutoring during his high school years, he got the teaching bug, too!”
As Brett went on to become a teacher, first starting out in the public schools, the Kruses learned about LCEF’s Church Worker Loan Pool and the special rates and perks offered to rostered church workers. Brett was looking to buy a home, but hadn’t yet completed the colloquy program to become a rostered LCMS school teacher. So, the Kruses encouraged him to prioritize it.
“We hadn’t known it at first, but LCEF offers rostered church workers a low interest rate,” said Dale. “We wanted to support that loan pool because it helps our church workers, and that’s a worthy emphasis. We told Brett all about it!”
The Kruses’ heart for church worker wellness doesn’t stop with the Church Worker Loan Pool—they also support Grace Place Wellness. Over the years, Dale has served as a board member, given generously to their fundraising efforts, and prayed for the growth and expansion of the ministry that helps provide retreats, resources and wellness programming for LCMS church workers.
Between LCEF and Grace Place Wellness, the Kruses feel that their contributions are supporting exactly what they value most: the well-being of their family, their church, and future generations of Lutherans.
“LCEF is necessary and integral for church workers,” mentioned Dale. “What I hope for is that a lot of LCMS members would consider putting in some money to help congregations and church workers. For us, Lutheran organizations get priority because if we Lutherans don’t support Lutheran charities, who else will?”
As their family tree continues to grow, branch out, blossom and bear fruit, the Kruses feel thankful and blessed by their church. And they’re encouraged by how their family and church family are carrying the Gospel forward.
“It is just so important to pass on the faith to the next generation,” said Karen, “and I see it happening in our family. I am so blessed.”
