through The Nehemiah Endowment

Securing the Future
through
The Nehemiah
Endowment
A touch of
TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER
2
I remember my first ride home from Tuscarora like it
was yesterday. I was only nine - but that trip changed
my life. I met Jesus for the first time that summer.
Time moves so quickly - but my faith has remained
firmly anchored. Now my children have the opportunity
to experience the same memories that shaped me. And
hopefully someday, even my grandchildren will sit in the
backseat - feeling the transforming touch of Tuscarora...
3
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TOUCHING LIVES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Since 1971, the Lord has enabled Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center to touch tens of
thousands with the message that Jesus loves them. I am among those whose life has been
touched by this extraordinary ministry, coming first as a Junior Week camper and then with
my church youth group for Winter Weekend. As a teen I joined the Summer Staff program
and now, only a few “short” decades later, I have the privilege of leading as Executive Director
and sharing the unique Tuscarora experience with my growing family.
Through the years it has been a blessing to listen as guests have shared personal stories of
their own memories built with friends and family, of hearing the call of God on their life for the
first time and the birth of life-long friendships bound by faith in Jesus. As we reflect on the
lives changed by the ministry of Tuscarora, we have asked the all-important question, “How
can we assure that we will continue to touch lives for future generations?”
While considering our future, our staff was reminded of the tenacious faith and remarkable
courage of Nehemiah, a Biblical hero who, with God’s help, labored valiantly for the security
and freedom of future generations by rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. We found it inspiring to
reflect upon Nehemiah’s prayerful heart and to see how God met his every need. That’s how
we want to lead–-prayerfully ready to usher the legacy of Tuscarora forward so that future
generations may encounter Jesus in ways that unmistakably transform lives and legacies.
With this in mind, we have created The Nehemiah Endowment Fund. Linking arms with
people like you, we hope to preserve a legacy that will outlive those of us who hold this
brochure in our hands. The Nehemiah Endowment Fund will provide a dependable and
predictable source of income and ensure that resources are available to keep our campus in
good repair, addressing immediate needs and imagining future possibilities.
It is my honor to invite you to take part in leading this legacy forward through The Nehemiah
Endowment Fund. If your life has been touched and changed by this ministry, please join me
as we pray and plan and dream… and secure the future of Tuscarora for generations to come.
In Faith for Our Future,
Brian Abrahamsen
Executive Director
4
...and now, all these years later, it’s a
wonderful place to come back to, relax,
and be refreshed - but also so much
more. It’s who we are and a part of
who our children will also become.
— Anna
SPECIAL TOUCHES
For generations, Tuscarora Inn & Conference
Center has been touching lives through our
beautiful, relaxing services and facilities. Located
in the beautiful foothills of the Pocono Mountains
along the Delaware River, Tuscarora is the
perfect place for our guests to relax, refresh, and
reconnect. It’s a place where lives are changed
and transformed.
Our guests love our quality amenities. They are
something they count on enjoying when they visit.
• Beautiful and peaceful surroundings along the
banks of the Delaware River
• Comfortable hotel-style rooms, cottages and
dormitories
• State-of-the-art meeting rooms
• 700 seat theater-style auditorium
• Delicious family style meals
• Large dining facility
• Dedicated, caring staff
• Gymnasium
• Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Soccer Field &
Softball Field
• River Activities & Pools (Seasonal)
• Book & Gift Shop
• Snack Shop
• Game Room
• Exercise Room
• Local Hiking (Appalachian Trail)
How can we secure our future and
continue touching lives at Tuscarora?
5
Securing the Future
through
The Nehemiah
Endowment
We are trusting God for a
$5 Million Dollar Endowment
LIVES CHANGED!
FACILITIES MAINTAINED
Your contribution to The Nehemiah Endowment Fund is an investment in our
future and ensures that more lives will be touched and transformed by Christ at
Tuscarora. Because of this endowment, we will continue to see more of these
types of blessings:
We have been given a rich blessing at Tuscarora
Inn and Conference Center. We want to steward
that blessing so that it isn’t compromised by
time, weather, and use. Because the buildings
and grounds house our guests, we want to take
care of them through this endowment by:
• A teen hears of God’s love for the first time and
makes the life changing decision to follow Jesus
• Keeping our buildings, grounds, furniture, and
equipment in their best form to continue our
reputation as a leading inn and conference
center.
• A daughter’s relationship with her mother is
strengthened and their faith in God deepened during
a weekend conference for women
• Couples disconnect from the pace and pressures of
life to experience strengthening and healing at our
weekend marriage retreat
• Single adults laugh, sing, play and pray while growing closer to God and each
other as they ring in the new year at our annual Singles Retreat
• Leaders are equipped with the resources, skills and the spiritual fortitude
needed to accomplish the work God has called them to.
• A family takes time to enjoy one another and create treasured memories in
our natural, serene setting
OUR
HISTORY
6
1971
Eastern District Church
of the Lutheran Brethren
search for permanent
camp location ends
with the purchase of
Tuscarora Inn.
1975
Herb Jacobsen
begins as Executive
Director of the
conference center.
1975
Olav B. Olsen multipurpose building
built to serve as an
auditorium and gym.
• Preventing the need for future extraneous repairs due to lack of resources
so we can pour more money into people and program development in the
future, instead of costly repairs.
“In the changing landscape of ministry Tuscarora remains
grounded in the unchanging truths found in scripture and the
everlasting hope of the Gospel”
Late 1970’s
Cedar Chalet
purchased,
disassembled,
moved and rebuilt.
Ribe Lodge and
Hillside Manor Built.
1977
First Annual
Christmas Concert
with guest artist
Doug Oldham.
1980
Mt. Bethel Lutheran
Brethren Church
begins on grounds
of conference
center.
QUALITY SUSTAINED
PROGRAMS EXPANDED
Tuscarora has become synonymous with comfort. We want to maintain our
reputation for being a destination that values the quality of guest services,
amenities and personalized experiences for our guests. In order to deliver
uncompromising hospitality, we need to pay close attention to details. This
endowment will enable us to:
Although this is a smaller percentage of The
Nehemiah Endowment, our program expansion
will likely receive the biggest blessings through the
endowment. Through the security of funds available
for Facilities Maintained and Quality Sustained,
more annual and one-time donor support can go
directly into providing improvements and expansion
to our current programs. In addition, we will be
able to earmark a portion of these funds to support
our desire to reach even more people for the Lord
through our programs. A portion of this endowment
will allow us to:
• Keep all amenities in our guest rooms both operating
properly and updated, including furnishings, televisions,
telephones, Internet access and small appliances.
• Outfit the conference center with the latest in
communications and learning technology, in addition to
wireless access in every part of the conference center.
Both large and small groups will have the confidence to
host their events with us.
• Carpet, flooring, walls, room décor and aesthetics always kept fresh and upto-date so guests feel like they can relax and feel refreshed the moment they
enter Tuscarora.
• Continue being a leader in conference food preparation and service by
keeping our kitchen and dining facilities updated and properly functioning.
1988
First wing of Riverside
Manor dedicated.
Tuscarora Resource
Center also dedicated
as counseling center
to pastors and
missionaries.
1991 - 1993
Longhouse Expansion
Dining Room Remodeled
Riverside Manor II
Completed.
2003
The Senum-Thompson
Center, with theaterstyle seating for 700
is dedicated after a
successful fundraising
campaign.
• Provide more programs, workshops and retreats for families, children, teens,
young adults, singles and couples.
• Add an additional Teen Week, so more teens can be changed by Christ.
• Host more leadership conferences so church and ministry leaders can be
touched by Tuscarora.
2005
Herb Jacobsen steps
down as Executive
Director after 30
years of ministry.
Brian Abrahamsen
becomes the new
director.
2014
New Staff Building
replaces the Laurel
Longhouse after a
10 year fundraising
campaign Consider
the Future.
7
A touch of
TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER
Like Nehemiah, we invite you to join us as we earnestly and prayerfully seek God to meet the
future needs of Tuscarora. Your participation is of lasting importance to sustain the remarkable
work God started decades ago. Together, we will trust that He who began a good work in our
midst will be faithful to complete it.
Will you join us in
securing our future?
8
“Tuscarora Inn is one of the great retreat resources in
the Northeast United States. It has had a profound
impact on the church community of Greater New
York for nearly 40 years. The excellence and depth of
spirituality of the Tuscarora leadership is profoundly
important to God’s work in our region. We were able
to grow an annual gathering of 40 pastors to over 300
pastors because of Tuscarora’s excellence.”
Dr Mac Pier
CEO and Founder
The NYC Leadership Center
I had just become a Christian and my
new friends surprised me with a paid
trip to the Young Adults Weekend
at Tuscarora. That was over 17 years
ago! It changed my life. I remember
not wanting to leave because I felt
such peace there. Little did I know,
that would be the first of many
memories I would have of wonderful
times spent at Tuscarora. I love, love,
love this place.
-Christina, Nashville, TN
9
YOUR TOUCH
With your help, The Nehemiah Endowment Fund will build a strong future
for Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center, so many lives can experience A
Touch of Tuscarora.
We are now accepting:
• Gifts of Cash
• Gifts of Stocks and Bonds
• Gifts of Real Estate
• Gifts of Life Insurance
• Bequests
Contact Herb Jacobsen, Endowment Committee Chair, today at
570-897-6000 ext. 170 or endowment@tuscarora.org for more
information.
The Nehemiah Endowment Fund is a vital resource committed
to Tuscarora’s future. It will provide the flow of capital necessary
to maintain our current standard of excellence and enhance the
future experiences of every guest.
Your gifts to the Nehemiah Endowment Fund are deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes. Bequests, legacies and all gifts of value
are generally exempt from federal estate and gift taxes. If you wish to speak with someone regarding planned giving or taxes, please
contact us!
10
For the past 20 years, four generations of my family have gathered each July
for Leisure Week. We have been encouraged and sense the presence of God
amidst the bible teaching, entertainment and beautiful setting. Now in my
eighties, spending focused time with my family has been Tuscarora’s greatest
gift to me. May we all be found faithful to invest in this ongoing ministry
for the benefit of generations to come.” ­— Elaine, Lancaster, PA
ENDOWMENT POTENTIAL
WAYS
TO
GIVE
Want to see the
potential
for how your gift could help secure the future of Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center?
Many factors need to be taken into account, but this chart serves to show how The Nehemiah Endowment could
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Doug Oines
3300 River
Road,
Bethel,
PA 18343
Ambassador Advisors Mount
Arnold Oftedal
Mount
Bethel,
PA
18343
$23,304,789
-$421,370
$10,955,619
3300
River
Road
570-897-6000
‰
‰
your tax advisor about the
Mount Bethel, PAContact
18343
Bernie Bostwick,
, ChFC 570-897-6000
ACAP
touch
of
Advisor: Bernie Bostwick, CAP®,
Mount Bethel, PA 18343
www.tuscarora.org
3300 River Road, Mount Bethel, PA 18343 570-897-6000 benefits that are applicable
bbostwick@ambassadoradvisors.com
to
you.
Please
turn
for
years
www.tuscarora.org
570-897-6000 21-40
ChFC®, Ambassador Advisors
570-897-6000 | www.tuscarora.org
www.tuscarora.org
800-395-7660
THE NEXT STEPS
www.tuscarora.org
TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER
Securing the Future
through
The Nehemiah
Endowment
Mission Statement
To serve the Christian community by providing programs and facilities for worship, teaching,
counseling and physical refreshment focusing on the Bible as our standard for living.
3300 River Road
Mount Bethel, PA 18343
570-897-6000 | www.tuscarora.org