Capital Campaign

A bunch of so-called addicts got together in one accord and built something enduring. They built a home. Six of them, actually. Along the way, they got incredible practice in what it means to walk with the Lord, to work with purpose, and to grow in fellowship.

They understand the word "addict" is probably not so accurate after all. Add to that volunteers and supporters of all kinds from around the country, and what might pass as desperately needed staff-housing upgrades becomes much more. It's the Body of Christ in action. This odyssey began ten years ago and culminated in a groundbreaking in May of '03 - to completion in November of '04. Twenty months and incredible feats of love and growth along the way.

Our Capital Campaign, "Blueprint for Hope" began in 2000 with some pretty lofty goals. To more effectively minister to men in our residential centers, as well as the other people we have contact with, we recognized we needed to upgrade and expand facilities. With Gov. Terry and Chris Branstad serving as honorary chairs, we started work.

We are EXCITED to report significant progress. To date, over $2.8 million of pledges have been committed! The campaign has already helped us complete numerous projects:

Our Colfax dormitory received a major facelift to double our capacity from 36 to 60 men.

We were able to purchase a brand-new 50-passenger bus.

We've acquired two new 12-passenger vans to help us transport students to various events.

The Omaha Re-entry Center received a completely renovated kitchen including a ceramic tile floor, brand-new cabinets, and countertops.

The Colfax Laundry facilities were updated with new plumbing, electrical systems and brand-new washers and dryers.

The fire safety system at Colfax has been upgraded, along with some critical pieces of office equipment to help our administrative staff.

The Colfax Training Center has a beautiful new pond.

We completely renovated our Training Center kitchen and food storage areas.

We added an emergency generator to ensure our walk-in cooler and freezer are operable during power outages.

We badly needed to upgrade equipment and we were able to do so with a utility tractor and John Deere mower for keeping over 20 acres of grass cut. We also added a 4-wheel drive Case tractor/loader/backhoe for use on our construction projects.

We completely remodeled our chapel, and increased capacity by replacing the old pews with chairs donated by friends of the ministry. We also added a platform and new sound system.

The grand Spanish style porch portico on the front of the hotel has been known as a landmark in the Colfax community. Even with numerous structural changes to the building, the front entrance has remained amazingly unchanged for more than 100 years! However, as age and weather have taken their toll, the elegant lobby entrance had begun to lean. Despite our efforts to brace and shore it up, potential collapse and eminent danger to our staff, students, and guests became evident. We’ve begun replacement of the front entrance with modern materials (steel instead of wood), while maintaining the appearance of the old Spanish style portico. Throughout the project, varying materials will be needed as well as many talents and expertise. Please pray about supporting this project with your finances or with your volunteered time. We’ve also begun work on the veranda and lobby.

In 2000, new energy-efficient windows were installed in the entire fourth floor with the renovation of our student dorms and intern apartments. In 2002, windows were replaced in our chapel during its renovation. As you can imagine, windows installed in the late 1800’s are not energy efficient by any means! With the installation of new windows, energy savings will be immense - both during chilly winter months and during those scorching summer days. With insulated glass, the cold will stay out of the building and the heat will stay inside, and with operable screens, windows can be opened for ventilation, saving on high air conditioning bills. In addition, the window’s exterior will be clad in aluminum, making them virtually maintenance free. We’re glad to report that we’re almost 100% done replacing all the windows in our building!