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Former orphanage to be repurposed by LFS

A former orphanage in Fort Dodge will be dedicated as a ministry resource center for Lutheran Family Service.

To celebrate this change, Lutheran Family Service will host an Oktoberfest Celebration on Oct. 8.

The celebration will include an annual meeting and dedication service to begin at noon; food and fellowship will follow at 1p.m. Tours of the remodeled building will be given, children’s activities will be available, traditional German food will be served and literature on current services will be shared.

Marvin Mattfeld, of Cedar Falls, who will address the crowd and give some brief memories of his nine years at the orphanage during his youth.

The event is open to all members of Iowa Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations, Lutheran Family Service board members, Lutheran Family Service employees, Lutheran Family Service donors and Lutheran Family Service adoptive families.

“Many local groups, congregations and individual volunteers made it possible for the orphanage to be updated and used as a ministry resource center. We are so grateful to all those who dedicated not only their financial resources, but their time and talents as well. The remodeling effort was spearheaded by volunteer project coordinators, Deb Dryer and Mary Rosburg, both local Fort Dodge residents who dedicated months to this project,” said Holly Eldridge, LFS?operations manage.

“Birthparent retreats, marriage retreats, post-adoption support groups, post-abortion support groups, adoption training classes and parenting classes are just a few of the possible uses for this new ministry retreat center. LCMS congregations around Iowa are also invited to use the building as a resource for their various programming as well,” said the Rev. Max Phillips, executive director of Lutheran Family Service.

Lutheran Family Service history

Lutheran Family Service began in 1901 when Lutheran churches and schools were being established all over Iowa and the population was growing rapidly. Iowa Lutheran lay leaders and pastors recognized the pressing need to find Christian homes for the many orphaned children who were not able to live with their own families because of the death of a parent, illness or harsh financial times. The Lutheranish Kinderfreundgesellschaft (Lutheran Children’s Friends Society) was established.

A new Lutheran orphanage was built in Fort Dodge in 1930. The organization was now known as the Lutheran Home Finding Society. By the early 1950’s the home had cared for more than 1,000 children. Lutheran congregations took direct responsibility for the physical care and spiritual nurture of these children.

Changing needs, changing ministry

In the 1960’s, society was changing dramatically. Children awaiting placement with a permanent family were being cared for in foster homes, so the Children’s Home was no longer needed. The ministry remained focused on reaching out to those in need. Some unmarried women who became pregnant were not accepted in their home communities and needed a place to stay until their babies were born. The Children’s Home became a home for unwed mothers.

By the 1970’s, society had become more accepting of single mothers. This change, along with the legalization and availability of abortions, meant there was no longer a pressing need for the maternity home. As society moved into the 1970’s, the need for counseling with a spiritual dynamic became apparent, and counseling services were organized. The board of directors changed the name of the organization to Lutheran Family Service of Iowa in 1974.

The next 27 years brought continued growth in ministry to families through professional Christ-centered counseling, residential services to adults with mental retardation and mental illness, pro-life ministries which served families experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and couples seeking to adopt children. Pastors, deaconesses and clinical social workers who joined the staff during these years brought a strong commitment to sharing the healing message of Christ with those in need of support and assistance. In 2003, the board of directors voted to transition the day-to-day management of the residential services programs to Genesis Development, another non-profit provider that is focused solely on these types of services. This move reflected a change in the residential services industry where service providers are becoming larger organizations with the ability to provide a greater number of services to consumers.

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