Arleen Bohlmann- Central Region

Sharing a Big Heart for Little Ones

You don't have to talk long with

 Arleen Bohlmann before the conversation

 turns to children.

"I've felt such blessings," 

says this former kindergarten teacher 

who continues to share her big heart for little ones

 as coordinator for LCEF's Young Investors 

(Y.I.) Club at Bethany Lutheran Church.

 http://www.bethanylcw.org/, Waynesboro, Virginia.

Those blessings include the two preschools

 Arleen helped start in mission congregations

 where her husband the Rev. Gordon Bohlmann,

 was called to serve.

At Park View Lutheran Church, Arleen, too, 

felt called "to step out in faith" 

and help open a Chrisitan preschool

 in the mid-1970's in that growing community

 near Davenport, Iowa. 

The early childhood ministry "exploded"

 and continues to thrive.

About 10 years later, the Bohlmanns 

moved to Springfield, Ohio, 

to "start a church from scratch."

Arleen again lent a hand at
 Risen Christ Lutheran Church

 and began a preschool- a ministry 

that has since expanded into a Christian day school.

After Pastor Bohlmann retired in 2003,

 he and Arleen- 

who served 28 years in teaching-

worked for congregations on three projects 

with LCEF's laborers for Christ. 

She enjoyed the camaraderie, 

"building relationships, working side by side 

and sharing the Lord over the hammers and nails."

The couple has also worked to "build up" young pastors 
and their wives with the Synod's Post- Seminary 
Applied Learning and Support (PALS) program.
 "It's a safe environment where they can talk 
about whatever they need to,"Arleen said. 
"We prayed with them and encouraged them."

 It was a wonderful mentoring experience.

About eight years ago the Bohlmanns 
moved to Waynesboro. 

That's where their three grandchildren
 were growing up and their son, Timothy, 

serves as pastor at Bethany Lutheran. 

The Bohlmanns also have a daughter. 
Rachel is an American history librarian 
at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

Arleen needed no coaxing to take the reins of the

LCEF stewardship program for the children at Bethany.

"When children learn the godly disciplines 
of stewardship that benefits them for life," said Arleen. 

She appreciates that Y.I. Club helps youngsters

 learn the value of sharing, saving and spending money.

As Longtime LCEF investors, 
the Bohlmanns have seen first hand 
how investments strengthen ministries- 

at mission congregations as well as older churches

 tackling new construction. 

Founded in 1772, Bethany Lutheran is building

 a new church and preschool, 

working toward an LCEF loan partnership 

with the help of 
LCEF District Vice President Stephan Heemann.

"It will be even better for accommodating young children," 

said Arleen, who, to no one's surprise, 

sounds excited about the future early childhood center.

This article was first printed in 

interestime- the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, 2016, Issue 3.

Reprinted here with a few corrections.

Thank you to Arleen- who continues to serve in the Kingdom- 

wherever the Lord leads.