Committed to expanding Cornerstone, God's Kingdom

“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that I felt in moments like CIF embodied Christ in a meeting and helped us walk through. I am so grateful for that, and I see that lived out through CIF as a ministry, not just as a professional organization.”
Andy Kvernen, Senior Pastor, Cornerstone Community Church, Marshfield, Wisconsin

Church leaders stood on stage in a new chapel to dedicate their building expansion to God’s service, reaching and teaching the youth of central Wisconsin and recognizing the years of work it took them to get there.

“We believe that God has put it into our hearts to build this chapel, and we know that the Lord has guided our minds and strengthened our hands for the task,” said Erick Jennings, elder chairman of Cornerstone Community Church in Marshfield.

In ongoing prayer and in partnership with Christian Investors Financial (CIF), Cornerstone utilized all services offered by our nonprofit ministry as part of a seamless and integrated process. The church raised half the cost of the $2.4 million project, with the remainder funded by a CIF construction loan.

Jennings continued, “His Spirit has moved us to bring our gifts, that it might be built for the glory of God, and the salvation and blessing of all who enter in. We do so now with gratitude and joy.”

More space needed to reach youth for Christ

Youth and children’s ministry have been on a growth trajectory for years at Cornerstone, creating pinch points in their spaces. As the home of Marshfield Clinic, the community of 19,000 is a healthcare hub for the area.

Cornerstone ministers to a congregation of more than 600. The church’s new multi-use chapel with space for up to 175 people, has multi-colored motion lighting options, a stage with an LED wall and an audio-visual booth. A new classroom behind the booth adds children’s ministry space and new offices more than double their capacity.

The work completes a second addition and the first of a two-phase plan to expand and improve the building, which was purchased by the church on the city’s north side in 2002.

“It (the chapel) was designed first and foremost for our youth. We’ve got a student ministry that’s growing where kids invite their friends, and really, a lot of unchurched folks who come to Cornerstone,” said Senior Pastor Andy Kvernen.

As they prepped the chapel for the dedication service, Pastor of Youth and Family Matt Korth told Pat Sternitzky that there were about 90 kids in here for the first Wednesday service. “Yeah, we are going to make it even fuller,” responded Sternitzky, the communications team leader for Cornerstone’s capital campaign.

Seniors will also meet in the chapel as will some of the church’s small groups. Additionally, Cornerstone congregational meetings can happen here, a chaplains ministry banquet and other functions.

Cornerstone has a reputation for preaching the gospel without sugarcoating it, Sternitzky said. “In a society where there’s a lot of ‘feel good’ messages, people are hungry for truth. And Cornerstone is going to give you the truth.”

Laying the groundwork

CIF helped guide a Cornerstone capital campaign committee over a six-month period starting in 2023. The theme was “Blueprints – Building generations on a foundation of faith.”

Capital Campaign Committee Chair Bruce Naugle was beaming at the dedication service. “It was my joy to really shepherd a fantastic team of people who were willing to step up and come alongside to fulfill their roles,” said the retired Evangelical Free Church pastor

“The challenge went out to our people to pledge over the next three years, and God has been so gracious in helping us meet our goals,” he said. “And the (external) team that we brought alongside to help us with finances and building construction have just been a great team along the way.”

On stage at the dedication, Sternitzky spoke of an emotional but rewarding night waiting for campaign pledges to come in. He also explained the biblical principle of wide participation in giving and shared sacrifice which CIF teaches throughout the campaign process. “We all looked at it together and we shared in the commitment.”

A light in their community

Families are looking for answers, said Bill Berg, a member of the church who has served in youth leadership and other roles.

“They’re finding it in this building … we’ve just finished adding on and now we’re going to redo this (the original blue-walled building),” he said, “but we actually are probably going to outgrow this.” It’s due for remodeling in the next project phase.

“Bring the youth and you bring the parents, you bring the families.” Berg went on to explain how people are coming from nearby and more distant towns to hear the Word of God taught and enjoy fellowship.

Coming and then serving

John Franseen and his wife Amanda were searching for a church and found Cornerstone through his parents, but the children’s and youth ministries were what got them particularly excited, John explains. They both now serve as volunteers.

“We’ve needed more space,” he said. “I’ve felt that crunch personally doing kids’ ministry, shoving 26 third and fourth graders into a room that should hold about 10 can be a little iffy.”

Franseen said he was impressed by the capital campaign, and how people came together to support the church.

“To raise as much money as was raised, as you know, only God can do something like that. But He uses His people as workers, and they did a great job with the campaign.”

Pastor Andy thanked his generous congregation and CIF at the dedication. “They helped us consult. How are we going to pay for this? How’s that going to work? So, they helped us figure that out.”

True and praying partner

Ministry leaders often put themselves out there for big things, he explained. And as the church had moments of highs and lows, CIF was there to provide support. A credit analyst at CIF said she was praying for Cornerstone.

“The way she said it made me go, ‘That’s not just church speak, or just what you say as a Christian.’ She was actually praying for us and that meant a lot,” Pastor Andy said. “And that happened broadly throughout our experience with CIF.”

He said Cornerstone is a proud investor in CIF, knowing that the money is going back to support other churches. “When you put it all under one roof, yeah, it is really true to form, not just at a professional level but also at a relational level,” he said.

Sternitzky summed up the big picture here. “It’s good to see our church growing both with youth and adult ministries,” he said. “And as long as we have a place for people to come and learn about God, the Lord will take care of the rest.”

Pastor Andy’s advice to other churches that are expanding is to be patient and realize that the Lord’s work is sometimes a slow work, but it’s a good work.

Cornerstone Community Church was started in 1999 and is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America.

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