The Business of Growing
The Schmidt Family Supports Shovel-Ready Projects at MLC
By Sarah Gieseke DMLC ’82
“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
This passage keeps Christians humble. Take farmers. They do the physical labor, but ultimately, they know the Lord creates the yield. Business people understand this too. Hard work can only lay the foundation.
Dan and Lonnie Schmidt, with their growing family, hope to use the blessings God has
given them to encourage future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers.
Faithful Stewards: Dan and Lonnie Schmidt, like most business owners, have worked hard since they started their real estate development business in 1988. But they make it very clear that it is the Lord who has blessed their business and made it grow.
After three and a half decades of challenges, growth, and blessings, the couple is stepping into a different role and looking for new ways to steward what God has given them. To quote Lonnie, “We have been greatly blessed with success and therefore have the opportunity to make donations.” But they wondered where and how. Their Christian giving counselor, Rev. Jerry Ewings NWC ’79, WLS ’85, was a catalyst in helping the Schmidts find that Martin Luther College was the right fit.
Why MLC: MLC wasn’t a natural choice. Unlike many donors, the Schmidts have no relatives in the ministry. Their children didn’t train to be pastors or teachers. But Dan and Lonnie value the impact of Christian education. They are members at St. Paul-Lake Mills, Wisconsin. All five of their children attended Lutheran grade school and Lakeside LHS.
Now it’s generational, with two of their grandchildren at Lakeside and eight younger ones coming up. They recognize the need to encourage more pastors, teachers, and staff ministers and to have an up-to-date, attractive college campus where students can thrive.
Shovel-Ready Projects: Through their business, Dan and Lonnie have learned that project planning is where the real work happens. They were drawn to campus improvements for which MLC had already laid out designs, gathered costs, gotten approvals, and looked at contingencies. Those “shovel-ready” projects they chose put money to work before costs increased and their donation’s value diminished. Thanks to that focus, future projects are moving forward now.
- As Phase 1 of the Chapel of the Christ Rehearsal Hall (pictured) was being finished, the Schmidts gave the gift that enabled MLC to move seamlessly forward with Phase 2: the wall construction, electrical wiring, and furnishings. The project will continue through the 2024-25 school year.
- MLC’s new Summit Training Hall (pictured) is now outfitted with state-of-the-art weight room equipment for our athletes and PE students. This gift from the Schmidts will also aid in recruiting future Knights, as our facility now stands toe to toe with other collegiate training facilities.
- Another Schmidt gift is allowing us to install our High Ropes Adventure Course, outdoor equipment for an adventure education focus in our PE major. MLC students are studying how experiential learning can foster trust and team building as well as physical education. MLC can also host community, corporate, and school groups for professional growth and team building on both the Low and High Ropes Adventure Course.
- And finally, another Schmidt gift was designated to MLC’s scholarship fund. Like all of us, Dan and Lonnie want our MLC graduates to begin their public ministry with as little debt as possible. Their gift provides an immediate boost to students with financial need.
A Philosophy: There are many reasons to support the mission of MLC. Lonnie sums up their simple but profound giving philosophy: “We hope our gifts help bring improvements to MLC that will benefit current and future students.”
God urges all of his believers to take the opportunity to give in whatever ways he puts on their hearts.
