Evan Moilan - GSB Fundraising

09/16/2025

NovusWay Ministries Announces Selection of New Chief Executive Officer

Arden, NC — September 12, 2025

The Board of Trustees of NovusWay Ministries joyfully announces the selection of Lauri SoJourner as Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2025. NovusWay Ministries, encompassing Lutheridge, Lutherock, and Luther Springs, provides life-changing Christian camps, conferences, and retreats to thousands of participants annually.

SoJourner brings more than 18 years of executive leadership experience in outdoor ministry and nonprofit management. Most recently, she has served as Interim Executive Director of Camp W**d & Cerveny Conference Center in Florida, where she guided a $2 million organization through transition by restructuring operations, stabilizing finances, and strengthening donor engagement.

Previously, she served as Executive Director of Lake Logan Conference Center and Camp Henry, Inc., where she worked with a team to eliminate $600,000 in debt, increased revenue by 25%, expanded property use, and led the popular Cold Mountain Music Festival. She also led Gravatt Camp and Conference Center in South Carolina for nearly a decade, eliminating deficits, spearheading major capital projects, and increasing summer camp enrollments by 40%. In addition, she founded SoJourner Coaching and Consulting, where she has supported nonprofit boards, ministries, and leaders with governance, strategic planning, and financial stewardship.

Nationally, SoJourner is a recognized leader in Christian outdoor ministry. She has served on the board of the Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers, contributed to the Outdoor Ministry Connection, and taught nonprofit management through Compass Points and Columbia Theological Seminary. She has visited more than 60 camps and conference centers across the U.S., sharing wisdom, strengthening networks, and mentoring the next generation of ministry leaders.

“We are excited to welcome Lauri as the next CEO of NovusWay,” said Ranate Patrick, Board President and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “Her proven record of financial stewardship, innovative program development, collaborative approach, and Christ-centered leadership make her uniquely prepared to guide NovusWay into its next chapter of growth and impact.”

Lutherock, Lutheridge and NovusWay staff met Lauri on Wednesday, September 3rd, and Lauri visited with Luther Springs staff on the 10th. Van Van Horne, Executive Director for Lutheridge and Lutherock stated that “the staff had a chance to meet with Lauri and she is already connecting with staff, is very personable and seems to really listen to our concerns and ideas.” LaToya Ellis, NovusWay’s CFO emailed a letter of thanks to the Search committee, commenting that “Offering us the opportunity to meet Lauri not only honors our voices but also strengthens our shared sense of community and trust as we look to the future together.”

In addition to her professional experience, SoJourner has a personal connection to NovusWay. Her own faith was deepened through formative experiences at Lutheridge, including the Wild Women’s Weekend, where she first discerned her call to camp ministry nearly two decades ago.

“I am honored to serve this community that helped nurture my own faith,” SoJourner said. “I believe in the power of camp and retreat ministry to transform the church and the world, and I look forward to walking with you as we create new stories of God’s love through NovusWay’s ministry.”

SoJourner will succeed interim co-CEOs Mike Ward and Mitzie Schafer. The Board extends its deepest gratitude for Mike and Mitzie’s continued faithful service and leadership.

For more information about NovusWay Ministries and its programs, please visit www.novusway.org.
________________________________________
Media Contact:
Ranate Patrick
Board President
NovusWay Ministries
(770) 861-0409
[email protected]

09/11/2025

Always fun to chat with Super Dave Quinn, and even better when we are talking about strengthening communities. Here’s our conversation on how economic development offices and charities might make impact together.

Keywordseconomic development, nonprofits, community engagement, marketing strategies, podcast growth, resource allocation, strategic planning, community conn...

05/15/2025

This will be excellent! Spend your lunch here tomorrow!

TOMORROW: Flipping the Fundraising Coin - Fundraising Data/Donor Relations
Webinar with Jennie Wolf Smith, CFRE, of GSB
Thursday, May 15, 2025 • 12:30 p.m. CT

Fundraising specialists often say our work is part science, part art. In this webinar, we’ll look at two sides of the fundraising coin to grow charitable giving, Fundraising Data, and Donor Relations, and how these work together to strengthen your fundraising results.

Analyzing your giving data can reveal a great deal about gaps in giving, indicating where to direct your energies to improve donor response. The first half of this session will outline why tracking data matters in your fundraising effort, what data points to track, and how to apply that data to grow giving.

On the other side, relationships with donors are a key factor in growing giving to your organization. Drawing givers – and potential givers – closer to the impact of their gift will lead them to deeper engagement and investment in your mission. But how do you cultivate meaningful relationships with hundreds of givers? In the second half of this webinar, we will look at ways to build meaningful connections with current and potential supporters in ways that will elevate your charitable support.

Webinars are FREE to ALL ACF members, and we just need you to RSVP. Webinars are $75 for nonmembers. Not a member? Attend your first webinar free to experience ACF!

Learn more, meet Jennie, and RSVP: https://www.acfundraising.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=353

01/17/2025

Hey camp friends! The amazing partners at ACF - Association for Christian Fundraising just announced a deal for camp leaders at the conference (Feb 10-13 Myrtle Beach.

If you register with a group of 5 or more leaders from your networks (any camp in your network) registration will be 50% off! That’s a savings of $525-675 per person.

To register as a group email [email protected]

Faith & Fundraising is the premier conference for nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and leadership professionals who are guided by faith. It not only features the best in philanthropic thought leadership, but also invaluable opportunities to forge lifelong connections. Faith & Fundraising is present...

09/19/2024

This is an exciting opportunity to follow a great leader at an organization that is on the rise! Reach out to me if you are interested or want to recommend someone.

Open Searches:

07/22/2024

I’m honored to partner with ACF - Association for Christian Fundraising, an organization that’s been critical to my professional development, to find their next Executive Director. If you are interested or know someone who might be a good fit please let me know.

Fellow Members of ACF,In late June, the ACF board of directors announced that Laurie Brill, Executive Director for ACF, would be retiring in the coming months. The board of directors immediately began the work of preparing the search process for ACF’s next Executive Director, with the aggressive g...

06/26/2024

Feeling the pinch? Feeling the boom? Not sure why? The latest data on giving in the United States has just been released. I hope you will join me on the 15th for this free presentation and round table with development pros from around the country on what it means for your mission.

In this session, GSB Partner Evan Moilan, CFRE, will share the latest national data from GivingUSA, released at the end of June. Together, we will explore what it means for your organization's approach to the rest of 2024.