Family sees opportunity as a ‘sign’ to fundraise

A lot has changed for Lori Templet since she began selling Christmas signs with a picture of the nativity and a message that read “This House Believes.”

Now, Templet has already begun offering similar signs for Easter and she has become a full-fledged business in order to help other Christian groups raise funds.

“We had a lot of success with our Christmas signs,” Templet, who sold 350 such signs, said. “Because of that success, we turned our ministry into a licensed business. We want to design signs to help other Christian groups in fundraising.”

Fundraising was a big reason behind the signs in the first place. Templet and her family used money collected from the signs to make a substantial donation to Fr. Athanasius Kikoba, a priest and friend in Uganda. That donation will assist orphanages, the building of churches, and/or the digging of wells, depending on the most pressing needs. The Templets were also able to give a contribution to a Little Flower Girls’ Club, which emphasizes faith formation and a life of virtue for young girls. The group received the contribution because they helped to sell signs as a means of evangelization and charitable support of the work in Uganda.

Templet will use her business to design signs for Christmas and Easter, as well as a patriotic sign that will soon be in production. This House Believes, LLC provides churches, youth groups, and other Christian organizations with a customized kit of all the necessary materials and advertising for a successful campaign.  Groups can purchase the signs outright or on consignment for their own fundraising efforts.  Templet, and her husband Lance, desire to provide an opportunity for people to share their own faith while raising funds. 

"Connecting with people of faith and sharing our journey with the Lord was a phenomenal experience at Christmas,” Templet said. “It has been so encouraging and uplifting."  

Templet will also design specific signs to fit a groups needs.

“As a former youth minister, I know what it’s like to be part of a small Christian group scraping for money to accomplish its goals,” Templet said. “We  realized that these signs could benefit so many that it is worth the extra work to extend our help to others.”

The 24x18 Easter signs can be purchased now for $12 at For Heavens Sake, our local Christian book & gift store located on Hwy. 90 across from the Boutte Post Office. They can also be purchased directly from Templet by emailing her at exalthimnow@cox.net.

One of the areas groups, St. Anthony's Catholic Youth Ministry in Luling, will be selling signs during the next few weeks to raise money for their group activities.