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Financial and Building Condition Update
The work on our buildings goes on and we are
moving back into the sanctuary and Education Building and
will be able to occupy the second floor and sanctuary very
soon. All of this progress has a cost and here it is:
Approximately $2 million. Now, $1.3 of that 2 million is
the Praise Center and we have pledges to cover all but
approximately $400,000 of that $1.3 million. The remainder
of that nearly 2 million is from expenses related to putting
our buildings back together.
If you recall, we not only had flood damage
to the Fellowship Hall, Chapel and Education Building, but
we had significant roof damage to the Sanctuary, Education
Building and Malloy Center that required new roofs to be
installed. The only exterior work that is remaining is the
repairs to the Bell Tower. The biggest problem in all of
this is our wind storm insurance company has been reluctant
to pay our claim. We’ve been very diligent in pursuing this
claim and we have the best people in the business helping us
out. If we can get that claim paid, it will put a big bite
into that nearly two million dollar debt.
Our Trustees, led by Susan Pennington, and
the Trustees Insurance Sub-Committee, led by Darby Byrd,
have been working very hard to lead us through all of these
difficulties. The Building Committee, chaired by Terri
Estes, will begin meeting soon to discuss changes and
alterations to the fellowship hall, sanctuary and education
building. As they have information to report, it will be
published.
And there is a way for you to help. Check
your pledge to the Praise Center Building Campaign,
“Spiritual Journey”. If you’ve fallen behind, please make
every effort to catch up. If you need to extend the pledge
out further, please call Norma Bergeron and make those
arrangements. And if you are able to give more to help with
the debt, please call Norma and make those arrangements
too!
The bottom line is this: We are nearly 2
million in debt, which is very manageable for this church.
It will be awhile before we are able to occupy the
fellowship hall and first floor of the education building,
but we will be back in the sanctuary and second floor of the
education building very soon, and we are already using the
chapel and Malloy Center.
I read recently that faithfulness does not
stave off difficulties and hard times, but it will see you
through them. God has been faithful to us through all of
this and I know we will remain faithful as well. Our best
days are in front of us.
Blessings,
Rev. Tom Stephenson |
