DO YOU RIDE A MOTORCYCLE…or know someone who does?
Our sister church, Northwood Baptist, offer one of the best motorcycle safety classes around. They are offering it 6 times this year. Our friend, Timmy Glover, is one of the instructors. He has long been one of the top Motorcycle Cops in the state and nation. The goal of these classes is not to teach you how to ride a motorcycle. It is to teach you how not to crash…crash avoidance! Now that is a class worth taking. For all or our biker members and friends I would say this: I took this course and will gladly take it again. It is that good and helpful. If we want to go together as a group that could be fun. Here are the 2016 dates for training. You do have to register to attend. March 12, April 30, June 11, July 16, August 13 and September 17. Let me know at tombrown41@comcast.net or see me before or after worship.
A GOOD QUESTION. I was asked a good question this past Sunday. Our 2016 Mission and Ministry Budget reflects $43,296 for debt retirement. The line item says this amount contributes to the debt incurred for building renovations. I can see where that could be confusing. The most recent renovations, completed in 2015, to the Worship Center/Restrooms/hallways and offices have been completely paid for. By God’s grace, your generosity and our fantastic finance team we were able to pay for these recent renovations completely. We did not borrow any money and we do not owe anything. Paid for, done, over…can I get an Amen?
The only debt we have as a church family is for the Transition House, sometimes referred to as the Parker House. Two renovations ago, Renovations 4 Generations (R4G), we did a major renovation in our preschool, built the atrium and renovated the children’s center. That was all set and ready to go when the old Sportsman building property became available. That was an old service station building that sat on the point where we currently park the bus. Exactly at that time, the brick home behind our church, owned by the Parkers, also became available. The need to purchase both of these was a no-brainer. We were so excited about the old Sportsman’s Shop that we raised all that money in cash! The Parker house, at the peak of the market, cost us around $315,000. We have paid off all the renovations to the church buildings, paid for the Sportsman’s Shop but had to finance the brick home that now houses the Transition House Ministry. We currently owe around $220,000 on that property. That is where the $43,296 in debt goes each year. All monies now given to R4G go toward the principal. I am glad to say that is the only debt we have and it is for a wonderful mission. To God be the glory. Thanks for asking.
See you Sunday, good Lord willing,
Pastor Tom
