The oldest church in Lehigh Acres is in financial trouble and a spokeswoman for the church said the board of elders and the congregation have decided they have to put the church and the property up for sale.
“We can’t continue like this with the finances the way they are,” said Ada Thompson, the moderator of the First Community Congregational Church at 200 Leeland Heights Blvd.
Thompson said the church has a clear mortgage with no liens against it but that normal expenses and other unexpected expenses like problems with air conditioning and an unexpected problem with the septic system plus other bills have put them in a position of spending more money than the church is taking in.
Thompson said the financial problems can’t be taken lightly and that every member of the church was given all the information concerning the money problems.
We met after a church service last month and discussed the financial problems. All the facts were presented. We addressed questions from the congregation. The board of elders was also there and there was a good discussion of what to do.
The final decision, however, was to put the church up for sale. That broke the heart of many in the congregation, Thompson said. Of those, the pastor, Deb Frysinger said she is hurt but wants the congregation to know that the people of the congregation are the church.
“We love this building and we don’t want to leave it and we are not going to disband, but the people are the true church and we can continue somewhere else,” Frysinger said.
Thompson said the church and its property is worth around $450,000 or more. If it were to become commercial property, she said she has been told it would be much more, even double the amount that she quoted.
Pastor Deb Frysinger said that if the congregation and the elders have to leave the church, they will look for something to rent.
“Our ministry won’t stop. We will continue to do the Lord’s work,” she said.
Have you advertized your space to rent to another church? This is happening in California where two churches share space.
Have you appealed to the local banks to give you a loan? The loan payment may be managable, but the lump sum not.
Have you considered a fund raiser to keep the church going? Do any of your parishioners have talents that they can offer in exchange of donations? Like a plumber who might be willing to do a plumbing job and take a donation instead. You could advertize your services: “Saturday for the Church”, so on Saturday, you “sell” your talents. Do it for a month.
Have you put your financial needs to prayer?