A Chapter Closed: Mortgage Paid in Full

Just a few short weeks ago, we added a special portion to end of each of the three services, and the congregation followed the cross outside to the church patio to burn the church mortgage. Our pastors performed a heartfelt service, and there were more than a few tears of joy as this was a major milestone for the church.

I was able to be there for each of these services, and several people approached me afterward congratulating me on a job well done. I wanted to set the record straight.

It wasn’t me.

It was all of you.

And it was the three campaigns before us.

One thing you can all be very proud of. We received 99.4% of all the money that had been pledged to the Vision to Victory Capital Campaign. 99.4% compliance! That’s unheard of! Over the course of three years’ time, people’s situations change, and typically you don’t see that type of compliance to commitment. But we did. And we thank each and every one of you. Praise God! We also received a substantial amount in unpledged funds. That was a welcome addition to our efforts, and to those of you who contributed in this manner, we say thank you as well.

In a very real sense, with the mortgage burning, we “closed the books” on this campaign because the V2V campaign is now officially over. But I prefer to look at it just a bit differently. I think we just finished a chapter in this book.

St. Peter’s is a book with many chapters – from the first log cabin, to the first “little white chapel”. From the church bell (which we still use today), to the first brick and mortar structures. And on, and on, and on. And there are so many more chapters to be written.

I had people ask me, ”What’s next?” I honestly don’t know. But I think that our future is bright, and there is so much more for us on the horizon. And I know that through prayer and careful consideration, the Holy Spirit will lead the way to whatever comes next.

But for now, we celebrate, and praise his Holy Name.

In Christ

Mark and Sandy Timm