Champlin United Methodist celebrated the burning of our mortgage on October 5, 2014. As the mortgage approached a balloon or refinancing, the leadership realized that, if we could raise $4000, we would be eligible for a Metro West loan of $100,000. By the time we were ready to switch our loan to Metro West in June of 2013, we had brought the total down to $80,000 and were on a roll. A committee visited personally with just about everyone in the congregation, asking for a stretch gift to help us move from “Mortgage to Mission”. By May, 2014, we were down to $16,000 and started “Goin’ Fishin’ for Mortgage to Mission” where donors could catch various sized fish and be entered in a drawing for two gorgeous “fillet boards” donated by artist Steve Hampton. By the end of the summer, we paid off the entire loan while also paying all our bills on time and paying our apportionments early. God is good! Thank you, Metro West Builders! (or Minnesota United Methodist Builders)
Archive for success stories
The grant from Metro West Builders could not have come at a better time for Discovery. We are in the midst of implementing the Healthy Church Initiative recommendations and the resources provided enabled us to execute on two of the recommendations – opening up our gathering space to build on our tradition of hospitality and reconfiguring the nursery to provide a safe environment for our members’ and guests’ children. The transformation of the physical space has led to a transformation of the energy and spirit at Discovery. There is a new-found commitment to Discovery’s ministries and an excitement about our future. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Troy Noor, Lay Leader, Discovery United Methodist Church
Our low-interest loan from Metro West Builders provided Church of Peace with the ability to air condition our Family Life Center and large Narthex area for the first time. The loan also replaced our heating units with higher efficiency models that allow us to control the temperature in those areas hour by hour. Our month energy costs also decreased with the new units. Our community ministry has improved for the two Twin Cities choruses that call our church ‘home’. The air-conditioned Family Life Center blessed the singers last year as they were able to continue rehearsing throughout the hot summer months.
Pastor Gerry Vuchetich, United Methodist Church of Peace – Richfield
Participating in the Spring Call was great–we focused our energies on a project for our garden. We worked together to create advertising specific to us–we would not have received the wide exposure across our connection without the help of the MetroWest Builders.”
“The United Methodist Builders Call for Walker Community UMC is an example of United Methodist connectionalism.Walker is rebuilding to nurture spirituality, build caring community, and work courageously for peace with justice and mercy. Our wider United Methodist community is showing its continued support for our ministry during these challenging times.”
– Rev. Walter Lockhart, Walker Community UMC
Good Samaritan UMC replaced three sixty year old boilers that were failing with two new boilers funded with a loan from MetroWest. The increased efficiency will recover the cost of the project in about five years. Classrooms, fellowship hall and gym are now kept nice and warm.
– Bill Beardsley
“Through the resources and support of the Metro West Builders, the ministries and missions of Spirit River Community have reach out to the Isanti/Cambridge community in ways that are touching hearts and changing lives. The facility we were able to acquire makes it possible to hold free community dinners open to the public twice a month. We feed an average of 125 people at each meal. Every other Sunday evening we open the facility to the Children’s Safety Center who works with parents who have supervised visitation rights to see there children in a supervised and safe environment. Also, we now have a Recovery Ministry meeting weekly to help those struggling with addictions. These are some of the ways SRC is connecting and ministering to the needs of the community God has placed us in to be Christ to the world.”
– Rev. Jim Crecelius, Spirit River Community United Methodist Church
“The Metro West Fall Call grant was instrumental in helping Spirit of Hope install the new playground system used by the children of the church and of Sunshine Valley. Without this generous donation we would not have been able to break ground last fall on the new playground and we would still be using the out of date equipment. We feel so blessed to have received your assistance.”
– Sharon Gebell, Director Sunshine Valley Child Care
“Every month, Minnehaha UMC’s food ministries help more than 1,500 of our neighbors in need. The Builder’s grant helped us renovate our entry, bathrooms, hallways and heating system to better support our members and our missions. It has been a real blessing. Thank you.”
– Dean Ammerman, Chair Building Committee
Living Spirit UMC is a diverse inclusive congregation that welcomes all people. We go forth to build bridges of peace and reconciliation in our neighborhoods and the world. A special thank you to Metro West Builders for their support of Living Spirit as it was formed in 2010 through the merger of two neighboring congregations.