Extravagant Giving

My dear and generous friends,
 
I cannot even begin to express my joy and gratitude for the amazing work you have done in such a short amount of time.
 
Back in 2003, you recognized the need for new and different space for St John, and you stepped out in faith to build the All Saints Wing, housing our gym, commercial kitchen, fellowship hall, youth rooms, and classroom space. (Its hard to imagine ministry at St John without the use of those spaces today!)
 
To make this dream happen, you pledged millions in gifts to support the project, and borrowed $1.75 million. Nine years later, in 2012, St John refinanced $1.1 million. When I came to be your pastor in 2015, just three years ago, we still owed over $825,000.
 
A year ago, our neighbor Mrs. Foster approached us about purchase her land. After many months of conversations and negotiations, Mrs. Foster rescinded the offer for now, choosing to keep her land and potentially move back in. So many of you gave generously in support of this effort, and then allowed your gifts to be redirected toward debt reduction.
 
A few months ago, when the trustees learned the rooftop furnace for the sanctuary had failed, you didn't flinch at the $61,000 replacement cost and many of you gave generously.
 
As of today, St John is debt free. The mortgage is paid. We are awaiting the final invoice on the furnace, but the money is in the bank, all because of YOU and your extravagant generosity.
 
From the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your faithfulness. Dave Ramsey is famous for quoting Proverbs 22:7 The borrower is slave to the lender. Friends, we are slaves no more! I am so excited to see what God has in store for us in this next chapter of life in being debt free.
 
Truly I tell you, I am humbled and honored to be your pastor and I thank God for each and every one of you. May God bless you and yours as richly as you have been a blessing.
 
Your fellow disciple,
​
Pastor Andy