Building Campaign: Why We are Moving Fast
For some our building campaign might feel a bit rushed. One of the reasons we are moving quickly in asking for pledges is because of the unique opportunity to buy a LDS meetinghouse. In the past older LDS buildings would go for sale after a larger meetinghouse had been constructed. Even then, it was notoriously difficult for a Christian church to buy one of these buildings. But in the last year something has changed. Suddenly more meetinghouses are coming up for sale, and, more significantly, they’re willing to sell them to Christian churches.
As we’ve talked with a listing agent who’s handled local meetinghouse sales, we’ve learned that the LDS church plans to sell off a number of buildings in the next two years. In fact, they just listed eight more last week, but none were close to our current location. There will likely be several more listed in West Jordan in the coming year. But we don’t know when or where buildings will go up for sale.
This is why we want to move fast. We want our finances in order so we can make an attractive offer if a meeting house comes for sale near us. It could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. An LDS meetinghouse would likely cost around $3.5 million (after the expected $500k-$1 million in renovations), while building a new church would cost around $8-$10 million. These are incredible deals.
This might feel a bit quick for some, but I hope this helps explain why we are moving so quickly with our pledge campaign. We’ll begin reaching out to external donors soon, but if we can show them our church is committed to this, it will be incredibly helpful.
Personally, I’ve been heartened by the little signs that God will work everything out. Finding out there’s a good chance a nearby meetinghouse will go up for sale was just the beginning. I’ve talked with a Christian real estate investor who bought an LDS ward for a church plant. He’s offered to guide us through the process and even put his name on the offer letter (his existing relationship with the LDS Church real estate division may be helpful). There are even a few people in the LDS Church who are looking into whether we can let the LDS Church know we are interested in buying a building close to us.
Overall, I’m encouraged. But we really do need to be committed as a church. I’m deeply thankful for all those who’ve already taken that step of faith and made a pledge. If you haven’t, please prayerfully consider what you could pledge, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Lastly, and most significantly, please pray for everything in this process. Pray that God would make abundantly clear what his will is and then provide everything needed for that.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon