Jay Hudson, President & CEO
John Shannahan, Chair, Board of Directors Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Inc.
First Presbyterian Church in Easton, Pennsylvania, underwent a major revitalization and transformation in 2007.
“We have a wealth of history, but a third of our members are new,” said the Reverend Charles Holm, pastor. “One of the challenges of determining a future course for a church established in 1811 is to make decisions about what you will hold onto and what you will discard to remain vital and vibrant.”
Historic First Presbyterian Church in Easton, Pa., underwent renovations in 2007. In the end, the 1872 façade of the sanctuary was preserved, while the interior was revamped completely.
NEW encompassed the work —
- Nurturing through Christ’s love people of all ages
- Embracing the surrounding suburban communities
- Witnessing an ever-deepening devotion to God through outreach and mission.
The revitalization was a team effort. The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Church Financial Campaign Service and the Presbyterian Foundation were involved. The congregation also received a General Assembly Mission Program Grant and strong support from Lehigh Presbytery and the Synod of the Trinity.
PILP Highlights
Some commercial lenders may offer low rates and a few waive the fees, but none gives back money. The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program (PILP) is different! Churches who financed their projects through PILP received rebate checks totaling $194,330 for 2007. The program’s borrowers can earn rebates of the interest they pay when their members and other Presbyterian churches, individuals and governing bodies invest in support of their loan.
Through PILP, Project Vida — an El Paso mission supported by the churches of Tres Rios Presbytery and various community partners — was able to purchase a building to house Project Vida Heath Center.  The center is now a full-service medical complex that serves the immigrant community. Their new location is but one of several projects developed by Project Vida. Others include transitional living for homeless families with children, a child development center and a soon-to-arrive dental facility and pharmacy.
With the help of Presbyterian investors, the Korean Presbyterian Church of Boston, Mass., will soon break ground on a new, 8,000-square-foot education and cultural community center. With a congregation of around 350 and weekly attendance of nearly 600, this congregation is a valuable link between new immigrants and established citizens of the area whose ancestors came at various times from around the world.
Beaver-Butler Presbytery made it possible for a newly organized congregation to purchase a worship facility that will allow them to expand their ministry ahead of schedule. Fountain Park Presbyterian Church in Cranberry Township, Pa., borrowed funds through PILP to purchase and renovate an existing church formerly owned by an Episcopal congregation.
2007 was an in-between year for Crosswinds Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, Ariz. In 2006, the congregation worshiped for the final time in their old space; in 2008, they will begin construction on their new facility. The new space, possible through a loan by PILP, will be designed to maximize the congregation’s love for and creative use of music, as well as to enhance community outreach.
Renovated interior room at First Presbyterian Church in Easton.
The two-centuries-old First Presbyterian Church in Easton, Pa., experienced a major revitalization with the assistance of PILP. The 1872 façade of the sanctuary was preserved, while the interior was revamped completely. NEW encompassed the work — Nurturing through Christ’s love people of all; Embracing the surrounding suburban communities from our downtown location and Witnessing an ever-deepening devotion to God through outreach and mission with the church’s urban neighbors.
With the financial help of Presbyterian investors through PILP, Meadowlake Presbyterian Church of Huntersville, N.C. (established 1995), was able to refinance the loan for their multi-purpose facility to serve the explosive growth of the Lake Norman community surrounding them. The congregation serves individuals of every age, but focuses especially on families. The multi-resource facility helps to support a preschool that benefits nearly 60 children from the area community. Acting on the belief that a church should be a valuable asset to the community around them, the congregation also makes its facility available to groups such as the Scouts and Narcotics Anonymous. |
