How did a custom motorcycle shop in Terre Haute, Ind., become the worship center for the Terre Haute Reformed Presbyterian Church? Ultimately it was because of the gracious providence of our God, for which we are truly thankful. Humanly speaking, it was in great part the result of the Building Loan and Grant Fund program administered by the RPCNA Trustees of Synod, for which we are truly thankful as well.

The Loan Program

The Building Loan and Grant Fund is a denominational program administered by the Trustees of Synod that enables congregations to borrow up to $150,000 for a period of up to 20 years. The rate of interest charged for these loans is slightly less than conventional loan rates, which helps the congregations receiving the loans. Another $200,000 can be borrowed at competitive rates through the General Mortgage Loan program. This allows for additional money to be borrowed through the denomination, although at a slightly higher interest rate. The Trustees of Synod try to engage in due diligence to make sure that the congregation is not overpaying for the property, that the congregation has the financial resources to repay the loan, and that there is a reasonable expectation that the building could be sold and the money recouped in case a congregation was forced to default on a loan. The goal is to be wise in helping congregations buy new property, construct a new building, or add more space to an existing building. Pastor Jared Olivetti (Lafayette, Ind., RPC) was speaking on behalf on many churches and especially new works when he said recently, “Without the building loans we received from Synod, we could not have our new building.” Many different congregations in all parts of our denomination have been helped by these programs.

Our History of Seeking a Place

In the three-and-a-half year history of the Terre Haute RPC, the motorcycle shop is our third location in the Terre Haute area. For the first six months, we had evening worship services. It was relatively easy to find a place to meet since quite a number of congregations in the area do not have evening services. We were able to meet in a small Lutheran church building that was perfect for our needs. The rent was reasonable and the church was very gracious to us. In an effort to become a more established congregation and to be seen as a “regular” church by the community, we felt we needed to move to morning worship. Our search for a place to meet during the morning proved to be more difficult than expected. After much searching, we were able to rent the auditorium side of an old Presbyterian church building. A prayer ministry owned the building and used the educational wing for its offices. Because of the economic downturn and lower giving, the prayer ministry began looking to sell the building, which they did in fall 2011. We were notified that by Feb. 2012 we would need to be out of the building.

All along we had been looking for new possible places of worship, but when the prayer ministry put the building up for sale we redoubled our efforts. We looked for places to rent, but found few possibilities. Some of the traditional places that new congregations find to rent (churches with no service on the Lord’s Day morning, hotel meeting rooms, etc.) were not available. Places available to rent that were equivalent to what we were paying in rent were unattractive or ill-suited to meet our needs and would likely hinder growth. Rental places that would be attractive to visitors were all significantly more expensive. Given the relatively low prices for purchasing a building in Terre Haute, buying actually seemed to be a cheaper option. While continuing to look for rental property, we also began to explore options for buying. Land prices are quite reasonable in Terre Haute, but putting up a new building was beyond the financial means of our group.

Through our real estate agent God led us to an 11 year-old metal building that would meet our needs. We made an offer which, although below the appraised value of the building, was accepted. We then went through the process of having the Terre Haute Commission, the Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery, and the Trustees of Synod approve the loan. We were thankful for how quickly each one of these groups acted to make the loan available to us. (For more information about the process and the forms that need to be completed, you can contact Jim McFarland, the denominational treasurer).

The Beauty of Presbyterianism

One of the great joys of presbyterianism is that in this process of seeking a place of ministry we were not alone. We were able to call upon the resources of the denomination to accomplish the purchase of the building. We were able to call upon Joe and Andy Moore, builders who are members of the Bloomington RPC, to look at several options and give us expert advice on what was needed and how much it would cost. When Joe Moore said, “This is the place,” we knew we had found a suitable place to pursue.

The Building Loan program enabled us, as a group without a long track record of giving, to proceed to purchase the building. An independent church would have had to scramble to find funding and a group or bank willing to give out a loan. Many congregations have likewise benefited from this program. How beautiful it is to see Presbyterianism in action in this way!

The Advantages to Having Our Own Place

A building will not bring about ministry in itself, but it can enhance the ministry that already exists. We trust that this is happening in Terre Haute. By having our own building located on a major north-south street in town, we have greater visibility and a sense of permanence that we did not have before. We are also able to decorate and improve the facilities, allowing us to create a more inviting atmosphere for visitors. The building can be used for activities throughout the week. It gives a focal point for outreach to our community and a target area for outreach. We are seeking to capitalize on these advantages.

Our Goal

Through its steering committee, the Terre Haute RPC has made the goal of repaying the loan early. Since the loan and utilities payments are actually slightly less than what we were paying in rent and utilities, we have purposefully paid more than the minimum amount required. Not only does it help us get out of debt sooner with less interest accrued overall, but it also frees up more money to be loaned out by the Trustees to other congregations. When congregations are slow or delinquent in paying off the loans, it can negatively impact the ability of the Trustees to make future loans. The money is only available to lend out to others if loan payments are made. Our desire is that, as God gives growth, we will be enabled to pay off the loan much sooner than required.

When Not to Build or Buy

The Trustees of Synod realize that buying or building is not the best solution in all situations. There may be times when it would be better to continue to rent or stay in the current situation. Some considerations that should be taken into account are:

1. Will this proposed change put undo financial strain on the congregation?
2. Are there ways to use the current facilities more efficiently so that no expansion is needed?
3. Is it time to consider daughtering a new congregation by sending some members out to form a new congregation?
4. Would the money invested in the building be better spent in other areas of kingdom activity?

Although buying might not be right for some congregations, the Terre Haute RPC felt that God was leading to the right building, at the right time, and at the right place.

William Roberts is founding pastor of the Terre Haute, Ind., RPC. A Trustees of Synod feature appears semiannually in the Witness.