Congregation Pays Off Plymouth Church’s Mortgage
Messiah Church in Plymouth paid off its $422,000 debt in a matter of months thanks to the generosity of its congregation.
A church’s foundation is its people. When self-proclaimed ‘old guy’ Phil Zietlow first came to Messiah Church 60 years ago, its foundation was much smaller than it is today. So was that part of Plymouth, out past County Road 101.
“Back then, there were no stop signs, or stop lights, or any of that,” Zietlow recalled. “It was really country.”
The church building was also a fraction of the size it is now. A space that now functions as a cafeteria was once the sanctuary. But after what Zietlow calls many leaps of faith, the church grew.
“That’s been a 60 year adventure,” he reflected.
But as the building and the church’s outreach expanded, so did the debt on the property. As head trustee, Zietlow noticed something — the church was paying over $90,000 to the bank each year. If it could pay that money off immediately, those funds could go into the church’s work in the community instead.
“I was like ‘well, if we have a capital campaign, I think, I really believe, the people in this church will get together, see the need, get behind it, and make it happen,'” Zietlow said.
He was right. The capital campaign launched to eliminate the debt, replace part of the roof and windows, and update some of the spaces.
This sanctuary at Messiah Church was one of several expansions over the last 60 years.
To pastor Tami Luckhardt’s delight, the congregation made it happen. Quickly and beyond the mortgage cost.
“We launched it in late May. And by the middle of August, this church had donated enough. More than $422,000,” Luckhardt said. “We completely paid off the mortgage.”
The church celebrated the campaign’s success in September with a mortgage burning ceremony in its parking lot.
“It felt so good to come together as one big family, and then to walk out in that parking lot on such a beautiful Sunday morning, and to just celebrate together,” Luckhardt said. “This really historic moment in the life of the church, and to know we aren’t paying off a debt anymore. But now, all the gifts we are given can be deployed into mission in the community.”
Back inside, the back of the sanctuary holds some of the building’s original stained glass and altar. It’s a reminder of the church’s small beginnings, and a reminder of all it can be.
“I’m reminded by folks in this congregation how faithful God has been,” Luckhardt said.
She said there are plenty of places the freed up funds can go. The church has an affordable child care center on site, along with international ministries in Kenya. Luckhardt also pointed to the numerous community partnerships they can now invest in.
The congregation looked on as church leaders burned the mortgage. (Photo courtesy Messiah Church).
