For the 205 members of Melfield United Church of Christ in Haw River, North Carolina, ministry means continually growing an open heart for the community. Centered in a rural area that is home to many farmers and textile workers, the church has sponsored a successful food program that feeds 150 families. But to meet another big need - supporting working and single parent families with after-school programs - they required more space. After considering the project for several years, the church turned to the Cornerstone Fund when they decided to move forward.

To meet their goal of offering before- and after-school care and tutoring programs, Melfield UCC built a 2500 square foot educational building. Borrowing part of the funds for the $164,000 project from the Cornerstone Fund, the church conducted a capital campaign that will enable them to pay the mortgage over the next five years. Completed in the fall of 2003, the new building provides space for Sunday School, houses the clerk's office and accessible restrooms, and even offers shower facilities should the church be needed as an emergency shelter.

The pastor of Melfield UCC, The Rev. Dannie T. Williams, got to know the Cornerstone Fund when serving as an Associate Conference Minister. "The Cornerstone Fund is very helpful - not just with loans, but with the business decisions that go into making capital improvements," he says. "I'd strongly encourage any congregation to consider the Cornerstone Fund when building or renovating, or for investments. It's definitely the way to go."

When it comes to making capital improvements, churches often take a while to consider their options and make their plans. Built in 1835, historic First Congregational Church in Jefferson, Ohio had once hosted abolitionist John Brown in its pulpit. The oldest in Ohio's Western Reserve, the church was well-preserved - but their last major remodeling project was completed in 1910. For a long time, the 191-member congregation had talked about the need to update the building and improve accessibility.

So after years of planning, First Congregational finally decided to update their building with a $350,000 project that enhanced the sanctuary, added handicapped restrooms, and increased space by 2900 square feet. In addition to new classrooms and a pastor's office, the church added a ramped hallway to allow easier access to the sanctuary, and an elevator to ensure everyone could reach the building's lower level.

First Congregational met with the Cornerstone Fund almost a year before construction to determine how much they could afford, and to seek assistance through the entire building and borrowing process. By choosing a loan from the Cornerstone Fund, the church was able to begin construction immediately - and a successful capital campaign enabled the church to begin reducing its debt quickly.

Well over half of the Cornerstone Fund's clients borrow for projects that include an accessibility component. Could your church's ministry be strengthened with the addition of a handicapped restroom, an elevator, or better overall accessibility? To discuss your plans and options, call the Cornerstone Fund today.

One Tuesday night in December, the Mayflower Congregational Church (UCC) in Billings, Montana, decided that its $52,000 annual capital debt obligation had to be refinanced. The debt was almost one dollar to every three in their budget!

"We were clear that our ability to minister to ourselves, our neighbors, and to expand our OCWM and other mission giving needed both the moneyand the time that refinancing might allow," says the Rev. Jeffrey D. Barton, pastor. "On Wednesday night we learned that no regional commercial lender would dare to take the risk associated with a loan to a church."

On Thursday, church leaders called Michael Downs, Minister of Evangelism with the United Church Revolving Loan Fund with the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries (UCBHM). "His response-'Have you heard of the UCC Cornerstone Fund?'-set us on our way," says Rev. Barton. "Since receiving a loan in March, we have been able to make our facility safer and more welcoming, repay our UCBHM grant mortgage, and restructure our other debtservice to free up almost $30,000 annually for Mayflower's program and mission."

Of the 6,145 local churches in theUnited Church of Christ, over 4,000 were built prior to 1900 andover 95 percent were built prior to 1960. As a result, ministry and programs are often determined by limitations including functionally obsolete buildings, inadequate parking, and strugglewith excessive debt. The future growth of these congregationsdepends on overcoming these challenges. With your help, the Cornerstone Fund can offer assistance toour local churches that, in many cases, are finding it verydifficult to obtain financing from traditional loan sources.

By investing in the Cornerstone Fund, individuals, localchurches, associations and conferences will be expanding theirstewardship and mission outreach to include church renewal, whilereceiving a very competitive rate of return on their investment.When we revive our church buildings, we help to infuse energyinto congregations and reinforce ministries and missionexpressing God's love.

The Rev. Martin Siebert from First Congregational Church (UCC)in Big Timber, Montana, puts it this way: "We talk so much aboutgrowing and maturing as Christians, but talk doesn't help onesingle church family to install that desperately needed elevatorto make our churches accessible for all people. Heide and I putall of our eggs in one basket, with the Cornerstone Fund, and weknow they will not break because the Cornerstone Fund is marked and markets with and under the sign of the Spirit."