A Congregation Built on Resilience
Pastor Presny Ferdinand didn’t originally intend to call Orlando, Fla., home. The Maranatha Haitian Baptist Church was formed in New Orleans, La., in 1995, where it served the Caribbean community and was growing steadily in the early 2000s. It was the tragic displacement and despair caused by Hurricane Katrina that forced Pastor Presny and members of the Maranatha congregation to find a new home in 2005.
The Maranatha Haitian Baptist Church has been serving as the spiritual hub for the Caribbean community in the West Colonial, Pine Hills, and Kirkman areas in Florida since locating here nearly two decades ago. The congregation is growing with over 200 active members currently.
Beyond its active membership, Maranatha has established a notable presence in the region. Members of the congregation are regularly active in providing food and prescription medicine assistance, family counseling, translation services, and connecting residents with job opportunities.
The Calling
In February 2015, the church purchased its current building and had a monthly payment of over $2,000. Since that loan didn’t mature until 2035, it was in the interest of the church to consolidate the existing debt with its construction loan, which it took on for building renovations.
The necessary renovations include new electrical, painting, and concrete work on the property.
God Math
Maranatha Haitian Baptist Church launched a Capital Campaign in 2021, which has raised a good portion of the renovation costs. With a significant amount of funding still needed to make the renovations and favorable refinancing possible, the church knew it needed to turn elsewhere for financial solutions.
This is what led the church to apply for a Cornerstone loan to refinance its existing mortgage and to fund the proposed property renovations. The loan includes a flexible structure and favorable interest rate, empowering Maranatha to proceed with its construction needs in order to best serve the Orlando community.
Cornerstone Fund’s financial solutions set Maranatha on a clear path to fulfilling its mission. Furthermore, Cornerstone’s commitment to walking the whole journey with the church enabled them to deal with the bumps in the road they hit during the construction process and were able to guide them back on track.