Meeting the needs of a growing congregation

Situated north of San Antonio, Texas, with a growing population of over 90,000, New Braunfels has been the home of Faith United Church of Christ since the congregation’s founding in 1966. The congregation has been a community staple in the region since its founding through its community outreach, potlucks and celebrations, youth programming, and a commitment to social justice at home and abroad.

As the years go on and the population that Faith UCC serves continues to grow, significant facility improvements and remodels have become essential. Faith UCC’s facility improvement needs include:

  • New metal roof installation
  • Siding repairs
  • Interior painting
  • Gutter replacements
  • New sanctuary flooring and accessible seating

The Calling

Faith UCC is a church rooted in community service dating back to its founding. From backing the local Spirit of Sharing food bank to distributing nearly $70,000 project loans through Family Promise in 85 countries across the globe, the congregation’s outreach knows no boundaries. To maintain the services provided and the strong community fostered by the church, Faith UCC had an urgency to ensure its facilities are on-par with modern infrastructure and accessibility standards. 

Faith UCC is facing total project costs of $220,000 for the needed improvements. Financing a project of this cost is no simple task, but relatively new pastor Rev. Dr. Carla Cheatham was up to the task and put a sound finance plan in place.

The congregation is committed its own funds towards the upgrades raised through a Capital and General Fund Campaign, which left a need for borrowing the remainder to make this project a reality.

God Math

“Walking alongside this congregation in ministry, I have witnessed firsthand their commitment to our values and how they live out those values in a way that is engaging their community and growing their congregation. The improvements they seek will fortify their efforts by ensuring a facility that is both warm and secure for years to come.”

– Rev. Philip T. Hodson, former South Central Conference Minister

This is where Cornerstone Fund’s transformative financial solutions come into play, with the ability to close the gap through utilizing its Creating Care financing option that offers Faith UCC an affordable three-year construction loan term with a reduced interest rate. 

Aging and inaccessible facilities impedes Faith UCC’s core mission of being an all-welcoming congregation committed to social action. Fortunately, Faith UCC is moving forward with plans to physically revamp itself to be a congregation that can continue to thrive and serve the community well into the 21st century.