Bethel...the Church @ Franklin Mills

 

For most of us, Bethel’s history begins at Franklin Mills and the renovated movie theater that we first occupied in September of 2004. If you were to ask some long-time Bethel attendees, though, you might hear about Bethel’s very first meeting in 1917, or how Bethel bought its first building just as the market was crashing in 1929 (talk about bad timing!), or how Bethel outgrew the Oxford Avenue property (doing four Sunday services!).

Now, we are in the position to purchase our current property. In order to do so, there are several steps that we need to take. These steps involve paying off debt, making repairs, getting ready for taxes and saving money in order to get us ready to get a mortgage.  A successful "Be The Light" campaign will put us in a position to do just that.

The “Be The Light” Campaign is a necessary next step in our growth as a church. When God first let us occupy this property in September of 2004, He gave it to us at an incredibly low lease rate.

When we initially got the building, it was an unusable empty shell. However, God gave us the ability to put our money (almost $2 million) into renovating the building and making it what it is today. The lease we signed was a 10-year lease, and we’re now half-way through that agreement. We have the right to purchase this property at any point during the lease. As part of this lease, we’ve already negotiated a purchase price for the property that is below its current market value. Therefore, we have five years to buy this property, and “Be The Light” will get us ready to make this purchase.

Click here to see a brochure

WHAT WILL "BE THE LIGHT" ACCOMPLISH?

1. It will allow us to pay off all of our existing construction debt, about $420,000.
   
   
2. In order to get a mortgage, we will incur various expenses (Philadelphia transfer tax, title insurance, etc.) about $194,000.
   
   
3. There are various “big-ticket” expenses that we have not been able to pay for out of our existing budget (roof-top air conditioning units, etc.).
   These are costly and necessary expenditures to keep the building well cared for in order to get a mortgage. Such expenses total about $186,000.
4. We will renovate the room next to the Youth Center, turning it into a multi-purpose room. This will give us more room for our youth and will also, finally, give us much-needed meeting space for adults. This will cost about $200,000.
   
   
5. Perhaps the coolest part of “Be The Light” will be our ability to take 10% of everything we receive to bless those around the world. We’re praying that God gives us at least $100,000 to use worldwide to help the poor, hungry and suffering. How cool will it be to realize that God is allowing Bethel to be a blessing around the world, and not just locally? What a great next chapter for Bethel!!!
   

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Throughout the Campaign, check back here for important updates, reports, announcements, info about upcoming events and more...

• REACHING THE WORLD: Through the "compassion arm" of Be The Light (see #5 above) and our missions budget,  we have been able to donate over $4,000 to directly help the earthquake victims of Haiti through Samaritans Purse.
  
  
• $200,000 GOAL: a local Christian Foundation has offered to donate $50,000 to Be The Light if we raise $200,000 by Memorial Day.  We don't want to waste this opportunity and we need your help to make this a reality!!!
  
  
• STATEMENTS: quarterly statements were emailed or mailed via postal service this week. If you have committed to Be The Light but have not yet received a statement, please email Treasurer@fmchurch.net.
  
  
• IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: We are overwhelmed by the giving response of people at Bethel to "Be The Light" (thank you)! As a result, we'd like to offer these instructions to allow our Finance Department to properly and efficiently process your donations:
  
  
• when writing a check to "BE THE LIGHT," please write out a separate check from your general offering and make sure you write "BE THE LIGHT" on the memo line. 
  
  
• When giving cash to "BE THE LIGHT," please use a "BE THE LIGHT" envelope.
  
  
• See below for instructions when giving ONLINE.
  
  

GIVE ONLINE

To make a secure, online donation to "Be The Light," click here. MAKE SURE YOU WRITE "BE THE LIGHT" in the designation area.

MAKE A COMMITMENT

Click here if you'd like to complete & submit a Commitment Card online.

Or...

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

If you have any questions about "Be The Light," please submit it below. We will post the question with the answer on this site within 3 business days.

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