I.  Why -- Our Church and Congregational Characteristics. We can go about our lives giving little thought about our church family and how it has changed over the years. It has changed and here are some examples that speak to the need for our Mortgage to Ministry Capital Campaign:

• We have been a congregation for a long time (established 1872 at this location).
• We have an outstanding music program with our Chancel and Handbell Choirs.
• We have a strong Day Care program.
• While we are a loving and accepting church, we are not an evangelizing congregation.
• We have some, but not many, children and youth in Sunday School.
• Our church family is now an aging one. Without new members we will slowly die as a congregation.
• We have a passionate new Children/Youth Director, who is helping to revitalize our young people’s program. We have funded that position for this year with special funds.
• We have a history of being a generous congregation, time and resources.
• Looking to our future, we renovated our sanctuary and constructed a multipurpose facility. Our congregation and community are enjoying using those facilities.
• We incurred a substantial debt to build our current facilities (see below). This has required us to ask the congregation for second-mile giving to pay for both our ministries and our debt.
• Some things have changed since we incurred that debt:

o Because of extra costs, loan initiation fees, and  giving we had to refinance our initial 15 year mortgages to 20 year mortgages in 2002.

o Some of the generous givers to the initial Building campaign have left the church.

o A substantial number of contributing church family members have passed away during the last three years. And little interest has been shown in bequeathing funds to the church via estate planning, wills, or trusts.

o We have been able to make our mortgage payments on time, thanks to one significant gift each year.

o We were able to complete the Larry & Lois Hartog Kitchen using funds from the sale of the St. Luke church building and some generous donations. We do enjoy having that kitchen fully functioning.

Inflation continues to increase costs associated with staff, utilities, facility maintenance and repair, and general program costs.

        II. Why -- Our Debt. Let’s take a look at our indebtedness. Currently we have three mortgages. The data shown is as of April 11, 2007 (rounded up to the next dollar).

                                  ORIGINAL          CURRENT           MONTHLY PRINCIPAL             INTEREST
MORTGAGE          PRINCIPAL        PRINCIPAL              AND INTEREST                         RATE

  Number 1               $ 900,000            $ 610,371                       $ 4,850                                  5.42 %

  Number 2               $ 900,000            $ 630,928                       $ 5,107                                  5.70 %

  Number 3               $ 474,000            $ 401,987                       $ 3,278                                  5.90 %

        Totals              $2,274,000         $1,643,286                      $13,235                                   -----

The current mortgage payment is $13,235 per month for principal and interest. If we continue to pay at this schedule, we will be able to "burn the mortgages" in 2022

III.  What - Mortgage to Ministry – Finding God’s Way campaign. We are proposing a three (3) year, third-level of giving campaign that will target our need to increase our ministries to our children and youth and reduce some of the burden of our debt. We are not alone. Many churches, such as ours are dealing with the same issues/needs. We have asked the United Methodist Church West Ohio Conference for help and they have arranged for a consultant from RSI, Mike Allen, to assist us. Our objectives are:

To fund a full-time Children/Youth Director for one year (estimated at $60,000)

To pay down as much debt as we can and we are targeting Mortgage #3, which has the highest interest rate and the smallest remaining balance of our three mortgages. Yes, we will be applying the funds from this campaign directly to pay off the principal!

Tithe 10% of our campaign giving to the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church for their ministries and for our consultant expenses.

This giving is over and above current commitments to the General Fund and the Building Fund. We are at a cross roads in the life and future of this congregation and we need to do something while we can. As Pastor Merle puts it, "We need to let God do something in us!"

IV.  What -- A successful Mortgage to Ministry – Finding God’s Way campaign. We are looking for two highly favorable outcomes as a result of this campaign:

First, we will be reducing our debt. This outcome appeals to those of us who value thrift, prompt payment, and bottom-line stewardship. Taken in a Biblical context, these values are described in Romans 13:7-8 NIV: "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

Second, we will free up valuable resources that will fund children and youth ministries; affect peoples’ lives in Fairborn and beyond; and foster a sense of purpose and calling in each of us within the mission and vision of Fairborn St. Luke UMC. This outcome appeals to those of us seeking God’s will in our lives and who desire to apply their gifts, talents, and resources to change lives for Christ. As expressed in 2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him."

V.   Important Dates. Important milestone events in the campaign. Mark your calendar:

Sunday, April 29, 2007: Prayer Walks at FSLUMC

Sunday, May 13, 2007: Announce Advance Commitments

Sunday, May 20, 2007: All Church Event at FSLUMC (mark your calendar!)

Sunday, May 27, 2007: Commitment Sunday (First)

Sunday, June 3, 2007: Commitment Sunday (Second chance)

Sunday, June 10, 2007: Announcements Sunday

VI.   Newsletters. This Fact Sheet will be followed by a series of newsletters written to keep members of our church family informed on various aspects of the campaign. Stay tuned for more information about Mortgage to Ministries – Finding God’s Way, and how you can help.