A Crashing Economy

Jon Heiliger was in commercial real estate before being called as a pastor in the ELCA. When he arrived at Lord of Life, Bluffton, SC, a new mission start, they had already formed a building committee and were preparing to build their first unit. 

“We were worshipping in the gym at the elementary school,” Pastor Jon reflected. “Our reality was a leaky roof, noisy air handlers, and carpet with mold. Sometimes we would move the large plastic garbage cans to collect water,” he shared. “Then, we were accidently locked out of the gym on Palm Sunday…to say we were ready for our own place was an understatement.” 

They were also ready to be a consistent presence in the community, not simply a sign that goes out on Sunday morning. 

Lord of Life worked with the ELCA Mission Investment Fund to finance their first unit. After getting the design they realized that working with a straight commercial lender was problematic. “They aren’t used to working with churches,” Pastor Jon shared. “They are heavily slanted toward a business model. We can make revenue projections but not guarantees.”

Pastor Jon had worked with MIF through Spirit of Joy in Weddington, NC. “The resources provided and the added touch of knowing the funds came from other people helping and investing to grow the church made it an easy choice,” he shared. 

When Lord of Life was ready to build their final sanctuary, they went back to MIF. “MIF understands congregations, and this was 2008 and 2009. Again, by then, the congregation had a sense of true partnership and relationship with MIF. They knew our story - what we had hoped to do and what we were able to do.” When Lord of Life built their final sanctuary, they were the only real estate development going on in the area. “We were a sign of hope that in the crashing economy, God was moving us forward. MIF made that possible.”