A New Home for Creekstone Church
A 2021 Lifeway Research study found that 4,500 evangelical churches permanently closed in 2019.
According to David Kinnaman, president of the prominent Christian research organization Barna Group, as many as 1 in 5 churches could permanently close due to shutdowns stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. As these churches close, what happens to their buildings and other assets can be critical to the gospel continuing to reach the community in which the church was located. If the church building is lost, the witness to the community may be diminished as suitable buildings for church services may no longer be available.
Traditionally, churches have given their facilities to their denominations or a local association. Many of these buildings have significant deferred maintenance and functional obsolescence that are passed on to other ministries without being addressed. The receiving ministry must address the deferred maintenance issues, which can limit its ability to reach its community. Often, these ministries do not have the expertise to address these issues.
Faced with this reality, the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation began its Jubilee Program.
The Foundation will assist qualified at-risk churches with refinancing their debt to free up needed cash flow. The additional cash flow can be used to provide outreach resources to reach the church’s community for Christ. The Foundation also offers stewardship consulting to identify giving trends and uncover critical ministry insights.
The Foundation will also consider accepting the deed to viable properties. After accepting the deed to a property, deferred maintenance issues and functional obsolescence in the building will be corrected. The Foundation then works with the local association and SBTC leaders to find a church plant or other ministry that can utilize the facilities to reach the community.
In early 2021, Maplewood Baptist Church in North Richland Hills decided to cease its ministry. The church deeded its assets to the Foundation, which developed a plan to renovate the facility. A significant water leak in the sanctuary was addressed, and the entire interior and exterior of the facilities were updated. In December of 2021, the Foundation closed on a sale of the property to Creekstone Church, which was leasing space in the area. With the purchase of the building, Creekstone Church obtained a permanent meeting space to expand its ministry to the local community. The funds generated by this sale will allow the Foundation to assist other churches in the same situation as Maplewood.
Kason Branch, Senior Pastor of Creekstone Church
According to Kason Branch, Senior Pastor of Creekstone Church, “Purchasing a building that’s already renovated has allowed us to transition quickly and smoothly while focusing our resources on ministry programs and services that bless people immediately. Our new facility has been a real game changer! We’re no longer restricted to the time restraints and other limitations in our temporary space. It’s given us a real sense of stability and also provides a stronger community presence. It’s sparked new interest in visiting our church, making our church a beacon of light for the community!”
Creekstone Church worshipping in their new facilities.
Maplewood Baptist Church now lives on through the ministry of Creekstone Church. By gifting their assets to the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation’s Jubilee Program, Maplewood Baptist Church allowed the Foundation to bless Creekstone Church with a building immediately ready for ministry.
For more information regarding the Foundation’s Jubilee program, call 682-347-4900.
Michael Rhine | SBTF Director of Church Lending