| Sitting on a
pasture in Bluffdale, a red sign with white lettering reads, "Future
home of Midvalley Bible Church, currently meeting at the Jenkins-Soffe
Chapel, 1007 West 10600 South." With explosive growth in the area,
the pastor receives phone calls every week asking when the new church will
be ready. The congregation had expected to break ground this spring and
complete their building by Christmas, but they are still in need of a
construction loan and permanent financing.
Midvalley Bible Church has been a presence in the Salt Lake Valley
since 1953, when John Hornok moved his family here and started holding
Sunday services in the Murray Fire Hall. The following year the assembly
incorporated as Murray Bible Church and eventually bought a former
Lutheran church at 171 East 4800 South. They also joined IFCA
International, which is a fellowship, not a denomination; each member
church operates independently as to governance and finances.
After twenty-one years, Pastor John’s oldest son Ken graduated from
Dallas Theological Seminary and became the new and current pastor. When
the congregation outgrew the Murray building, they relocated to a former
LDS chapel in Midvale and changed their name to Midvalley Bible Church.
At this location the church grew to capacity several times, but
hampered by limited seating and parking, and with restrooms inaccessible
to people with disabilities, they decided to move again. In the fall of
2000, they sold their building and acquired nine acres of land on 2700
West at 13800 South. Since then they have met in rented facilities while
drawing up building plans and investigating finance options. Much of their
equipment, including a Rogers organ and grand piano, now sit in storage.
Some of the church’s ministries have been on hold as well. For
example, in
Midvale they |
|
operated a "Clothes Closet" which was free to those
in need, showed Christian movies at no charge, held an "open
gym" for youth in the neighborhood, and allowed other groups, such as
Al Anon to use their building every week. The new facility in Bluffdale
will eventually include a full gymnasium, wedding rooms, picnic pavilion,
and outdoor recreation fields.
Despite the limitation of not having a permanent meeting place, the
church has kept its commitment to strong Bible teaching and discipleship.
Senior Pastor, Ken Hornok, and Pastor of Ministries, Ethan Davis, follow
the biblical principle of "equipping the saints for the work of
ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ" as Ephesians 4:12
states. Over the years MBC has produced thirty people who became lifelong
missionaries, serving God around the world, and twenty others who have
entered church vocational ministry. In addition it gives monthly financial
support to thirteen missionary families and four local ministries. Having
their own building will enable them to continue this legacy.
Last year they had a capital finance campaign to raise $450,000 by
2006. It was so successful that $673,000 was promised by the congregation,
and 43% of that has already been received.
These
monies would cover loan payments for the first 2-3 years. When they begin
holding services on location in Bluffdale, the congregation expects new
growth. This part of the Salt Lake Valley is projected to have a 667%
population increase over the next twenty years. Thus the people of MBC
feel confident they will be able to pay back a million dollar loan.
However, what seems obvious to the eye of faith is not so clear to
lenders. Numerous financial institutions have declined the church’s
application. An institution back east that specializes in church loans
told them, "We have never loaned money to a church in Utah." One
local bank said they do not loan money to
non-profits. |
|
The goal of having their own building and moving in by Christmas is
beginning to look doubtful. "We could be desperate," one member
of the finance committee admitted, "but we’re not depressed. The
Lord has brought us all this way, and He won’t drop us now."
Indeed, the founding pastor tells how he needed several thousand
dollars to make a payment at the Murray location. A rancher in Pierre,
South Dakota, told him to "go to the local bank and write a check on
my account for whatever you need." The Utah bank had never heard of
this being done, but that was how God provided. When they moved to
Midvale, the congregation secured a mortgage and paid it back seven years
early. They also took out a three-year-loan for the piano and organ, which
they paid back in half the time. Even with this commendable record, most
banks consider small churches a high risk for long-term loans.
Meantime MBC enjoys the generosity of the Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary on
South Jordan Parkway, where they rent the chapel on Sunday mornings, and
the New Pilgrim Baptist Church on Redwood Road, which they use for
children’s and youth ministry on Monday nights. Social activities are
held at other locations, and "Community Groups" meet in homes.
"Every opportunity from God requires a faith response," says
Pastor Ken. "We are dependent upon God to provide the resources in
His timing. He may do it through a bank, or He may use alternative
sources. Perhaps a wealthy individual or organization would be willing to
carry a loan for us or make a donation in return for a tax break."
Thus the church is making its need known to the public and waiting on
God to supply the resources. Tax deductible donations can be sent to
Midvalley Bible Church at P. O. Box 514, Midvale, Utah 84047.
Submitted by the Publications Committee of Midvalley
Bible Church. For more information call 801-969-4931. |
