If the full campaign goal is not reached, we will first evaluate whether the remaining balance can be addressed using available cash reserves or other internal resources. If necessary, the church would then refinance or borrow for any remaining amount.

Our goal with this campaign is to reduce as much debt as possible so that more of our resources can be directed toward ministry in the years ahead.

Funds given through this campaign will first be used to retire our remaining debt—beginning with the higher-interest Bethesda loan and then the South Campus loan.

If gifts exceed the amount needed to eliminate that debt, the remaining funds will primarily be directed to Bethlehem’s Capital Expense Fund. This fund is used for major facility projects and improvements—generally items costing more than $5,000 and expected to serve the church for many years—such as roofs, parking lots, elevators, and Sanctuary updates.

Maintaining a healthy capital fund allows us to care well for the buildings God has entrusted to us without taking on new debt when significant repairs or improvements arise. We are currently projecting more than $1 million in capital projects over the next three years.

Pastor Kenny Stokes has shared his intention to retire from his role as Pastor for Preaching & Vision by June 30, 2028. At this time, no other pastors have announced a planned retirement.

Given the ages of our pastoral team, it is reasonable to anticipate that other pastors may retire from their full-time roles in the years that follow. The elders are prayerfully planning for these transitions to ensure continuity in leadership and ministry, including overlap where appropriate, so that the church can continue to thrive and serve faithfully during any leadership changes.

Once our mortgage is fully retired, the financial resources currently used for debt service will be redirected to strengthen the ministry and mission of Bethlehem. These funds will primarily be used to:

1. Prepare for future pastoral transitions—ensuring smooth leadership changes and continuity in ministry.
2. Support our current ministries—investing in the programs, outreach, and facilities that help us live out our values and serve our congregation and community.

This shift will give the church greater flexibility to advance our mission while continuing to steward resources faithfully.

The second mortgage ($500K of the debt) is from our purchase of the Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church properties and is largely attributed to the two-year delay in the project with ongoing costs and higher renovation costs.

Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, our longtime neighbor, listed their 8th Street property for sale in June of 2022. Listed were three adjacent lots that include a sanctuary building and a 15-unit residential apartment building. In the Spring of 2023, the council of elders decided to prayerfully explore the possibility of purchasing Bethesda’s property, wondering if the Lord might be pleased for us to house local outreach ministries in the sanctuary building and rent the apartment units to students of Bethlehem College and Seminary.

After a season of prayer and due diligence, the elders recommended to the congregation that we move forward in acquiring the property. The congregation approved the purchase on August 13, 2023, and we closed on the sale on January 8, 2024.

The first of our two mortgages—$1.2 million of the anticipated ending debt—represents our share of the multi-campus debt, largely attributed to the building project that became our South Campus. We undertook this project together as one church, and when we later chose to become three separate congregations, it was agreed that each church would pay an equal share of the debt (Bethlehem Baptist Church, South Cities Church, The North Church).

While not the typical church planting model, this mortgage should be seen as an investment in church planting and the long-term growth of God’s kingdom. This loan is scheduled to mature in December 2026, at which time we will pay the remaining balance or refinance at a higher interest rate if needed.