by Laurie Oswald Robinson, Lancaster Mennonite Conference
Going on sabbatical during a multimillion-dollar ministry expansion requires Leonard Dow, pastor of Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia, a Franconia Conference Partner in Mission, to practice the bold faith that comes with knowing God is the ultimate financier.
Dow is lead pastor of the multi-racial congregation and board chair of the Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association. This joint faith community is seeking to purchase a $3.55 million, 40,000-square-foot commercial building across the street from its current location. The new building will use 10,000 square feet to house larger sanctuary and Sunday school space for the congregation and expand the development association ministries, including conflict resolution, job training and after-school activities. The remaining space will be leased to community service organizations.
To seal the deal, the congregation and association must have $115,000 by September 30 in order to provide a deposit and monies for a feasibility study/inspection. Final purchase date is February 28, 2009. Despite impending deadlines, Dow and other leaders discerned that he should go to Puerto Rico on the long-planned sabbatical. The leaders felt Dow could be absent from August through December as they trusted that God’s presence is moving them forward.
To date, the congregation has raised nearly $25,000 for the down payment, and an additional $25,000 is pledged from the members. Donations and pledges from the wider faith and secular communities are flowing in now, but about $30,000 to $40,000 is still needed to reach the balance of the September 30 payment.
“We’ve known from the start that realizing this vision would be about God’s greatness and not ours – and my sabbatical is perfectly timed for spiritually preparing me for what God has in mind for our future,” said Dow who guides the congregation at Oxford Circle with Associate Pastor Lynn Parks, and Peter Sensenig, interim associate pastor during Dow’s sabbatical.
“We believe this is a total God-thing similar to the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites. No one thought it was the strength of the children of Israel that got them through that. They knew it was God acting. There is no doubt in my mind that when all is said and done, no one will say, ‘Wow, look at what Leonard and Oxford Circle did.’ They will marvel at what God did through some very limited folks in Philadelphia.”
Limitation and commitment are both descriptive of the faith community in the Oxford Circle neighborhood. This is a place where many people work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Approximately one-third of the church family supports their families through the help of public assistance. However, this has not stopped the congregation from believing that God has chosen them to help transform their community into a place where God’s riches reign.
“Our congregation is very enthusiastic about what God is doing, and we’re totally committed to knowing God has called us to stay in this neighborhood,” Parks said. “We are fully invested in establishing God’s reign here in Oxford Circle. But that commitment is fueled by also relying on the generosity and expertise of countless others.”
The time, talent and treasure of the local and wider community – Mennonites and others – are bringing the faith community closer to the purchase. A team is working to raise the needed funds. Many individuals are also offering pro bono services in legal and building-code matters. Individuals and groups from Lancaster and Franconia conferences, as well as other people and churches from across Mennonite Church USA, have come forth.
Most surprising has been the show of support from the secular arena, most significantly the former owner of the building, the Fire, Police and Medical Association. This group lowered its original asking price from $4.25 million to the $3.55 million.
“As I spoke to the association, I felt it nearly impossible to explain our vision to these no-nonsense guys, for whom faith seems to be for the weak,” Dow said. “But as I talked to the guys sitting with arms folded across their bellies, I shared my heart.
“I told them that what we want is no different from what they had sought for many years — building a better community. I said that even though we go about it differently, we wanted the same things as they did — a neighborhood that is peaceful, safe, productive and hopeful for its young people – a neighborhood of ‘shalom.’”
Dow said when he left he felt it was over the top. However, it was exactly what God needed to move heart-strings in these men. “The building representative told me that when he talked to the men after I spoke, they got real ‘soft,’” Dow said. “They started blabbering on about how wonderful it would be to have the legacy of the fire and police continue. He felt it was some kind of freak change of attitude on their part. But I call it a move of the Holy Spirit.”
The church and development association will use 10,000 of the 40,000 square feet to reach out with Christ’s healing, hope and reconciliation within the lower northeast side of Philadelphia. The development association will expand its community services and ministries, including conflict resolution for families and groups, training in job skills and small business development and positive after-school activities.
The congregation will use its portion of square feet to house their new the church home. The growing congregation – of about 100 Sunday morning attendees — is bursting at the seams at its current location. It is currently worshiping in a sanctuary of 1,100 square feet and using the remaining 2,200 square feet for Sunday school rooms and the development association.
Leasing the remaining 30,000 square feet (four parties are currently renting and an additional party will be sought) will supply the monthly mortgage. That will enable the church and development association to pay off the principal of the building within fifteen years. The total cost – including $600,000 needed to renovate sanctuary space– is $4.25 million. When the principal is paid off, rental income from tenants will further expand ministry outreach.
Open house will be next Saturday, November 1 from 5-7:30 pm at 5600 Langdon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124. It will take place at the new property the congregation is in the process of purchasing. Please join us to see the space, architectural plans, and hear what God is doing in our community! Please RSVP to the contact info listed below.
For more information please contact Anita Lyndaker-Studer.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.