Church Approves Purchase of Refugee House
The church approved a proposal to purchase a house for refugee ministry last Sunday at an All-Church Meeting following worship. Approximately 75 people attended the meeting (including five online connections), and the purchase was approved by nearly all voting members present.
In the absence of Moderator Josh Bashore-Steury, who had a scheduling conflict, Board Chair Dave Hosler moderated the meeting, and Outreach and Service Team Chair John Byers presented the proposal. The house, which currently is being rented to the eight-member Sadat family that our congregation is sponsoring, is a four-bedroom rowhouse located in Lancaster City.
The church will pay $300,000 plus closing costs, with two thirds of the funds coming from the Outreach Endowment Fund and one third from the Herr Endowment for Refugee Resettlement. Dave noted that, were the house to be sold in the future, proceeds would be returned to these funds in the same proportion.
A team consisting of Dave Byers, John Byers, Joe Graeff, and Renea Snyder will manage the property. Dave will be the primary contact for maintenance issues. The property inspection indicated that roof replacement likely will be necessary in the next two to four years at an estimated cost of $8,000-$10,000, which would be drawn from the building reserve created over time from rental income.