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For more information about the FWB Home Missions Department (now North American Ministries), please visit www.FWBNAM.com.

INVESTING IN CELF

by Dr. Richard Adams

To date, Free Will Baptists have invested $22.5 million to make 260 church loans. While earning a good rate of interest in this secure investment, Church Extension Loan Fund (CELF) supporters have helped FWB churches purchase property and build or expand their facilities.

While local bank certificates of deposit (CDs) earn 2.5% interest and charge penalties for early withdrawal, the CELF program gives 3.5-5% percent interest to investors with no penalty for early withdrawal.

Your investments are secured by 260 church loans on which CELF holds the first mortgage. In the unlikely event of a foreclosure, the other 259 loans secure your investment. We would have no problem selling the property for more than the amount owed against it.

While it’s true that CELF was set up to help mission churches, the abundance of investors has enabled the fund to make loans to established churches as well.  All churches are treated equally—keeping interest as low as possible while providing our investors with a good return. Any residual profits from the loans help the Home Missions Department build Free Will Baptist churches all over North America.

During the past 15 years, CELF has never increased the amount of interest charged on a loan, and hopefully never will. If an increase does occur, however, investors will receive a 30-day notice. Churches would have the option to refinance their loan elsewhere if the interest is too high. Again, rates are kept low for our churches, but also make the fund a worthwhile investment.

A loan from CELF enabled Roger Raper and his congregation to build a beautiful church in Ft. Collins, Colorado. With the help of friends from other states, Roger handled most of the construction himself.  Today, the church facility is worth more than a million dollars.

Home Missionary Rue Dell Smith received funds from CELF to construct a church in Monroe, Louisiana. The 10,000-square foot facility on 23 acres of land is located beside a busy highway. The property currently is valued at $1.5 million.

These loans would not be possible without your investments. Because of you, the Church Extension Loan Fund has helped 260 churches. You are investing in souls. You share a part in leading people to Jesus through the ministry of these congregations.

Other churches need financing. Will you help them? We need your investment. For a brochure please contact Richard Adams toll-free at (877) 767-7674 or email him at richard@nafwb.org.