NORTH LAKE ACHIEVES LEGACY GOAL
When Pastor Jeff Hosmer was called to North Lake in 2015, the mortgage balance was over $3 million. A prior campaign in 2018 had enabled North Lake to reduce the mortgage by a big chunk. However, at the end of 2023, there was still a remaining balance of more than $1.1 million. Pastor Jeff had announced his intended retirement for June 2025, and he expressed his strong desire to see the mortgage paid off before his retirement, so he could “pass the baton” without debt to the next Pastor and Head of Staff. The campaign contributions in January exceeded the goal and reached $298,000, enough to pay off the mortgage in the first week of February. North Lake is now “debt-free for ministry!” The quick retirement of the debt also benefits the church’s 2025 operating budget by eliminating more months of principal and interest payments. A ceremonial mortgage-burning is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at the conclusion of the annual congregational meeting.
The Session approved a campaign committee: Kent Adams - chair, Jim McKeithan, Marty Moses, Linda Williams, Dave Belch – church administrator, Jeff Hosmer – pastor. The committee organized, selected the theme “Legacy of Hope,” and launched Phase 1 of the campaign in January, 2024. North Lake responded generously—beyond the regular support for the operating budget and mission—with additional contributions to lower the mortgage by more than $800,000 during 2024.
At the beginning of this past January and Phase 2, the balance was just below $300,000. The committee announced a January goal of $250,000. Pastor Jeff recalls, “When we set the January goal, we knew that was ambitious, maybe ridiculous, but we were grounded in our faith that the Lord set us on this course. We knew that if we even came close, then we would be on a wonderful trajectory to pay off the mortgage this spring. But God and everyone who contributed even surpassed that lofty goal.”
Phase 2 of the Legacy of Hope campaign was done in conjunction with North Lake’s monthly “Second Mile Offering” (SMO) to spotlight and support a different mission partner. For the past eight years, the SMO has helped North Lake to be intentional, focused, and clear about its mission portfolio and priorities. The Mission Committee proposes and Session approves the SMO plan and slate of missions. For January they made an exception to the SMO norm by targeting the mortgage, an internal objective, rather than outward-directed giving. However, the Session realized the strategic value of paying off the mortgage would dramatically benefit the ongoing support for ministry and mission.
The North Lake family rejoices at being able to send Pastor Jeff into retirement with this major goal accomplished. “I am personally overwhelmed by your response,” Pastor Jeff wrote to the congregation. “I give thanks to God for guiding us to this outcome. Thank you to all of you who supported the campaign with your prayers and contributions. I am also grateful to the Legacy of Hope team members for their enthusiastic, persistent efforts to coordinate and promote the campaign.”
The Session approved a campaign committee: Kent Adams - chair, Jim McKeithan, Marty Moses, Linda Williams, Dave Belch – church administrator, Jeff Hosmer – pastor. The committee organized, selected the theme “Legacy of Hope,” and launched Phase 1 of the campaign in January, 2024. North Lake responded generously—beyond the regular support for the operating budget and mission—with additional contributions to lower the mortgage by more than $800,000 during 2024.
At the beginning of this past January and Phase 2, the balance was just below $300,000. The committee announced a January goal of $250,000. Pastor Jeff recalls, “When we set the January goal, we knew that was ambitious, maybe ridiculous, but we were grounded in our faith that the Lord set us on this course. We knew that if we even came close, then we would be on a wonderful trajectory to pay off the mortgage this spring. But God and everyone who contributed even surpassed that lofty goal.”
Phase 2 of the Legacy of Hope campaign was done in conjunction with North Lake’s monthly “Second Mile Offering” (SMO) to spotlight and support a different mission partner. For the past eight years, the SMO has helped North Lake to be intentional, focused, and clear about its mission portfolio and priorities. The Mission Committee proposes and Session approves the SMO plan and slate of missions. For January they made an exception to the SMO norm by targeting the mortgage, an internal objective, rather than outward-directed giving. However, the Session realized the strategic value of paying off the mortgage would dramatically benefit the ongoing support for ministry and mission.
The North Lake family rejoices at being able to send Pastor Jeff into retirement with this major goal accomplished. “I am personally overwhelmed by your response,” Pastor Jeff wrote to the congregation. “I give thanks to God for guiding us to this outcome. Thank you to all of you who supported the campaign with your prayers and contributions. I am also grateful to the Legacy of Hope team members for their enthusiastic, persistent efforts to coordinate and promote the campaign.”