MUSIC Litha Park SDA CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PHASE

By: 3AMMEDIA MINISTRIES

Read more from the original source:
MUSIC Litha Park SDA CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PHASE - Video

After reviewing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' plans for an apartment tower, townhouses, retail space, and a meetinghouse at 1601 Vine St., the city Planning Commission's Design Review Committee advised the church to open a garden to the public, work with the Streets Department to improve traffic flow on adjacent Wood Street, and use a higher-grade material than blacktop in a public courtyard.

The committee then closed its review, with little information on the large amount of public art the church is required to provide.

CDR committee members, who met earlier this week, weren't totally thrilled about that last bit.

Whatever we decide here becomes the way future developers come before us, said committee member Cecil Baker. This is part of the public realm. When jobs get this large, it's a very important part. This is a major, major opportunity, the likes of which come rarely.

But the committee let the project through, seemingly persuaded by the Mormons' attorney on the project, Peter Kelsen, and senior real estate manager, Michael Marcheschi, who said that it would be months before the public art program was finalized. The project's construction schedule would be greatly delayed if the committee made the church return with that plan before closing its review, Marcheschi said.

The church has a conditional zoning permit but can't get a final permit until the CDR process is closed.

Besides, Kelsen said, this is a special circumstance. The complex of residential, church and other spaces triggered CDR review because it is more than 100,000 square feet and calls for more than 100 residential units.

Because the proposed complex sits on land controlled by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, it must also earn RDA approvals. It is part of the Franklintown Renewal Plan. Redevelopment Authority rules also require the church to spend 1 percent of the project's total cost on public art.

See the rest here:
Mormon apartment tower, meetinghouse complex passes design review

August 8, 2014 Judge: Church of God fraud case closed Deadline set to settle investment fraud case with Church of God members

By Traci Moyer The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Fri Aug 08, 2014, 08:25 PM EDT

ANDERSON -- No objections have been filed preventing the closure of a decade-old investment fraud case involving the Church Extension of the Church of God.

The deadline for objections to a plan resolving the case was Aug. 4.

In 2002, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed an $85 million investment fraud suit against the Church Extension, United Management Services Inc., James Perry Grubbs and Shearon Louis Jackson alleging Grubbs and Jackson misled investors.

According to court documents, the Anderson-based Church Extension helped fund construction or renovations of churches for the Church of God and from 1996 to 2002 selling millions of dollars in investment notes to its church members.

Investors were told the funds from the sale of the investment notes went for construction or renovations, but court records state the money raised made interest and principal payments to prior investors and that the safety and the risk associated with the investment notes was misstated.

During a final hearing in June, U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana Judge David Hamilton ruled that pending any additional objections the case would be closed. The deadline for objections was Aug. 4, but court officials say none were filed.

Hamilton approved the final terms of the case and granted related relief in the case. His ruling allows for a final distribution to creditors. Any cash remaining in the estate for undeliverable checks will be sent to Indiana Unclaimed Property.

The ruling states that an order to dissolve the receivership, discharge all parties from additional duties, approve all pending fee applications and allows properties creating a financial drain on Church of God assets to be disposed of must be filed on or before Oct. 27, 2014.

View original post here:
Judge: Church of God fraud case closed

(877) 308-0300 for Church Loans
We love doing church loans. (877) 308-0300 If you are buying land, or doing church construction or church renovation, we can help with your financing. Loans for refinancing church loans. Parsonage...

By: David Parsons

See more here:
(877) 308-0300 for Church Loans - Video

NEW LONDON (WITI) A New London church was severely damaged by a tornado one year ago. Church members gathered on Thursday, August 7th to reflect on the past year.

It has been an amazing journey weve been on, Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Bill Sutlief said.

As he did one year ago, Pastor Sutlief gathered his faithful once again in the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church on Thursday.

A year ago we were outside worshipping in the parking lot with the devastation as our back drop. Tonight, were outside up closer to the building having a chance to worship with the newness of the building as our backdrop, Pastor Sutlief said.

A year ago a tornado tore through New London and the church.

I think back to when I got that phone call to come up here on the Wednesday morning around 6:00 a.m. I live four houses down . I was just stunned as I came up and I was just crushed, Sunday school teacher Patty Dyerson said.

Now, the church members say theyre filled with joy tosee the handwork construction crews and kind hearts in the community have made.

It was just a blessing to be here a year later, Dyerson said.

Its exciting in a sense that a year later, we can see all that has been accomplished, Pastor Sutlief said.

Pastor Sutlief says most of the building was salvaged.

See the original post:
One year ago, they were worshipping in the midst of devastation; New London church remembers tornado

The city of Orlando announced this morning that it is dropping eminent-domain proceedings against a church that has stood in the way of Orlando's Major League Soccer stadium. Instead, the city will move the planned new stadium.

The city of Orlando on Monday dropped its eminent-domain fight against a family-owned Parramore church, the lone holdout in the way of the city's plans to build a new Major League Soccer stadium downtown.

Instead, Orlando will move the new $110 million stadium about a block west, using property the city bought last week for $2 million.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the move avoids a costlier condemnation fight with Faith Deliverance Temple. It also ensures stadium construction starts this fall, which should allow the team to play in its new facility at the start of the 2016 season.

"This presents a better opportunity for the city," Dyer said at a news conference in City Hall.

The decision also eliminated a sensitive issue for the city as it negotiated with a black neighborhood church whose owners did not want to move.

"It's wonderful," said Jonathan Williams, whose parents founded the church. "It wasn't expected, but it was welcomed."

The city had been in negotiations with the church since last year, but the two sides remained far apart.

City officials had offered Faith Deliverance $1.5 million for the property, or more than twice the appraised value.

The church, however, initially demanded $35 million basing its price, in part, on Orlando's decision in 2007 to spend the same amount for part of First United Methodist Church's downtown property that made room for the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Original post:
Orlando drops action against church, moves soccer stadium farther west

The city of Orlando announced this morning that it is dropping eminent-domain proceedings against a church that has stood in the way of Orlando's Major League Soccer stadium. Instead, the city will move the planned new stadium.

The city of Orlando on Monday dropped its eminent-domain fight against a family-owned Parramore church, the lone holdout in the way of the city's plans to build a new Major League Soccer stadium downtown.

Instead, Orlando will move the new $110 million stadium about a block west, using property the city bought last week for $2 million.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the move avoids a costlier condemnation fight with Faith Deliverance Temple. It also ensures stadium construction starts this fall, which should allow the team to play in its new facility at the start of the 2016 season.

"This presents a better opportunity for the city," Dyer said at a news conference in City Hall.

The decision also eliminated a sensitive issue for the city as it negotiated with a black neighborhood church whose owners did not want to move.

"It's wonderful," said Jonathan Williams, whose parents founded the church. "It wasn't expected, but it was welcomed."

The city had been in negotiations with the church since last year, but the two sides remained far apart.

City officials had offered Faith Deliverance $1.5 million for the property, or more than twice the appraised value.

The church, however, initially demanded $35 million basing its price, in part, on Orlando's decision in 2007 to spend the same amount for part of First United Methodist Church's downtown property that made room for the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Read the original post:
Orlando drops eminent domain action against church

The city of Orlando announced this morning that it is dropping eminent-domain proceedings against a church that has stood in the way of Orlando's Major League Soccer stadium. Instead, the city will move the planned new stadium.

The city of Orlando on Monday dropped its eminent-domain fight against a family-owned Parramore church, the lone holdout in the way of the city's plans to build a new Major League Soccer stadium downtown.

Instead, Orlando will move the new $110 million stadium about a block west, using property the city bought last week for $2 million.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the move avoids a costlier condemnation fight with Faith Deliverance Temple. It also ensures stadium construction starts this fall, which should allow the team to play in its new facility at the start of the 2016 season.

"This presents a better opportunity for the city," Dyer said at a news conference in City Hall.

The decision also eliminated a sensitive issue for the city as it negotiated with a black neighborhood church whose owners did not want to move.

"It's wonderful," said Jonathan Williams, whose parents founded the church. "It wasn't expected, but it was welcomed."

The city had been in negotiations with the church since last year, but the two sides remained far apart.

City officials had offered Faith Deliverance $1.5 million for the property, or more than twice the appraised value.

The church, however, initially demanded $35 million basing its price, in part, on Orlando's decision in 2007 to spend the same amount for part of First United Methodist Church's downtown property that made room for the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Originally posted here:
Orlando drops eminent domain action against church, moves soccer stadium farther west

A new childrens wing could more than double First Assembly of Gods outreach to kids, church leaders say.

Construction on the 21,050-square-foot addition, called M1A Kids, began in May and could be finished by the new year, said Steve Rose, First Assembly lead pastor. He said the childrens wing cost about $3 million.

Rose said the inspiration for the new wing came from reading negative news and statistics about Muskogee and Oklahoma kids.

We wanted to know, isnt there a better way to reach them, Rose said, adding that the church has a potential target population of 11,000 elementary-age kids in the Muskogee-Wainwright area.

First Assembly Childrens Pastor Bethany Crow said about 175 to 200 children come to the church each week.

We can grow twice as big and reach more children in the new facilitys capacity, Crow said.

Rose said the addition will have space for 450 children.

This will enhance the outreach of our Smart School, he said, referring to the churchs summer education program. Smart School offers classes in math, reading, character and dance to about 300 children each summer, Rose said, adding that the new wing will house the program.

Plans call for the wing to feature 12 classrooms, two indoor play areas and an outdoor play area. There also will be two theaters, each with stages and seating capacity for 175.

In the lobby, well have a full carousel, the same size as at Woodland Hills Mall, Rose said. The church is getting the carousel from Carousels USA in San Antonio.

See the rest here:
Church expands to reach kids

Cornerstone Church, located on SH 105 west of Cleveland, will hold two events on Aug. 10 - Friend Day and the churchs 25th anniversary.

Cornerstone Church was founded in August 1989 by Pastor James Holt and a then-small congregation.

The church was located at Eastwood Mini Mall across from Cleveland High School where Hibbett Sports is currently located.

The congregation remained there until May of 1990 when the location was deemed too small to fit for its growing numbers.

We quickly outgrew that place, said Holt.

The congregation moved to a property located next to Dairy Queen, which consists of two separate buildings. Currently, this property is home to Agave restaurant and a number of other businesses.

We stayed there until we built this facility in February of 2002, said Holt, referring to the church located at 27453 Hwy 105 West.

Although this location serves the congregations needs, they are still adding onto it with construction projects, such as a pavilion.

Holt says the churchs primary objective was to reach people who were not currently worshiping anywhere as well as maintaining an active presence in the community.

We really wanted to have a church that was outreach oriented, he said. Second, [we wanted] to really develop a church where everybody felt welcome no matter who they were.

Read the original post:
Cornerstone Church celebrates 25th anniversary on Aug. 10