We closed our fiscal year on June 30th and are in the middle of our annual audit. This brings us to the close of our seventh full year. Once our auditors have cleared our numbers, we will be publishing their findings on our website and giving you updates on the growth and activity from the last year.
Our biggest challenge right now is the volume of loan requests we continue to receive. A few quarters ago we were experiencing an average of twelve loan requests, or about four per month. This last quarter we received almost thirty, moving our average to almost ten per month. This of course calls for more investments and strategizing on how to maximize manpower and resources to keep up with the increased volume of business.
In the hopes of raising the needed investments to meet the growing demand, we have added two new investment options:
- Demand Certificates – Flexible month-to-month terms with a low minimum of $250 and a variable rate currently at 1.15%.
- Support Certificates – Members and friends of churches with loans invest and direct part or all of their interest earnings toward the loan.
As President of the Loan Fund I want to personally thank you for your confidence in this ministry. Together we are making a difference for churches needing facilities to reach their communities with the Apostolic message. As a reminder, we will be holding our annual Investor and Pastor Appreciation Luncheon at General Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on Wednesday, September 26. Formal invites will be in the mail in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!
Stephen M. Drury
, President
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In Memorial: J. P. Rose 1951-2018
By: Stephen Drury, President
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The first board meeting to establish the United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund (UPCLF) was held April 26, 2011. One of the founding board members was J. P. Rose. J. P. was chosen because he had unique experience and expertise to help guide and direct the new fund in the infancy years. He additionally served on our Loan Committee and Loan Delinquency Committee.
J. P. received his Bachelors of Science degree in Financial Institution Management from the University of Houston in 1991. During his banking career he was Vice President of Commercial Lending at Wells Fargo from 1997 to 2006. He served as Vice President of Commercial and Non-Profit Lending from 2006 to 2009 at Amegy Bank. He then served as Senior Vice President of Commercial and Nonprofit Lending at Prosperity Bank from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, J. P. started as a Financial Consultant with Executive Strategies. His expertise was in non-profit and specifically church lending. This made him a natural choice to serve on our board for the UPCLF.
J. P. was very passionate about his role with the UPCLF and spent many hours updating our Loan Policies and Procedure Manual as the fund grew from infancy to a more mature fund. He was deeply dedicated to making sure each of our loans were a good match and safe for the fund. Often he would stay up late into the night reviewing every line of the underwriting, making red line notes to cover at our board meetings to make sure every “i” was dotted and each “t” crossed to protect both the lender and the borrower.
J. P. was also very passionate about winning souls to the Lord, and even though not a licensed minister, he was indeed a minister in the Kingdom. He taught thousands of home bible studies, new converts classes, and Sunday School lessons. He mentored young ministers, and even Skyped to India on Monday nights teaching at a bible school.
The UPCLF will miss his unique laughter, wisdom, passion, and expertise, but are thankful for the influence he has given us, and for years of friendship and service. Please join us in remembering his lovely wife of forty-seven years, Linda, in your prayers. Rest in peace J. P.
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Now Available - Demand Certificates
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Demand Certificates are a whole new way to invest and they are now available for purchase. These new certificates are easy to open and maintain, and are more accessible than any other option currently available. If you would like to invest your short-term savings at a great rate that is helping to build His Kingdom, consider the benefits of a Demand Certificate:
- Month-to-month terms
- No early withdrawal fees (after 30 days)
- Minimum investment $250
- Rates starting at 1.15%*
*Variable rate that may occasionally change.
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Church Spotlight - Abundant Life Church, Matthews, NC
By: Pastor Brent Watts
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“You can build a church in the Dominican Republic for $15,000,” was what the missionary said as he preached that Wednesday night in October 2011. That became translated in prayer to “
If you will
help build a church a building they can’t afford,
I will
help you build a building you can’t afford.” Oh, the power of a word from God!
It seemed counter-intuitive. At Abundant Life Church in Matthews, North Carolina, we were trying to pay down the loan on our current building while saving cash to position ourselves to qualify for a loan to build a new building. How do you gain by giving away? But the vision was cast, the money was raised and sent, construction began, and today there stands a church in La Parcela, Dominican Republic because of a word from God. It was our “
if you will”
moment! And you can be sure that God followed up on His “
I will
!”
Thanks to financing from the UPCI Loan Fund we broke ground for construction of our enlarged facilities on January 25, 2015. The next month, acting on the recommendation from Brother Stephen Drury, we launched a Capital Stewardship Campaign using the services of Foundations Consulting with Pastor Joseph Hanthorn as our consultant. What happened next was miraculous but also an absolute fulfillment of God’s promise. Our 105 people committed to give $700,000.00 over the coming three years. At the time, it seemed like that was either a lot of faith or a bunch of foolishness. When First Fruit’s Sunday came, and our first offering was received, it was $150,000.00 – ten times what we had sent to build the church in the Dominican Republic. We got our first glimpse of the “
I will
” of God!
Time would fail to tell of all the miracles that happened over the next three years! We took occupancy of our building in November 2015. People continued to give and be blessed. In January 2018, just three short years after breaking ground to build, we paid off our $790,000.00 loan. People still continued to give as our campaign had not yet ended. On March 27, 2018, we celebrated the end of our campaign with a Mortgage Burning Service and challenged the people to finish strong with an offering of thanksgiving. When the secretary gave the final report that day for our three-year campaign, we saw the fulfillment of God’s promise once again. The total - $1,015,000.00! We had our original $15,000.00 back plus $1,000,000.00 more. Earlier this year, we sent another $15,000.00 to build a second story on to the building in La Parcela so they can have Children’s Ministry space. The miracles continue!
During this time, we have gone from three services a week in one location to eight services a week in three locations. Multiple ministries have been launched and God is adding to His church. These are exciting days for Abundant Life Church. But it all started with a word from God and was facilitated by the United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund. We live in great gratitude!
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Stewardship Campaign Services
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We are excited to announce we now offer our own Stewardship Campaign services.
What can a Stewardship Campaign do for your church?
- Launch a building or debt reduction program
- Create ownership in your congregation
- Disciple saints to become better stewards in all aspects of life
For more information or to be contacted by our campaign staff, please visit our
website.
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More Exciting Investment Options!
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Invest in the Kingdom and help us build and grow UPCI churches all across North America. Your investment will not only outperform most certificates at local banks, but it has the added bonus of enabling churches to better serve their communities and reach the lost.
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Thank You from Cedar Park, Texas
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2018-2019 Offering Circular
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Each year, the United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund, in coordination with our Board of Directors and securities legal counsel, prepare an updated Offering Circular. The Offering Circular is a compilation of useful information which is designed to educate and inform current and prospective investors on our Fund and the securities offered. Some of the information in the Offering Circular includes updated audit information, history of the Fund, details on our Board of Directors, and details on each investment option. All of our investors are entitled and encouraged to receive and read through the Offering Circular before purchasing investments with us.
The 2018-2019 Offering Circular was approved and published in April 2018, and is now available on our website for immediate viewing at
upciloanfund.org/forms
. The Multi-State Offering Circular and several state-specific Offering Circulars are listed. If you would prefer a physical copy for your records, please contact our office.
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United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund | 636.229.7949 | info@upciloanfund.org |
upciloanfund.org
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