WIF Record Growth Reflects Mission
Oct. 27, 2009
"God has helped us to maintain our focus on helping local churches, and the Kingdom is growing as a result."
With 142 believer baptisms in their outdoor pool, New Hope Church in Durham, North Carolina, is a vivid example of Wesleyan Investment Foundation's fulfilling its mission. CEO Craig A. Dunn reports that God has blessed the savings and loan institution of The Wesleyan Church with wonderful growth. In an October 13, 2009, report to the WIF board of directors for the fiscal year ending August 31, Dr. Dunn said that in one year's time the Foundation has grown by $54 million. Its total assets now exceed $416 million, and 120 loans were given to local churches for building and renovations last year.
Its mission is service
Its mission clearly defines the 50-year-old organization's commitment to ministry, "Wesleyan Investment Foundation exists for the purpose of providing loans to churches and church related entities in the Wesleyan tradition so they can be better equipped to reach their communities for Christ."
Its Web site www.wifonline.com gives information about WIF's organizational structure: "We are an Indiana nonprofit corporation incorporated in 1960. We have no shareholders or members and our affairs are administered by our Board of Directors in accordance with our Articles of Incorporation, our By-Laws and operating policies adopted by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is elected by the General Board of Administration of the Wesleyan Church and meets regularly one time per year.
"We are organized and operate exclusively for charitable and religious purposes, and we are a tax exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. No part of our net earnings inures to the benefit of any person or individual. Our primary purpose and operations are providing loan assistance to churches and Church Related Organizations (CROs) for various capital projects and building programs. We are a separate legal entity from The Wesleyan Church."
Its effectiveness is dynamic
The effectiveness of an organization is always seen in the testimonies of its clients. Kevin Myers, pastor of The Wesleyan Church's largest congregation, 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgiawith over 8,000 in attendancesaid "The first week we moved into the new building we leaped from 175 to 504 people on the first Sunday . . .
More people came to Christ that year than the previous six years combined . . .
Every time WIF comes alongside us we can tell a similar story."
Isaac Smith, district superintendent of the Dakota District of The Wesleyan Church, said, "WIF has been a tremendous ally and colleague in ministry. WIF has provided help at strategic moments and provided loans that no one else would do. WIF's investment in churches has paid off enormously. Some of our best and brightest projects have been through a partnership with WIF."
Its ministry is timely
In the context of Scripture verse "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:15), WIF is meeting a unique need. While public institutions are giving second thoughts to loaning funds to churches, the Foundation is accepting applicationsand processing them at a record rate.
Benji Kelly, pastor of New Hope Church, which has grown from 880 in early 2008 to 1,425 since the Grand Opening of their new facility, said, "It couldn't have been done without the Wesleyan Investment Foundation. Local traditional banks would laugh at a very young church with a very big vision and dream. WIF came alongside us and provided the resources." He adds "We are averaging 22 new families each week. They are blown away by the wonderful space and incredible teaching for their kids."
Quick to utilize the latest technologies, WIF offers 24/7 account access to its more than 5,000 individual investors. Online content, such as video information and testimonials, help the Foundation tell its story and minister to its investors and loan recipients.
Dr. Dunn says, "Serving Higher Interests is what we are all about at Wesleyan Investment Foundation. God has helped us to maintain our focus on helping local churches, and the Kingdom is growing as a result."
