Four Churches Burn Their Mortgages in One Year: Arizona Congregations Pay Off Their Buildings

• Cave Creek church paid off its mortgage in May 2024
• Phoenix Central Valley Spanish church paid off in July 2024
• Chandler Fil-Am and Scottsdale-Thunderbird churches paid off in October 2024
• Payoffs came through donations, fundraisers and prudent financial management

Four Adventist congregations in Arizona celebrated paying off their church buildings in 2024, the Pacific Union Recorder reported in December.

The Cave Creek church cleared its mortgage in May, the Phoenix Central Valley Spanish church in July, and the Chandler Fil-Am and Scottsdale-Thunderbird churches in October. The report said the churches achieved this through generous donations, fundraisers and prudent financial management, though it did not give amounts.

Pastor Davy Lounsbury explained why it mattered: “While the building debt was necessary to get the church originally built, paying it off allows us to move forward and focus on future needs and ministry opportunities.”

The report described the payoff as a milestone reflecting years of dedication and generosity, which leaves each church free of debt and able to expand its mission and services to the community.

Mortgages make church buildings possible, but they also absorb a large share of giving for many years. Once the debt is gone, the money that went on repayments can fund staff, programmes, maintenance or savings for future projects.

Jamaican congregations with building loans can plan for the same moment. Making extra payments when giving is strong, running dedicated campaigns to reduce the balance, and avoiding new borrowing until existing debt is cleared all shorten the time to freedom. Once a mortgage is paid, setting aside part of the former repayment for a maintenance fund protects the building that has just been secured.