No Money Changed Hands: Two Texas Churches Swap Buildings and Both Grow by 30 Per Cent

• Faith Assembly of God in Carthage was “bursting at the seams”
• Southside Baptist Church needed a smaller building
• The two churches exchanged buildings with no money changing hands
• Both grew by about 30 per cent afterwards

Two congregations in East Texas have solved each other’s property problems by swapping buildings, AG News reported in March 2026.

Faith Assembly of God in Carthage had outgrown its facility, while Southside Baptist Church needed a smaller building. After four months of prayer and discussion, the churches agreed to exchange buildings. Faith Assembly moved into the former Baptist church, and Southside Baptist moved into Faith Assembly’s old building. No money changed hands.

Both congregations grew afterwards. Faith Assembly’s attendance rose from 100 to 135 in nine months, an increase of about 30 per cent, and Southside Baptist gained 15 to 20 people, a similar rate. Faith Assembly also received an $80,000 RV as a donation and a two-thirds discount on its property insurance.

“I believe it was God’s direction and timing for both churches,” said Pastor David Baze of Faith Assembly. “We spent four months walking through the process seeking God’s direction and plan.” Pastor Kirby Hill of Southside Baptist spoke of the Christian love, compassion, cooperation and trust shown throughout the exchange.

The swap avoided the usual costs of selling one building and buying another: estate agents, marketing, financing and the risk of a gap between the two. Each church got a building suited to its size, and both could put their energy into ministry rather than property.

Jamaican congregations of different sizes, or even different denominations, might find similar matches: a growing church in a cramped building and a shrinking one with more space than it needs. Any exchange should be properly valued, approved by each church’s governing body and documented through lawyers, with titles transferred correctly.

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