As buildings age and times change, often a church finds that their buildings are in need of a retrofit. Retrofitting projects typically are carried out for earthquake readiness, weather and water-proofing, and for adding handicap access. In 2009, Bethany Presbyterian Church on Queen Anne in Seattle found themselves in such a predicament. They hired a structural engineer to evaluate the soundness of their red brick building, constructed in 1929 well before buildings in Seattle were built to withstand significant earthquakes. The older, original structures which included the sanctuary and Christian Education space, needed to be upgraded for the safety and security of the people.
Bethany PC is a busy vibrant church, full of activities and an active ministry presence in the community, including a Wednesday Night Dinner, which serves 200 people each week. They provide dinner, haircuts, companions, clothing and housing assistance to the local community. When they found out that a major reinforcement project was needed in order to keep people safe in the event of a major seismic activity, they had to take action and the Mission Development Certificates Program was able to provide them with a loan.
Contact us if your church is in need of a retrofitting project. In June of 2015, the MDC Board approved of lower interest rates on loans through us.