HISTORY OF THE COMING OF THE JOY COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP SBC

The purpose of this writing is in no way to cast a shadow upon anyone but to give show of faith that God has spoken to us and established this mission work.

In April of 2000 an ice storm hit southwestern South Dakota.   That storm took out 18 power poles between the intersection of Hwy 385 and the Cascade Road Baptist Church.  This happened the Wednesday before Easter Sunday.  Having no power at the church causes the members to meet elsewhere for Easter services.  That place was the dining Hall of The Evans (retirement center). 

In doing so some of us discovered that at the Evans were a group of people interested in having a Bible Study.  Thus began a one year, Thursday night, study with many of the residence.  “Experiencing God” was the discipleship study in which we were engaged.  Some of those attending became the core for a new mission in Hot Springs that was eventually named the “Joy Community Fellowship”. 

In April of the next year, 2001, Pastor Bill resigned the pastorate of Cascade Road Baptist Church.  Two Sunday’s later began, May 5^th, what was the first official Sunday of the new mission.  On May 19^th the mission adopted a rough budget, the present name (Joy Community Fellowship) and officially called Bill Martin to be their pastor.  For several months after we met in the dining hall of The Evans but this basement was not conducive to growth.  We were able to move to the dining hall of the Brookside Apartments and met there for over a year and our numbers grew.  In 2002 we had a good Vacation Bible School with many prospects.  We also had three ladies that surrendered to the call of teaching Sunday School and so we needed space and classrooms.

We moved our operation to the Elementary School.  Problems set in soon and two of our teachers had emergencies that took them away from teaching.  Two members went on to be with the Lord.  The acoustics were so bad in the multipurpose room where we were meeting for worship that many had problems hearing or understanding the message.  This caused a drop in attendance.  A couple of my laymen went to me and asked if we could find another place to meet.

We soon discovered that the Administration Building was available, comfortable and lacked the echo of the elementary meeting area.  We moved to the Administration Building.   This seemed like a move backward since we now had the same problems of limited Sunday School spaces we had at the dining hall in Brookside.  We continued to look for something else.

On a Saturday, early in 2003, I was out at the Maverick Restaurant around lunch time.  Coming and sitting at our table was Cal Lowe dressed in his finest.  I asked him where he had been dresses so nicely and he said he had been at church.  Knowing this man was a Lutheran I asked what Lutheran Church might be having services on a Saturday.  Cal told me that his church “Grace Lutheran” was small and could not support a minister of their own so they shared one with the WELS Lutheran Church in Rapid City.  I asked him if they were using their church on Sunday.  He said they were not.  I asked if they might be interested in renting the facility to our mission.  He said he would inquire.  I visited with the church for Saturday services on a few occasion during the next month.  I was waiting for a decision.  After many weeks I approached the president of the congregation and asked if the church might be making a decision soon.  He said they had one couple that was holding out.  I waited a bit longer but in early May I went to him and asked again.  He said he did not think that they would be able to rent to us.  He was trying to be sensitive to all the congregation.  That was in the first full week of May, 2003. 

Thursday, May 8, I came across a flyer for an auction being held at the Mueller Civic Center on the following Monday or Tuesday night.  The old Mormon church on Canton Avenue was going up to be sold.  Years before, summer 1995, I felt that God wanted me to buy this building but was unable to because of certain obstacles I had no power to remove.  Pat and I had not prequalified for a loan but we had been far enough into the process to know that we could borrow up to $110,000.  We just needed to finish the process with a bank of choice. 

I had previously done my homework on this piece of property and loan rates, electric, fuel oil and water billing, so I was aware of the overhead.  But on the day of the auction I knew that with the current stipulations I would not be able to bid.  I could make the 15% down but I would not be able to finish paying off the building in 30 days.  With the low mortgage rates and so many people refinancing and with the need of an appraisal I would need 90 days just to be on the safe side. 

What follows is a letter written to the Joy Community Fellowship after said auction.

This letter is dated:  05-16-2003

Dear Joy Partners,

Many of you already know that Pat and I are in the process of purchasing a residence that was once a church building.  My purpose in this writing is to give you some history, including prayer requests and other information concerning our purchase.

As some of you know Pat and I have been looking for a home purchase.  We wanted to take advantage of the interest rates and invest some funds that have been doing nothing in the stock market.  Our desire has been a home where everything is on one level with no basement.  This has been hard to find. 

Back in 1995-6 we were also looking at real estate.  We tried three times to buy a home only to have someone else to purchase them at the peak of our interest.  One place we looked at for a home was the old Mormon building on Canton.  We both fell in love with it but we were unable to purchase it then because of the price and the high interest rates.  I checked out everything I could about the building, its utilities and even the blue prints.  We had visions of piano recitals, bible studies and meetings in our home but not a church.  The heating cost was higher than we were used to paying but not unreasonable for a 2700 square ft building.  The 1250 square ft. auditorium is on a separate heating system and it is also air-conditioned for summer use.  But in 1996, when I added up the total house payments including property tax and the water bill, we would have been paying over $1100 each month.  That was about twice what we could afford at the time.  We have been renting since but have taken many looks over the years at that building.  Not many months ago I contacted the owner through a realtor just to see if he would rent it to us and the answer was no. 

A couple of months ago I went to Black Hills Federal Credit Union to meet with one of their mortgage lenders.  Then after he ran the credit report and we got back together it was determined that we could pre-qualify for a loan of over $110,000 at the present interest rate.  Nevertheless I did not want to be locked to a 30-year mortgage so we look at 20 and 15-year loans wanting to keep our mortgage and property tax payments close to $650.00 each month.  This is just a bit higher than our present rent.  We recently made offers on some properties but none were accepted.

With this we have also been praying about a new meeting place for the Joy Community and last Saturday Grace Lutheran Church (WELS) turned down our request to rent from them.  Then when I saw the flyer for auction and the Canton Street property I began asking questions and putting figures down on paper.  I did not want to go over $70,000 on my bid and really wanted to stay closer to $60,000 or lower.  The owner paid $87,000 for it just 6 years ago and tried to sell it for $175,000.  Don Mabry estimated replacement cost to be about $400,000 to $450,000.   So my hopes of purchasing it were small from most points of view.  The seller, who I sat next to at the auction is from Isabel, SD and expected a bid of around $100,000.  But even with all the advertising there were only two other bidders.  The United Pentecostal Church dropped out at $50,000.   At that point I had not entered the bidding process.  I spoke with the owner and told him I would like to bid but I would need 90 days for the financing and appraisal.  He said he could do that and then had that announced to all who were present.  Then I entered that round of bidding which ended at $63,000 with the other fellow in the lead.  Later they came back to this property but proceeded to the next item.  During the break I went over and spoke with my competition, a man from Spearfish, who was buying property on speculation.  He wanted to convert the building to a home.  I told him I wanted to live in it too but had other functions in mind including the possibility of a church. 

Our final round of bidding ended quickly with him winning the bid at $65,000.  After he won the bid I went over and shook his hand and congratulated him.  After the auction he came over to me and said he believed it would make a better church than a house too and if I still wanted it I could have it for $65,500.  Pat and I had a conference and decided to accept.  With all the fees, property tax, and a 5.625% 20-year mortgage our monthly payments will be about $650.00.   We put down 15% earnest money and may pay another 5% at closing.

We purchased this as an investment and a home.  We have other dreams for it and hope it will also be a spiritual investment.   Some of you have already seen it and I can tell that you are excited about the possibilities.  I know we have not voted to meet there and I would not consider having the Joy Community begin meeting there unless we were all in 100% agreement to do so.  I would not force this on anyone.  The only thing I ask is that all of you pray about the matter and take a look at the building.  I know it is an answer to one of my prayers and it could be two answers in one.

It is not typical today but years ago ministers use to live in their churches.  Even today some black ministers own and live in their church buildings.  I had not seriously considered this for myself until this last week. 

The owner, from Isabel, has told me that he considers the deal done and has allowed Pat and I access to the building but there are some matters that need to be addressed before we move in.  Pat’s dad is a heating furnace man and will look over the two heating systems.  Pat’s brother-in-law manages commercial properties in Houston and will be a good resource person for bringing our home back on line.   But foremost, we are waiting on the bank and the appraisal.  I spoke with three lending institutions and two appraisers.  The reason I asked for 90 days to complete payment is that banks are running 5 to 6 weeks on approving loans.  Appraisers are running another 3 to 5 weeks behind.  That is eleven weeks or 77 days on the outside.  But the Wells Fargo has been asked to place a rush on this one and they have an in house appraiser.  All this delay is because of the large number of people refinancing their homes.

So pray for Pat and I that this process goes well with us and that we are able, after all these years, to move into a residence of our own. One couple I spoke to today looked over the building with a building engineer said they were very excited that we got it and at such a great price.  They also want to share some ideas with me.  By the way,  we still have 2/3 of our investment capital remaining for those surprises that arise.

I hope this clears up any questions you might have had about our purchasing activities.  Some in our town will now consider us, homeowners, and property tax payers and look upon us as being serious about staying here.  I was surprised at the number of people, outside our congregation, who were excited for us about this.  

If you have any questions of me or concerns please let me know. 

Grace and Peace to You be Multiplied.

Bill & Pat Martin

A further note:  With all our closing cost the total cost came to $69.200.  Our monthly payment, with taxes and insurance came to about $50.00 more per month than we were paying in rent.  Our utilities did go up but the church decide to met in this new location and they decide to pay rent which more than made up the difference.   Just five months before all of this a church in Texas decided to send the Joy Community Fellowship a monthly check that more than covered the rent paid by the church.   God is Goooood!    

Today our building has a new roof thanks to the giving of our people and the labor of some good Baptist friends in the Pearl River Baptist Association in Mississippi.  These good folks also helped us get a good start on renovating a garage addition to the building for living quarters. A big thanks to my first cousin, Ricky Flynn, for the labor of love in wiring our living quarters for electricity. The fine help of Jerry Fees and John Morgan helped to finish this project and now Pat and I have moved making room for extended ministries in the main building.  We have room to seat up to 100 and a fully furnished nursery/preschool class thanks to a VBS donation from the children at First Baptist Church of Rincon, Georgia.  Thank you all for your wonderful contributions.  God Bless You All