before the US government closed the resettlement program for Liberians. The father and daughter did arrive and adapted quickly to life in America. Later the daughter was diagnosed with Burkett’s (Non-Hodgkin’s) Lymphoma. The doctors treated this aggressive cancer with an equally aggressive treatment, that would not have been available in Liberia, and the result was a cure. Meanwhile, the rest of the family was trying to return to Liberia as the war had ended. They faced many obstacles and problems that, with our help, they were able to overcome and started a farm where they have established a self-sustaining lifestyle of using their land. Our involvement in that mission is now ending and we are beginning to think of what God would have us do now.

            To our surprise, the City of Allentown approached us some months ago with an offer to purchase the property across Ott Street from our church. It is the land we had expressed interest in purchasing many years ago, but the city was not interested in selling it at that time. Now the city wanted to sell it but gave us a brief window of opportunity to act on the offer before they would offer it to the public.
            What a dilemma! Here was the offer we had been hoping for but the timing was questionable. With the economy in a downturn and some of our people struggling financially, should we present this to the congregation? After much though and prayer the congregation decided to proceed with the purchase of the land. Again, we look to God for guidance on how to best use it to His glory!
            A loan of $60,000 from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod will provide the seed money to initiate the Agreement of Sale. The Capital Campaign Cash Gifts phase was begun to raise as much of the $150,000 to finance the property and to complete two construction projects to our building (a rear entrance foyer and some exterior remodeling) as possible.

            Now is the time for everyone to become involved as we move into our pledge phase of the campaign. Pledges are any amount to be paid within a three-year period of time. Our goal is to eliminate any debt we incur in three years.
            Please talk with the Campaign Committee about your pledge and ideas regarding the property. What would God have us do with this property? Our task now is to prayerfully examine all the possibilities.