Improved facilities to make wholehearted Christ followers

About 45 minutes north of New Orleans, across the nearly 24-mile long Causeway Bridge, an Evangelical Free church worked with Christian Investors Financial (CIF) to offer an improved and more welcoming facility as it develops wholehearted followers of Jesus Christ.

“We’re creating an environment where everyone understands the need to love your neighbor as yourself,” said Elder Jeff Walter at Trinity Church in Covington, La. People who walk into Trinity experience a sense of family, a very friendly atmosphere, in a Bible preaching church, he explained.

Many new believers came before

The church has been in the area for more than 50 years, and was established by a number of first generation believers, Pastor Marcus explained. “They didn’t come from believing families.”

Fast forward to 2021– the church prayed for more new families. “God answered,” said Pastor Marcus. “He’s been sending us family after family, and we were able to bring on a part-time youth director and pretty quickly made him full time.”

Serving the Lord and people with spaces

The church recently celebrated the completion of a three-year project. “Facilities facilitate ministry, and they need to work well,” said Senior Pastor Marcus Busenitz.

Major building improvements financed by a church capital campaign and a loan from CIF offer encouragement for visitors to return, and are a blessing to people who call this their church home, Trinity leaders said.

The $1.45 million project included a brighter and expanded foyer, new entry and fellowship plaza, restrooms, nursery, playground and a covered walkway, among other improvements.

Pastor Marcus said the project was only $100,000 over the initial budget. This included additions along the way. The church also rolled an existing mortgage into a new loan with CIF.

Trinity checks options – found CIF understood church

When checking out a bank for project loan options, he said they had a lot of questions for the church. “We had answers for them, but I don’t know that they understood it from a ministry mindset,” said Pastor Marcus.

“I think CIF understood that you have a faithful congregation with a track record of keeping their word and a track record of being generous,” he said. Additionally, Pastor Marcus said CIF gave Trinity a better interest rate and allowed them to lock it in early. “That helped out a lot because over the last few years, interest rates went up.”

Help along the way

The church leaders said CIF was patient. “They were very easy to work with,” said Walter. “If there was anything that CIF could do to help us along …everyone was very flexible, which helped us greatly.”

Brighter, more open

The larger and brighter foyer was significant. Walter said the old foyer was tunnel-like and dark with a brick style floor. “Opening all that and going up with more cathedral type ceilings, it creates a much more open, more welcoming space.”

People of all ages spend time there, often before and after the service. They also meet for coffee in the foyer and study the Bible together.

“The celebration Sunday, when we finished it all – it was a pretty awesome day to watch people come in. There were a ton of smiles,” Pastor Marcus said.

Tying the facility back to ministry

The Lord was in the planning for the project, with many meetings, he said.

As leaders discussed what could be done, conversations came back to the church’s four values.

The value of Discipleship

Discipleship, for example, was reflected in a new outdoor covered walkway between the children’s building and sanctuary. In the past, parents fought the weather with their kids, often holding umbrellas, Pastor Marcus said.

“We think the connection between the buildings is almost a metaphor for having the whole church more connected,” he said.

Capital campaign touches on access, emphasizes Mission

The church’s “Access. For Everyone.” capital campaign stemmed from Romans 5:2 – “Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope and glory of God.” (ESV)

For the value of Mission, Trinity helped provide wells and gospel preaching in Cambodia, and supported a walk-in freezer for a nearby mission.

Better accommodations promote fellowship

The new foyer has three or four seating areas with high top tables, sofas a coffee bar, a family restroom and new screens.

“It opens that whole space up with many different places for people to sit, talk and gather together to connect,” Walter said.

EFCA ReachGlobal Crisis Response established after Hurricane Katrina

Trinity Church also hosts the headquarters and a warehouse for ReachGlobal Crisis Response, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary in Covington. Pictured are new and prospective team members during the group’s team meetings at the church. The ministry first came to help people suffering from Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s been amazing to have a partner like that right here on our campus,” said Pastor Marcus. The ministry uses the church for larger staff and training meetings.

God’s people supporting His work

“I hope that we never forget how God is at work here at Trinity Church. The church is not the building. The church is the people of God,” he said.

The people of Trinity were generous in their project support, providing more than they expected. As a result, the church has a smaller mortgage.

“God provided, and that’s why our loan balance is much lower today than we expected it to be,” said Pastor Marcus.

If your church is considering a renovation or expansion project, reach out to CIF today to begin a conversation!

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