Columbia City pays off mortgage early as congregation celebrates highest active membership

From a Columbia City Church release

Columbia City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren members learned their efforts to make additional mortgage payments the past five years has paid off, literally. Church treasurer Landon Rehrer was joined by board chair Pam Hoppe at the Feb. 6 Congregational Business Meeting to share the wonderful news that the mortgage would be paid off this month–10 years early. The mortgage was taken out in July 2017 to facilitate an addition to the existing building. “Every mortgage payment our church made over the past five years has been larger than the minimum payment,” stated pastor Dennis Beckner. “God is doing amazing things here!”

In 2021, the congregation celebrated their 60th anniversary and also reached the church’s highest active membership of 143. Over 30 new people began attending the congregation in 2021. The congregation is very active in supporting Church of the Brethren ministries. Members are volunteering, attending, and employed at Camp Mack; attending Manchester University; living and volunteering at Timbercrest Senior Living Community; attending Bethany Theological Seminary; and serving on district committees and volunteering in denominational programs. The congregation lives out the tagline of the Church of the Brethren: “Continuing the Work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.”