Hello Church,

We have some really exciting news to share with you. An opportunity has opened up for us to purchase the current Shamrock Animal Hospital building, which is directly neighboring our property.

As you know, we are in the very fortunate position of experiencing growth as a church. Growth can feel a little bit daunting, but it’s also incredibly exciting. It means more lives are being reached and more ministry is taking place. With that growth, the need for additional space becomes very real.

We are grateful for the building we currently have, but both our space and the potential to expand within it are limited. That’s what makes this opportunity so exciting. This property sits right on the main road, offering great visibility, and it is already connected to our existing space.

Purchasing this building would essentially expand our current property, giving us the room we need to continue growing. After much prayer and discussion with church leadership, we believe this is the right step for us at this time. We are in a strong financial position to make a solid down payment and finance the remainder, allowing us to move forward without launching a capital campaign right now.

This additional space would allow us to bring all of our staff into one unified office environment, provide adequate workspace for our current team, and create room for future staff. It would also free up areas in our existing building to be transformed into more effective ministry spaces—such as a production room, volunteer areas, life group spaces, and dedicated environments for youth and young adults.

We believe this is an exciting next step in the life of our church. On Sunday, May 17th, we will hold a congregational meeting where we will vote on whether to move forward with the purchase.

We are sharing all of this information in advance so that everyone has time to think, pray, and ask questions. The congregational meeting will be focused on the vote itself, so we encourage you to review the materials and reach out beforehand with any questions or thoughts.

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support.

Please find the details regarding the proposed purchase of the Shamrock Animal Hospital property below. We are sharing this information now to ensure everyone has time to pray and seek clarity before our upcoming congregational vote.

The Cross has the opportunity to purchase the neighboring Shamrock Animal Hospital property, with a proposed closing date of June 30, 2026.

The purchase price is $794,000. As part of the agreement, Shamrock will continue to occupy the property through the end of 2026. In exchange for this arrangement, the seller has reduced the price by $36,000 (representing $6,000 per month from July through December 2026).

The plan involves $294,000 in cash upfront and $500,000 in new financing. As of April 19, 2026, The Cross has approximately $805,000 in savings; we expect to retain about $500,000 in savings after this investment. 

If approved, our total mortgage debt would be approximately $3.2 million. This is the same debt level we successfully managed when we purchased Lake Receptions in 2022. We are currently exploring financing options with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund and a local bank to secure the best possible terms. 

The additional mortgage payment is expected to be between $2,500 and $4,000 per month. For the remainder of 2026, these payments will be covered by the Unallocated Surplus budget, with the 2027 budget adjusted accordingly.

Growth and Visibility: It gives us room for future ministry expansion and increases our visibility on 19A in Mount Dora. 

Staff and Operations: The building would provide a larger reception area and dedicated office space for our staff, as many currently do not have offices. Bringing our team together in one location would strengthen communication, collaboration, and unity in ministry. 

New Ministry Space in the Main Building: By moving offices and reception into this building, we could create room in the main church building for new production space and a volunteer room. 

A Stronger Hub for Ministry: This would also allow us to transform The House into a hub for Youth, Young Adults, and other groups, creating more intentional space for discipleship, fellowship, and community.

Parking: We already use Shamrock’s property for Sunday parking, and this purchase would help secure that benefit for the long term.

This proposal is supported by Pastor Mark, Pastor Jacob, The Cross Staff, and the Board of Directors (unanimous vote). Per our By-Laws, property purchases require a two-thirds majority vote at a Voters’ Assembly. The vote will take place during the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 17th. 

We encourage you to join us in praying for wisdom, unity, and faithfulness as we consider this opportunity together.

Have Additional Questions?

If you have any questions or would like more information about this opportunity, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email Ps Jacob, at jacob@thecross.family. We want everyone to feel informed and confident ahead of the congregational vote.

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