September 24, 2008

Kids 4 Christ Announces Sale of Property
Land & Building Purchased for Ministry Center Sold to Local Retailer;
D&J Salvage Expanding to Building on Justin Drive Behind Wal-Mart

Two years ago Kids 4 Christ purchased property behind the LaFayette Wal-Mart intending to develop the existing structure there into a new ministry center. K4C started demolition and development work on the facility but quickly saw project costs soar beyond expectations. Because of the cost increase K4C has decided to sell the property to a local retailer and change its building plans to another site.

According to K4C Executive Director Gail Marks, the purchase looked like the right thing to do but two years later turned out to be a mistake: "In 2006 we desperately needed space, needed a new facility, and the property was offered to us at a good price. We had estimates for how much the completed project would cost, but many of those estimates turned out to be inaccurate once the work began."

Marks added that the building project costs also rose because of changes in the state building codes: "Because K4C primarily ministers to children our meeting space falls under state codes, which are stricter than local requirements. In 2007 we learned that those codes had been updated and called for so many changes to the existing structure that constructing a new facility would be less expensive. What had originally been a $400,000 project ballooned into something predicted to cost over a million dollars. The costs kept rising and community support couldn't keep up. Purchasing the property has not been a burden on K4C financially but being able to complete the work would be. It seems that God was trying to tell us a mistake had been made and we needed to change directions."

Opportunity for a new direction came in the form of an offer from D&J Salvage, a material sales and equipment rental business located on Highway 27. Looking to expand his equipment rental business to a second location, D&J owner David Coker offered K4C more for the building and 3-acre property than it cost two years ago. "We all know that God offers forgiveness to individuals for their mistakes, but I feel He also extends forgiveness to churches and ministries like ours" Marks said. "Forgiveness has been provided through a generous offer allowing us to walk away from the project without suffering a financial loss, preserving building fund donations to use for a different facility in the future."

Kids 4 Christ hopes to locate a more suitable parcel of land in town closer to the families and children its ministries serve. According to Marks, "staying in town will make us more effective in ministering to the local kids who need us the most. Beyond that, the lower cost of property on LaFayette's south side along with the cheaper option of building a new facility will help us maximize returns from the investment K4C's supporters have made into this ministry."

Kids 4 Christ is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving disadvantaged children in the LaFayette area. K4C offers weekly Bible classes, a daily after-school academic program, and mentoring activities. For more about K4C call (706) 639 3234 or see the organization Web site at www.k4c.info.

PO Box 1124, LaFayette GA. 30728 • (706) 639 3234 • info@k4c.info