FOSTER HOME FORECLOSURE DEADLINE NEAR

GORDONVILLE -- The Rev. David Butler knows that God's timing doesn't always coincide with human plans, and he knows that with God all things are possible.

But Butler's Abundant Life Church congregation and an area children's home are slowly running out of time.

The church and the Shepherd's Cove Children's Home near Gordonville face foreclosure March 2 if a mortgage loan isn't approved or funding made available to keep the children's home operating.

A group of businessmen and church members were to meet this morning to discuss how to prevent the foreclosure.

Legal notices have run in the Southeast Missourian advertising the upcoming foreclosure sale.

Shepherd's Cove, a licensed foster care home, was built last summer by the church. Though the home isn't operated by the church but by a separate organization, it sits on the eastern part of the church's 10-acre tract along Route K near state Highway 25.

Butler is pastor of the church and is president of Christian Ministry International, the group that oversees the children's home project.

From its beginning the children's home has been faced with struggles.

Neighbors were uncertain about the project, calling it a "children's prison" and unsure who would run the home. Fears were allayed when Gordonville residents learned the home would be licensed by the state.

But then construction was delayed. The home was completed within a year, but that meant refinancing a construction loan.

"When we redid the loan, we pledged the assets of the church and the other nine acres," Butler said.

All the while the bank made it clear the loan must be moved to another bank by January or be paid in full. But moving the loan to another bank hasn't happened, and the paperwork involved won't be completed for another 30 days.

Butler said an area bank is considering a mortgage loan for the church and children's home property, but the processing won't be completed by March 2.

"It's been a struggle all year long," Butler said. "I've been in the ministry for 20 years and this has been the biggest test of faith."

To complete construction of the children's home, the congregation took on nearly $200,000 in debt, but members know that God will provide and meet the need "even if it's at the last hour," Butler said.

Howard and Danielle Bellew and their six foster children moved into the Shepherd's Cove home in December.

The Shepherd's Cove Children's Home had been a dream for the Abundant Life congregation for two years before any tangible work was done.

But once construction started, volunteers donated time, material and even labor to get the house finished. Now those same volunteers are setting up prayer chains and telephone trees asking church members and the community to help support the home.

Butler has said the home was built because their was a need in the community for such a place.

"It was merely, absolutely a test of faith," he said, "and I still feel good about it. I would do it all over again."

He admits he doesn't know how things will turn out and that he hasn't made contingency plans for if the property is sold. "I haven't given that a thought because I can't let that happen."

To contact Butler or help with fund raising, call 334-8380 or the church office at 243-7827.