Church has Not been Spared from Foreclosure

For the past two decades the New Harvest Church in Socastee had a surfeit of funds. This non-denominational church expanded its missionary activities across the world – sinking wells, setting up orphanages and schools; it even rescued 100 minors from the clutches of slavery.

Rev. A. J. Baisch of New Harvest said, “We were bringing in $30,000 some weeks. It wasn’t uncommon for us to get individual $50,000 donation”. The congregation comprise of about 200 – mainly from the real estate group. The congregants had a big hand in building and decorated the church.

But with recession the tide turned. The church is set to be sold soon on the steps of Horry County courthouse after being foreclosed upon. The dues are about $77,000.

Reverend Kelley Malone of Agape Christian Fellowship at Myrtle Beach commented, “It’s very sad about New Harvest. It’s the same all over. Everyone is struggling”. Malone added that he had been informed from other leaders of churches in this area who are facing similar dangers. This is either because their congregations are smaller or because during the sunny days they were lax and this has led to them defaulting. It is all a sign of the age and times America is passing through.

The officials of Horry County however saidthat no other churches right now are in foreclosure or being auctioned off since 2009 April. But many of the churches are reeling under the impact of recession. Their requirements have increased but their income has decreased observed Malone. He said, “It is getting really hard”.

All that Baisch and other members of the church can do is to pray for time. Baisch believes that since optimism has always been the main pillar of the church it is God who will see them through these troubled days. He said that during the sunny times he with Pastor Todd Hensley had focused on using the money of the church for missionary work and never thought of putting it aside for the rainy day. Moreover they had no inkling that not only would it rain but it would pour. He added, “We’re not business people, we’re church people. We made mistakes. We did”.

Initially the church was in a small storefront at Surfside Beach but with increase in income and charities coming in it moved to occupy larger premises and have a permanent address. The mortgage due per month was $5,500.