GenFi Ministries — Local services in Salem

You may be dreaming about the future, but are you financing it? Without funding, vision is a rocket without an engine, a vehicle without fuel, and a dream without legs.

At the end of the day, you’re going to need a financial partner who has more than flashy branding and bottom-line objectives. You need a financial service provider that values spiritual vision, Kingdom thinking, responsible stewardship, and tenured relationships.

The Bible shows us that collaborative relationships are invisible assets that must be a part of the financial equation.

The splendor of King Solomon’s temple is known to all of us. However, we usually only remember and celebrate the back end of that story. Hiram was the King of Tyre and had a long relationship with King David and his son Solomon. Hiram supplied Solomon with cedar, cypress, and gold to build the temple, royal palace, and two other structures. But there was a time when Solomon’s vision exceeded his resources. There was a time when Solomon needed a financial partner to make his vision a reality.

1 Kings 9:10-14 describes a financial partnership between the two kings that became a win/win situation. Solomon gave Hiram 20 cities in Galilee as collateral to help finance construction materials (1 Kings 9:13). Hiram saw more than figures. He saw divine potential in Solomon’s vision and had a relationship with Solomon that was stronger than any contract or underwriting process. It ended up working out because those cities are later mentioned as part of Israel, which means Solomon either paid off the loan or bought the cities back (2 Chronicles 8:20). So, the splendor of all those things we associate with Solomon’s success was made possible partly because of a loan from a lender who valued integrity, relationship, and spiritual potential. 2 Chronicles 5:14 tells us that when the building of the temple was complete the glory of God fell on the temple so strong that the priest could no longer stand or do their work. What was really happening on the larger scale of things? I’ll tell you what was happening.

• Every person behind the scenes of Hiram’s loan to Solomon became part of a miracle. • Crews on ships that floated cedar logs from Tyre were part of the supply chain of God’s glory. • The millions of tasks behind unimaginable shipping caravans became part of the nation’s divine destiny and place in prophecy.

I have found Church Extension Plan to be that kind of friend to the Rocky Mountain Ministry Network. That’s why I would encourage you to give them an opportunity to strategize with you on the front end of your own ministry story. Whether its financing your vision for expanding your facilities, investing your personal or church reserves, or planning now for a retirement that will enable you to live with peace and dignity in your golden years. Why not start the conversation with them now? Hundreds of us in the Rocky Mountain Ministry Network did and I have not regretted it.

Gene Roncone District Superintendent Rocky Mountain Ministry...

I have used this organization for years, but just got of the phone with the President Mark Witney and have never been treated so rudely in all my years in ministry. He was condescending, and basically actually said, "I can't waste my time talking with you, so just cut to the chase, if you don't like our investment rate just take your money somewhere else." I was not looking for anything at first except a conversation, but he did not want to hear my story, I will be taking my over 1-million-dollar investment somewhere else. Be warned before you invest, they do not live up to their advertising on their own web page: and I quote... "At the heart of each of our transactions is a spirit of win-win partnership, which often takes us “outside the box” of a traditional financial institution. We’re encouraged to stretch with (and for) a ministry organization that requires a creative financial solution whenever it is fiscally prudent to do so." I don't know who wrote that for their web page, but I think they don't work there anymore. Very sad. My church and many of our staff have invested here for many years, we will not be doing so...

Be careful. Notice that it is not FDIC insured. Our church found out that our pastor took out 4 mortgages in the last 10 years from CEP and the pastor before him took out another one. That makes 5 mortgages on our property. The mortgages totaled 1.8 million when we only had under half a million in building permits. In addition, the only thing we had done was two remodel jobs and the last one we raised enough funds to pay for the remodel - so we are left wondering just how they got a mortgage and why? Also, as of our churches 2010 financial statements the total debt on us was larger than the original amount of the mortgages! Either we had other long term debt or CEP let the church pay interest only - and the first mortgage was taken out in the 90's! Substantial principal should have been paid down by now. Thought if you invested in CEP the $ went to build or expand churches. If all money has been invested like it was in our church then I would be...