Mpls Churches Facing Foreclosures

People in foreclosure may turn to their church for spiritual help, but now some metro churches are finding themselves in the same situation.

For 19 years, the Reverend Jerry MacAfee has led his congregation through good times and bad. He says these days are pretty bad.

In fact, the New Salem Baptist Church isn't just broke; it's in debt. The house of worship is now a house in foreclosure.

New Salem’s troubles actually began three years ago, when the church purchased a massive building on Humboldt Avenue to start a charter school. The problem is the state revoked the schools charter the next year, but they still need to pay off the building.

Now the church and the old school are both in foreclosure, to the tune of $3.4 million. And New Salem’s not the only church in trouble.

As many as a dozen churches in north Minneapolis are rumored to be on the brink of foreclosures.

MacAfee says his pews are still full every Sunday, with 1,500 faithful, but donations are down 40 percent.

MacAfee is more than a minister. He’s been an outspoken and sometimes controversial community leader on the north side. After talking with FOX 9, he met privately with some north side gang leaders, trying to negotiate a truce this summer. Earlier he met with a mother whose son committed suicide. MacAfee says that work will always continue, even as they pray for a miracle.