Mission Rekindled
By Karen Schneider
There’s nothing quite like the joy of burning a mortgage.
On Sabbath, October 18, 2025, the Logan Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated the complete repayment of its church building loan.
The celebration was a heartfelt tribute to God’s provision and the congregation’s commitment to spreading the gospel in the Logan community.
The bilingual service was translated into Spanish by Ivan Porras, allowing all attendees to fully participate in the joyous occasion. Longtime member Terry Griswold, who has been with the church since its founding, shared the church’s history. He recounted the challenges faced when their previous building was claimed through eminent domain, and how the congregation found hope in Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
"A church is not defined by its walls, but by the people within them," I shared during the celebration. The Logan SDA Church family has always created a Christ-like and welcoming atmosphere. I'm excited to see how the resources once used for mortgage payments will now be redirected to sharing Christ even more intentionally in the Logan community.
Elder William “Bill” Werner delivered a powerful sermon centered on the Great Commission. He emphasized the urgency of discipleship with a memorable phrase: “The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.” He invited each attendee to personalize the call to action from Matthew 28:19 by inserting their own name into the verse: “Therefore, go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching.”
The service included a symbolic burning of the promissory note, signifying the end of a financial chapter and the beginning of a renewed spiritual mission. Nicholas Streifling stood by with a fire extinguisher, ready just in case. His mother, Debbie Streifling, shared that Nicholas had been especially excited to attend church that morning. Many expressed their hope that the congregation would continue to be energized in its outreach efforts, praying that God would bless their mission to reach every corner of the Logan community.
