There have been two major issues I have been working on over the past month or so. The first has been simply to put together one, two, three and five year financial projections for the ministry. We need these for several reasons; to complete our 501-C3 application, for our loan applications, and for insurance purposes. I have done these myself several times over but admittedly this is not my strong suit so I have been praying for help. We may have found a gentleman with non-profit accounting experience who seems willing to join our board and help, but it has been hard to connect with him. We need to get this done soon and we need help. Please keep this in prayer.
The second issue is advancing on the property. I have done some research at the Zoning Dept. In Shelton to learn what is on paper there for the property. I learned that the owner had petitioned for a Zoning change from “existing non-conforming” to fit into the corporate development guidelines of the area. This means that under these zoning changes a new owner would have to make an application and statement of use that must fit within the development guidelines. Although he made the Zoning changes and had initial plans drawn up for a five story building our understanding is that he does not want to develop it. In the process I have also learned that the owner is a developer who has owned and developed property all along that corridor, is now 73, and according to reports simply wants to unload the property and retire. After getting some advise from a friend who is a developer I had an unofficial meeting with the chief Zoning official about how we would use the property. The meeting was friendly and the official was helpful, suggesting that we have the owner petition to reverse his zoning changes. If this is done then the city has no stipulations against houses of worship (which is what he suggested we call ourselves since we are in essence a Eucharistic Community assembled for healing the soul) any where in the city. Since this meeting went well I have decided to move forward with an offer on the property. Our plan is to offer Sixhundredthousand dollars and recommend that the balance of the asking price be donated as a charitable donation, which I have on good advise, he can write off over a five to seven year period. We will need to put ten percent down (minimum) if we work with the local community funding group I have contact with. That means we will need at least 60k for a deposit. Obviously we are praying for a miraculous provision of property. God has done things like this for many in the past. I am aware of a church not too far from here who purchased a large old school for a dollar many years ago. Pray that God moves on the owners heart that the last property deal he makes is an offering to God for his success over the years.
Even though Pascha House is not up and running that does not mean that I am not doing that sort of ministry. At present I am providing Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling to several individuals. God continues to bring people to me who are in dire need for the sort of historic soul care I provide and virtually all of them report that they are having more success in seeing me than in seeing their respective therapists or other counselors. I can only say that this is merely the result of grace that God has given me and that my use of the paradigm of the desert fathers in the cure of the soul is effective. At present I am seeing one woman who has experienced the loss of her young son on top of severe depression who would greatly benefit from Pascha House if it were up and running. I have been seeing another good young man who has just gone into a 21day program who will be a warrior for Christ once he has had the opportunity to be restored. There are people who need to be shielded and strengthened in Christian Community for a time so that they can heal and their lives be re-ordered. Please pray for these people.
On a final note. I have been attending Liberty University’s online learning program in psychology for a while now. This coming year I will take a bit of a break from that, at least for the first half of the year, to take courses towards a diploma in Biblical Counseling from the course selection from the American Association of Christian Counselors. Upon completion of this intensive program I will also be able to qualify as a Board Certified Pastoral Counselor. I will also be taking a year long course, beginning in September, in Spiritual Direction. This Certificate program is offered by the Center for Spirituality and Justice and is run by the Carmelites. These programs together will cost just over $3000.00 dollars and the funds are payable before I start in September. These certifications are critical to the ministry I do as they lend obvious credibility to the gifts I already have.
While we have been successful in raising nearly half of the $8000.00 dollars sought in the last newsletter we still need to keep going. We are so grateful to the Lord for showing us his provision and Inger and I are walking in faith. God has shown my wife that our model of provision is not a business model, but an agricultural one; as we sow into people’s lives freely we receive a return later. I do not ask for money from anyone I see, and our church does not “fund” my ministry (although church does contribute a modest amount). I operate on the “Freely you have received, freely give” model. Our trust is in the God who always answerers our prayers. Right now I am praying for funds for our bills for August and for the $3000.00 dollars I need for these courses. Please pray with us and if God moves on your heart visit the “Give” page and make a donation. By doing so you are partnering with us in caring for broken people and restoring them, and you are becoming a partner in fulfilling the vision to make Pascha House and the Center for the Cure of Souls a reality.
Thank you for reading the site and for your prayers and support. Together we are attaining treasures in heaven.
Sincerely,
Fr. Matt Mirabile
