What did it Cost to Launch the Spaceship Church?

View of the original church sanctuary (undated photo).

MPLC started the process of building a new church building by purchasing land in June 1972. The parcel located south of the corner of Hwy 31 and 16th St. had been owned by Lincoln Lutheran of Racine, a senior care organization (no longer in business). MPLC voted to purchase the property for $60,000.

By October 1973, MPLC's “Forward with a Mission” building campaign announced the new construction plans and estimated costs of $500,000. At the start of fundraising, the congregation had $120,000 on hand, and $233,000 net proceeds from the sale of their old building and property in July 1974.

Robert Bohm, chair of the Building Committee, wrote about this time in his annual report to the congregation for 1974: “On July 16th (1974) the bids were received for the new building and disaster almost struck because the tabulation of bids revealed a total figure completely out of reach according to our budget. We were caught in the most inflationary building cost period in history.”

Bohm continued, “During the next month some very concentrated work by the architects, the low bidders, the building committee, and a lot of prayers by everyone changed a near disaster into hope and finally after another congregational meeting where more funds were authorized, we began making plans for ground breaking.”

Through careful budget oversight and much volunteer and donated labor on the part of members, the project was finally completed on budget with $486,639 in construction/building expenses from 1974-1977 (land purchase cost excluded). Thanks be to God and for the support of many members’ contributions!