BREAKING NEWS - 5.19.10

Please rejoice with us as we give God all the praise for answered prayer! On May 19th, our attorneys met with the Hidalgo County attorney and the appraisal representative to negotiate a settlement regarding our request to be given property tax exemption status. We were given a partial tax exemption! The exemption is 75.4% and that means that we will only be required to pay 24.6% of the total amount of taxes that are levied on the property beginning with the 2009 taxes and forward.

It was exactly two years to the day that the papers were signed to file as a religious organization for property tax exemption; we just realized again that God is letting us know He is in charge, has been in charge, and forever will be in charge.

What this means for the Ministry as of today is that we will be obligated to pay the full amount of the property taxes that were due for 2008, but the penalties and interest are being petitioned by our attorneys requesting a waiver or reduction of all penalties and interest.. That should be somewhere in the amount of $18,000. We will have to pay 24.6% of the taxes that were levied for 2009, and that should be somewhere around $5,000. We have had the funds set aside in case we would have to pay the full amounts and praying that we would not as it would greatly impact the operation of this Ministry.

We are extremely grateful that the Lord directed us to such able and committed attorneys, but in the process of acquiring property tax exemption we have had to pay legal fees that have amounted thus far to $15,351.74 with another bill still coming. That leaves us in a tight spot financially as there was no way to project what the legal costs would be. We are going to be cutting it very close for a while and are asking that you consider making a contribution to Melody Lane Christian Renewal Center at this time if it is within your means. We have been faithful stewards and every bill is paid  in full almost as soon as it arrives so there are no debts. We thank you in advance for what you can do on behalf of this Ministry.

Additionally, the good news is that we will be able to continue to operate while keeping our charges at the rate they are as well as being able to support other ministries in their goals to see souls saved as well as to alleviate physical needs.

Again, thank you for all of you who have been praying for this huge milestone to be accomplished. Thank you also for those of you who wrote letters on behalf of this Ministry over two years ago; they and your prayers have born fruit.