North Point Community Church celebrated a milestone achievement during services on February 22. The congregation paid off the remainder of its once-significant debt in January 2026, nearly five years early, through faithful giving and several large financial gifts. Eliminating the church’s debt has been Pastor Freddy Johnson’s focus since he was called to North Point in 2014.

“I knew this debt was a big obstacle and it became one of the first things I tried to address with our leadership at the time,” Johnson recalls. Prior to being called into ministry, Johnson’s time in the business world honed financial and administrative skills that he says helped him “never lose sight that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel someday.”

In 2014, North Point was a congregation of roughly 70 people representing about 21 giving units, that also carried more than $860,000 of debt. The story of the church’s debt is not the focus, yet it’s worth noting that details include debt acquired during a difficult market and with a high-interest mortgage. According to member Dan Bledsoe, the church was dangerously close to closing because of its financial situation.

“As I look back 12 to 15 years ago, there were great things we wanted to do but we had the bondage of monthly payments toward the debt. It took everyone faithfully giving and refusing to give up when the goal of getting out of debt seemed out of reach,” Bledsoe says.

In his early days at the church Johnson considered existing options the church had as he addressed the debt and some critical maintenance needs. A portion of land was sold and the monies went toward the debt amount and allowed for some interior upgrades and a much-needed parking lot pavement. Before long the debt was reduced to about $460,000.

Church attendance spiked but did not see sustainable growth, so Johnson met with the bank’s board of directors to unsuccessfully renegotiate North Point’s 6.5% interest rate in an effort to stem the financial situation. Eventually, in 2017, Johnson says someone in the church introduced them to another bank that was able to offer the church an “incredible interest rate, extended time, and no penalty for paying off the debt early.” The North Point congregation learned about stewardship and heard stories of giving that propelled them toward the goal of becoming debt-free.

Johnson “shared about my own story of life-long tithing, including during years as a businessman before I became a believer.” Church giving increased and several financial gifts were received that helped to make early loan payments along the way. By October 2025 the remaining debt was about $20,000. Johnson created a final giving challenge to meet this collection goal by the end of 2025.

“Several families gave extra gifts, and I met with six people out of state which raised a combined $33,000 by the end of the year,” Johnson reports. “With that, North Point was finally out of debt and now has sustainable income in the bank. It’s freed us up to support missions even more than we had been to this point.”

North Point members began supporting a diverse group of six missions in the midst of their debt journey. The groups include sports and singles ministries, outreach to a local elementary school and a pregnancy center, a mission in Haiti, and CMBA. Johnson is proud of his congregation’s growing commitment to give and their heart for missions while sacrificially giving toward the debt. Recognizing “you cannot out-give God,” Johnson says his church was “able to double our missions giving overnight, just by being out of debt.”

According to member Jeanie Yuris, North Point was “really in a pit for a long time, but we never gave up. God had a plan all along and we have seen Him working.” She is grateful for how “the Lord brought different people into the church to help us,” and is celebrating where her church is today. “We give God all the praises and glory. Our church is a family, and we love the Lord and each other,” she says.

Today, North Point has more than doubled its membership and averages about 100 in attendance each Sunday. To other churches facing similar financial struggles, Johnson advises being obedient to God’s Word and to any clear visions that God gives your church regarding the debt. “God leads in His faithfulness to get you to the end of that tunnel. I truly believe that if God has given you a task, keep doing it until He shows you the end of the tunnel.”

For his part, Bledsoe looks forward to how God will lead North Point to expand ministry, internally and externally. “Now that we are free of debt, we are looking to serve others. I am proud of our leadership and congregation. It shows the impact God has when you’re faithful.”