Table Rock Fellowship is a nondenominational Christian fellowship church that has grown to become one of the Rogue Valley's mega churches. In spite of roughly 3,000 weekly attendees at this church, it has remained a down-to-earth, friendly church offering many programs and link groups to its members looking to find the right church home. The pastoral team, staff and volunteers who pull together the many different services and programs this church offers are an outstanding resource and one of the reasons for this church's phenomenal growth. This is a "come as you are" place, with a fantastic worship band and children's program. This church ROCKS!  Due to the phenomenal growth, services are being extended effective March 15^th-16^th and will be held Saturdays at 6PM, and Sundays at 8:15a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:30 a.m., with Children's ministry available at all services.

As is often the case with joint venture projects, especially Christian ones, a simple question, a reach out, and the putting together of like minds leads to a successful venture. Several weeks ago, a volunteer from Habitat for Humanity Rogue Valley asked Pastor Tom Sabens if there was a chance Table Rock Fellowship might see their way to sponsoring the next home Habitat for Humanity Rogue Valley is building in Central Point, Oregon.  Pastor Tom relayed the request to Table Rock Fellowship's congregation and in no time at all, offers were flowing in for contributions of work and materials to assist with this build.

Misconceptions abound about how the Habitat for Humanity Program works. This program is a hand UP, not a hand out. The philosophy of HfH is "teaching the man to fish". Each family works at least 500 hours to meet their sweat equity requirements in the local affiliate. They make a small contribution to set up their escrow account to pay their taxes and insurance - $500 for each partner family with our local affiliate. Then, they have a mortgage just like most homeowners, albeit at zero interest. In order to make the payments affordable for these families earning between 30-60% of the HUD median income for our county, there will be two mortgages. The first is the one they make their monthly payments on, and will have the principal amount that bears the bulk of the expense associated with the home's construction. The second is silent, has no interest or payments, and is gradually forgiven. This may be where the "handout" perception comes from, but if the homeowner sells the home during the first 9 years, they will have to pay all or part of this principal balance, too. These are general guidelines for our local Jackson County, Oregon Affiliate, and may vary slightly between one affiliate and the next, being adjusted to meet the needs and requirements of individual communities. The local Affiliate maintains first right of refusal to buy back the home in event the homeowner sells. Homeowners attend budgeting and credit counseling classes to prepare them for homeownership, and have Family Partners that continue to interact with them long after the home is complete.

For Habitat for Humanity Rogue Valley's latest home at 242 Aurora Lane in Central Point Oregon, they are holding an Orientation Meeting at Table Rock Fellowship on Wednesday March 12^th at 7PM in the Worship Center. A Wall Raising Celebration to kick off the project will be on the site of the home Saturday March 15^th at 1PM, with a BBQ and "Bring a Dish" starting at noon.

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - http://www.quality4loans.com/