Downtown church hopes for Christmas miracle
Pastor Mike Furches says Mosaic Wichita, a downtown church, serves hundreds of homeless people every week who would be devastated if its building is sold.
Mosaic is located in the Landmark Building at 212 North Market, one of three downtown properties that are scheduled for auction Jan. 11. The owners of Real Development say the properties are costing them more money than they take in for rent.
Pastor Furches says 95 percent of his unique church's membership is made up of homeless people. The church provides services seven days a week and it shelters between 15 and 30 people each night.
Mosaic wants to remain open, but that seems unlikely, given the difficult economic realities of its home.
A structural engineer recently said the Landmark Building needs about $200-thousand in renovations.
"The fact that Real Properties is asking over $200-thousand for the property...it's not conceivable that anyone would buy that property," said Furches. He thinks the most likely option for a new owner would be to raze the building and construct a parking lot.
Furches said the auction leaves the church with no easy options.
"We raise the money to buy the building at auction," said Furches, who doesn't think that is possible, considering his mostly homeless congregation. "Someone else buys it for us, we find another location that becomes affordable for us or we have to shut down."
Mosaic is working to Christmas for homeless people. Furches says now they are hoping for their own Christmas miracle.
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