An Update from Scott
As we enter this fall season, I’m grateful for how the Lord continues to care for Downtown Presbyterian Church. I’d like to share a few brief updates on staff news, key dates, our financial picture, and church planting. Thank you for reading—and for praying.
Staff Updates
Welcome, Audrey Johnson (Youth Ministry Assistant)
Audrey has joined our team to minister to the young women in our middle and high school ministries and to support overall youth operations. A “super-volunteer” for years, she knows our students and our rhythms well and has already hit the ground running.
New Pastor Announcement Coming Soon
We asked for your prayers in August for our Pastoral Search Committee as they were considering a number of candidates for our next Assistant Pastor. As of this week, they have completed their work and we have our new pastor excited to come serve at DPC! Out of respect for his current church family, we’re giving him space to share the news there first. Lord willing, we’ll be able to share more details about him this or next Sunday. He will lead our Young Adult Ministry and oversee Community Groups. Stay tuned!
Assistant Pastor Role Reminders
Sam Taaffe now serves as Pastor of Family Life, overseeing our Nursery, Children’s and Youth Ministries in addition to caring for parents in our church family.
Jeff Heiser continues to lead Adult Discipleship and Outreach, focusing on Men’s Ministry, Global & Local Missions (CityServe), and Adult Education.
I’m deeply thankful for how our hard-working staff serves Christ and our church family.
Schedule & Key Dates
Evening of Thanksgiving — Thursday, November 20
We’ll share a meal, give thanks for God’s goodness, and pray for one another. This evening has been a highlight the last two years—you won’t want to miss it. Registration coming soon!
Advent & Christmas
Sundays before and after Christmas(December 21 & 28): normal schedule with two services, both with nursery and Children’s Church. There will be no Sunday School on either date.
Christmas Eve: services at 4:00 and 5:15pm
State of the Church — Sunday, December 7 (Sunday School hour)
Join us for a review of DPC’s ministry and vision/mission and where we are headed, led by Brian Habig, with Q&A about the year ahead.
Financial Update
As DPC has grown and is now firmly planted on our corner of West Washington and Broad, with a new building and parking lot and continued commitments to ministry in Greenville and beyond, we want to offer you clear, regular communication about our finances.
We are thankful to have purchased the parking lot behind our church almost a year ago, which was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to allow access to our building for decades to come. Without this purchase, the property likely would have been developed and unavailable to us for many years. This parking lot, plus our new building, have increased our yearly expenses considerably as we have begun paying off the notes on both loans.
Where we are today:
Total debt (building + parking lot): ~$11.7 million
This year’s operating need (church operating expenses + debt): ~$4.0 million
Giving so far in 2025: ~$2.1million
What we still need October-December to pay our bills in 2025: ~$1.9 million
Based on anticipated October-November giving, we project that December will need to be ~$1.35 million to meet our 2025 budgeted expenses.
Last December, we gave $1.15 million to finish the year in the black; please be praying for another strong year-end and consider how you can help contribute towards the ministry of DPC.
Parking lot specifics:
Estimated value: ~$6.5-7.0 million
Current balance owed: ~$4.75 million
We expect to refinance next year at improved rates and hope to make a meaningful principal payment at that time. If you’re in a position to help, additional gifts to the Parking Lot Fund would strengthen our refinancing and reduce future interest costs.
Please reach out with any questions. We’ll share fuller detail on our financial status at the State of the Church meeting on December 7.
Church Planting Update
Good Shepherd (Overbrook)
Praise the Lord! Good Shepherd recently closed on the East North Street property where they’ve been worshiping! What a gift to have a permanent home in the heart of their target area. Because of your generosity, DPC was able to give over $500,000 toward the purchase. Thank you.
Servant King (Taylors/Wade Hampton)
Please pray for Joe Dentici (Associate Pastor at Grace & Peace, our first church plant) as he prepares to plant Servant King, our first granddaughter church, with a core group in the Taylors/Wade Hampton area, aiming to launch on Easter 2026.
Please continue praying for these works and for the Lord’s guidance as we discern what our next church plant from DPC might look like.
Thank you for loving Christ and His church. I’m continually encouraged by your prayers, service, and generosity. If you have any questions about these updates or ways you’d like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Executive for Church Leadership