Monthly Newsletter: April 2024

Written By Erna Pardede
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
— Colossians 4:2 NIV

A Life of Prayer: Prayer is a vital aspect of the Christian life. If the mission of God is to be effective through us, we need to be devoted to talking to God about every aspect of life, with thanksgiving and gratitude.

April is a fruitful and busy month at Community Growth Foundation. As we carry the mission to nurture and cultivate a Faith-based Multi-housing Ecosystem, we prayerfully pray for alignment with our key stakeholders and partners, and visited a few key stakeholders in CO, AZ, and TX in our effort to nurture and cultivate the relationship, and at the same time calling an action as God leads them to join force with CGF in our mission.

CGF Focus:

Update to the CGF Organization Structure enclosed below. A key stakeholders retreat to seek God’s guidance and brainstorm is planned for June 13-14 at Ouray Ranch Lodge near Grand Lake, CO (1.5 days) – 10 Confirmed.

Do you have an experience & expertise, and interested in joining CGF Board or Advisory Committee? Email: dsnyder@continentalrealtygroup.com, erna@continentalrealtygroup.com

National Governing Board – Quarterly Meeting

In addition to the current Board Members – Chuck Welden [WeldenField], Keith Dunkin [WayMaker/Madera], and John Mullen [Franciscan Real Estate] have agreed to join CGF Board and to shape where God is leading CGF. A Welcome Package will be distributed to each Board member, including a Q2 meeting plan for late June.

CGF Executive Board – Open Position

If you or you know somebody who is a Devoted Christian, a Servant Leader, a Key & Well-connected Real Estate Player, and is called to join our mission, connect with us: dsnyder@continentalrealtygroup.com, erna@continentalrealtygroup.com

Pillar 1: Ownership & Development

Our mission for this pillar is to bring together key Real Estate Leaders with values aligned and proven track records to join force and collaborate in Real Estate Fund or Entity Transaction with resident and community impact focus and by providing market-rate returns to our investors.

Community Growth Foundation 501c3 (CGF) is uniquely set up to invest alongside profit business to gain market rate return. This approach enables long-term sustainability. Donations for this purpose will allow CGF to be self-sustaining by 2030. CGF Investors have options listed but not limited to:

  • Invest portions of their investment for a market rate return and portions of their investment for donation to CGF to leverage tax benefits.

  • Invest initial capital for a market rate return and donate appreciated asset value before sale to CGF, DAF, etc. for donated value multiplication and tax shelter. This can be done immediately with current capital gains or upon sale or capital events in the future with the real estate investments that the fund performs.

We had Zoom calls, visited a few key players in CO, AZ, and TX to have alignment discussion in the vision/mission, and investment methodology. We also took the time to learn progress in Church Real Estate.

We are looking for a dedicated advisory committee [5-7 Advisors] to shape the Fund/Operating structure that will benefit the kingdom, and for the Foundation to be sustainable by 2030.

Properties Update:

Villas Del Rio, Las Vegas, NV

168 units are under contract with a closing date of June 8th. CGF is an investor in the for-profit ownership entity and will spearhead the impact efforts to serve the community and bring a new level of Multi-housing Ministry to the Las Vegas market.

Sun Valley, Denver, CO

The Sun Valley development transaction in Denver is moving forward with city entitlements and several investors have committed several million dollars in equity to this Opportunity Zone
investment. Approximately $10M is still available for additional investors in this $180M development. Construction is expected in the Q1 of 2025.

38th & Huron, Denver, CO

The 38th and Huron development transaction is very near to final approval for all entitlements. We have a co-GP relationship with Deven USA, the US arm of Kajima Development in Japan. Construction is expected Q4 of 2024.

Pillar 2: Mission 98 [Bring Christ to the People]

We on-boarded Amy Sullivan, Mission 98 Executive Director on April 15th. Amy attended a micro-church conference in Kansas City this month, which we co-sponsored alongside Apartment Life. We are excited for a few contacts made from the after-event lunch and the follow-up.

Randy Wilson, The WeldenField Chief Spiritual Officer, agreed to join Mission 98 Board. We are working with Pete Kelly, Apartment Life, to have a representative from Apartment Life join Mission 98 Board. Pete had agreed but the candidate has not been released yet. Mission 98 also held their first Advisory Commitee meeting in April with 7 in attendance.

We held in-person meetings with key leaders/investors in AZ for a commitment to launch our first multi- housing Ministry in the Phoenix MSA region by June 2024. The commitment is for the local business/church leaders to fund half of the ministry cost and be an available spiritual support locally for the team. We have identified a leader to lead a Multi-housing Ministry, to mobilize churches, and to work alongside Apartment Life team. Both CGF/Mission 98 and Apartment Life are excited to see where God is leading us next in this multi-housing ministry collaboration.


Pillar 3: Management 98 [Best-in-class Real Estate Investment and Management Education]

Jeremy Edmiston, Cushman and Wakefield, agreed to lead the content Task Force of this pillar. Other known industry leaders such as Debbie Phillips and Stephanie Hellings are recommended for the task force candidate if their schedule can accommodate.

In addition – John Kaites, the dean of Grand Canyon University (GCU) business school, had agreed to lend their expertise with curriculum development. Enclosed is a picture of our visit to GCU this past month. Keith Castello, Nick Ellis, Ron Blue, and others subject mater experts have agreed to assist on this pillar. We are amazed at what God has done and pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send us laborers.

Pillar 4: Mentoring & Special Events [Community Development & Support]

Our focus on this pillar is casting the vision to our community via in-person or virtual events, as well as social media. We are on-track to release our first book this year: A Call Worth Pursuing – Cultivating and Nurturing a Faith-based Multi-housing Ecosystem. We plan to activate our own podcast as well as speak at other people’s podcasts/stages.

Events plan this year:

  • Christian Economic Forum Annual Summit, Real Estate Breakout Session, in Quebec, Canada: July 17th

  • First Mission 98 conference in Estee Park, CO: September 24 – 26, 2024

  • Redemptive Real Estate, Dallas, TX: November 12 – 13, 2024

  • Continue leading Real Estate Community Study Group hosted by Faith Driven Investors

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Erna Pardede
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