By Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson
My wife and I are not part of a national organization or denomination. For the past 12 years, we have built this ministry independently, purchasing and maintaining our facility through faith, hard work, and sacrifice.
The building was originally constructed decades ago, with major renovations completed in 1973. In 2019, when we explored refinancing and pulling equity from the property, our lender at the time—a regional bank, not a large conglomerate—required inspections and evaluations of the building. Based on the results of a four-point inspection, the bank determined that separate windstorm coverage was not necessary.
At the time, commercial wind insurance would have cost between $50,000 and $70,000 per year. The policy also carried a deductible of approximately 10% of the building’s value, meaning we would have been responsible for roughly $300,000 before coverage applied. Given those facts and the inspection results, the bank did not require the coverage.
In 2021, another bank acquired our original lender and assumed our loan. By 2022, the new bank reversed course and informed us that we were required to carry windstorm insurance. We already maintained liability and flood coverage, so this dispute concerned only wind insurance. We provided the same inspection documentation showing why the coverage had previously been deemed unnecessary, but the bank insisted on imposing it.
Over time, the bank accumulated approximately $204,000 in force-placed insurance charges. We argued that the requirement was not based on any change in the property’s condition and that we were not avoiding coverage to save money. The bank responded that it had the right to protect its investment and continued adding the charges to our account.
By 2025, the situation escalated into foreclosure proceedings. We hired an attorney to negotiate with the bank, paying the full fee upfront. Unfortunately, despite taking our money, the first attorney never meaningfully communicated with the bank or resolved the issue.
Then, in January 2026, I received a call informing me that our church building was scheduled for auction. We had not even been aware that the process had advanced that far. Within 48 hours, we were required to provide earnest money to stop the sale. My wife and I had to withdraw $95,000 from our retirement savings to protect the property.
The legal battle continued, and by March a judge temporarily halted the foreclosure. Throughout this ordeal, we have faced the stigma that often comes with foreclosure. People assume that if a church or homeowner is facing foreclosure, they must have stopped paying their bills. That was never the case. The dispute stemmed from force-placed insurance charges, not from a failure to make our mortgage payments.
At the same time, developers and investors began approaching us about purchasing the property. Many appeared interested not in preserving the ministry, but in acquiring the land for redevelopment. To us, this reflects a broader pattern of gentrification: community institutions and long-time property owners are pressured out, while outside interests seek to capitalize on rising property values.
Our goal has never been to maximize profit. We wanted the property to remain a community resource that serves local families and supports ministry outreach. We have invested heavily in renovations, including improvements to the sanctuary and fellowship hall, and we have worked hard to maintain the facility.
This experience has taught us how vulnerable churches, homeowners, and small organizations can be when facing large financial institutions and complex legal processes. Many people lack the resources, representation, or knowledge needed to protect themselves. Some become intimidated and accept unfavorable outcomes because they do not know their rights or cannot afford to fight back.
That is why we are sharing our story. If this can happen to a church, it can happen to homeowners and other community organizations as well. We hope our experience encourages people to educate themselves, seek competent representation, ask questions, and stand up for their rights rather than feeling pressured to give up. If our story helps even one person navigate a similar situation, then sharing it will have been worthwhile.
