April 24, 2024
DULUTH – The Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center is poised to be sold within the next year under a contract announced Monday, but “the true headquarters” for ministry in the state will remain unchanged.
“That’s because the true headquarters for Baptist work has always been and always will be our churches,” said Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director Thomas Hammond.
The mission board’s Executive Committee hired one of the nation’s largest real estate brokers, JLL, to market the property late last year. The contract, which was signed last week, calls for the closing to be on or before April 14, 2022.
Hammond said the undisclosed buyer has already begun title work, a site survey, as well as engineering, environmental, and geotechnical studies on the property.
Hammond is leading an effort to right-size the mission board’s office space and has begun a search for a much smaller and less expensive property within a 10-mile radius of the current building.
“I am excited to share with you some very encouraging news,” Hammond said in a letter to the Executive Committee on Monday. “Two years ago at our annual meeting, I made a commitment to all Georgia Baptists to sell the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center on Sugarloaf Parkway. As of Thursday, April 22, the property is officially under contract.”
The sales process will begin with a 90-day inspection period, followed by several months of planning and zoning reviews for a proposed development that would be built on the property.
“As we prepare for our move, please know we have significant amounts of excess office furniture and related furnishings that we hope your churches can use,” Hammond said in the letter. “Please pass the word along to churches in your area and have anyone interested contact us at furniture@gabaptist.org. After receiving emails we will proceed with all related information on how to claim and pick up your desired items.”
Hammond said he and his staff still are searching for office space that will meet the needs of the mission board staff.
“The Lord has been so gracious to us in providing a buyer during such uncertain times in our world,” he said. “Please accept my deepest gratitude for your continued prayers and support as we seek to reach Georgia with the gospel and align our resources to this effort. Keep praying for us as we work with the buyer throughout the next 12 months and evaluate future office possibilities.”
