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My prayer for a home: A testimony of faith and mortgage solutions

Photo of Caroline Caroline Culverwell
4 min

Having always worked in Christian ministry, the idea of buying my own home seemed out of reach. In my 20s and early 30s, renting was sufficient, and I had plenty of options. However, as friends got married and moved on, finding suitable rentals became harder, and not having a place to call my own began to feel unsettling. So, I prayed and asked God for a home, even though I had no idea how it could happen.

Two years later, I got married, and my husband and I saw a small possibility of buying a flat. But how could we get a mortgage? My salary wasn’t enough, and my husband’s income came from support raising—something most high street banks wouldn’t consider.

Discovering Kingdom Bank

I remembered hearing about Kingdom Bank, a Christian bank that offers mortgages to Christian workers. They understand that some of us are called to supported roles and take into account support raising income. I reached out and spoke with Jackie, who was incredibly helpful.

A miracle in the making

After reviewing our situation, Kingdom Bank advised that they could offer us a mortgage. I was overjoyed. 

If you feel that working in Christian ministry has kept you from buying a home, I encourage you to pray and trust that God can do more than you can imagine. Kingdom Bank has helped many Christian workers achieve homeownership. Their current interest rates are competitive, and they truly understand the unique financial circumstances of Christian workers.

We asked Jackie to share with us her response to some of the most common questions from Christian workers when it comes to purchasing a home. Here is what she shared:

1. My income is from supporters, and many high street lenders don’t recognise it or require three years of tax returns, which we don’t have. Can you help?

Absolutely! We are more than happy to consider ongoing and regular support income. If you’ve been receiving support consistently for at least a year and it’s expected to continue, we’ll take that into account when reviewing your mortgage application. We understand that traditional income documentation may not fit everyone’s situation, and we’re here to offer a flexible approach based on your financial reality.

2. Why do high street lenders only accept family gifts for home purchases and not contributions from friends or supporters?

Other lenders often struggle to understand why someone would give a significant sum of money to a non-relative, assuming it might be linked to money laundering. At Kingdom Bank, we appreciate the generosity within the Christian community and are comfortable accepting gifts from friends or supporters, provided the funds are legitimate and the givers have no claim on the property. We still adhere to strict regulations but approach these situations with understanding.

3. Why do high street lenders only consider part of my income and have issues with my fixed-term contracts, despite my total income equating to a full-time wage from various sources?

We get it—churches and charities often can’t offer permanent roles, but that doesn’t diminish your dedication. At Kingdom Bank, we consider 100% of your income as long as it’s regular and ongoing. If you’re on a fixed-term contract, we’ll ensure that you have a track record of successful contract work or other future income options. Our goal is to make sure your mortgage is affordable and reflects your commitment, even if your employment situation is less traditional.

4. Could my church help me buy a property by co-owning it with me, whilst we get a mortgage for the rest?

It’s a thoughtful idea, but joint ownership with a church isn’t possible under standard mortgage rules unless it’s part of a shared ownership scheme—an arrangement managed by specialised organisations which is quite complex. Instead, consider asking your church to help with a deposit. For instance, if they can provide £50,000 as part of a deposit, you could use it towards your property purchase. This would need to be formally agreed upon and documented, with clear terms for repayment. Remember, you’ll still need to contribute at least 10% of the property value from your own resources, and it's wise to seek advice on any tax implications.

We hope you find this article helpful and if you are ready to explore how Kingdom Bank could be one of the options to support you on your journey to homeownership? Contact Kingdom Bank to discuss your mortgage options and see how they could help make your dream of owning a home a reality.  

Kingdom Bank 

 

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Bi-monthly emails for Christian workers and Bible College students. Encouragement, practical tools and training to strengthen you in your support raising journey.

Profile image of Caroline Culverwell
Written by

Caroline Culverwell

Having spent time raising support while serving in Bolivia and following her experience as World Mission Pastor at a large church in London, Caroline is passionate about seeing those in Christian ministry move beyond living on just enough and uncomfortable asking for money to understanding support raising as a genuine gospel partnership. She wants to see those in Christian work well resourced as they boldly follow what God has called them to. 

She’s passionate about Mental & Physical Health and Global Mission causes, supporting a number of individuals working in mental health and with refugees.