Brooklyn Park, MN – Minnesota State Representative Cedrick Frazier delivered a stirring keynote address Saturday evening at Ebenezer Community Church’s fundraiser dinner, urging members and supporters to rally together in raising funds to pay off the church’s remaining $4 million mortgage.
Speaking to a packed room of congregants and community leaders, Frazier praised Ebenezer’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most impactful churches in the Twin Cities.
“When I look at Ebenezer Community Church, I see more than brick and mortar,” Frazier said. “I see a living testimony—a testimony that faith, perseverance, and service can transform not just a congregation, but an entire neighborhood and community.”
A Legacy of Growth and Service
Tracing the church’s history, Frazier highlighted its remarkable expansion from just eight worshippers to a congregation of more than 850 members. He recounted milestones including the 2004 purchase of land, the dedication of its first building in 2016, and the opening of the $6 million sanctuary and Rev. Dr. Peter James Flamming Educational Center in 2021.
Over the years, Ebenezer has already paid down an estimated $6 million in debt. With $4 million left on the mortgage, Frazier framed the challenge not as a burden but as an opportunity.
“That’s not a weight—it’s an opportunity,” he said. “An opportunity to wipe it clean and declare that Ebenezer is free to serve without financial restraint, free to give every resource directly to the people of this community.”
A Beacon for the Community
Frazier lauded Ebenezer’s influence beyond the pulpit, pointing to its civic engagement work, advocacy for immigrant families, leadership in addressing gun violence and police brutality, and its lifeline services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the Ebenezer way,” he said. “This is what it means to be, as Jesus says in Matthew 5:14, ‘the light of the world—a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.’”
The Call to Action
With the mortgage pay-off as the focus of the evening, Frazier challenged the congregation to envision a debt-free future. He painted a picture of scholarships for youth, expanded support for immigrant families, and broader assistance for food, housing, and healthcare.
“When Ebenezer shines brighter, all of us benefit,” Frazier told the audience. “When Ebenezer is strong, our community is strong.”
He closed by reminding the congregation of their spiritual foundation: “God began a good work here… Now it is our turn to finish what God has started.”
The fundraiser dinner is part of Ebenezer Community Church’s ongoing campaign to retire its mortgage debt and expand its ministries of service, justice, and community transformation.
