Clearing the air on sale of Mt. Baldy: Letter from City Gate Church Pastor

Editor's Note: A contract has been finalized for the sale of Mount Baldy, but the names of the buyers have yet to be released. Mt. Baldy, also called Prayer Mountain, was put up for sale by City Gate Church last month. The sale has not yet been finalized.  Those involved with the sale have told the Wimberley View that the buyers have “good intentions” for the property.

 

 

From City Gate Pastor Chad Hayes

 

There have been a lot of things said in our community with regards to our stewardship of, and intent to sell Prayer Mountain (Mount Baldy, Mount Alberta).  I wanted to make clear to our community where our church stands with regards to these issues.

 

First, we understand and value what this piece of property means to the community. I have read up on the history of this iconic site and I realize it's significance to the community of Wimberley. I have lived and worked in this community for many years and I have often enjoyed climbing the stairs to the top of Prayer Mountain with my family. Our intent is to try to sell the property to someone who will steward it in a way that will be a benefit to the Wimberley Valley.

 

Our reason for selling this property is because we feel that we can not properly take care of it in a way that is beneficial to the community. The long history of inappropriate behavior on this site is more than we can manage.  City Gate Church's vision is to fulfill the Great Commission, which is done by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples. 

 

While sitting down with our board a few months back we considered this vision and made decisions about how to best fulfill it. At that time our leadership felt that owning this property was a detriment to that vision and so we decided to try and find someone who would be able to better manage the property.  Therefore the property was placed for sale. 

 

We will use the capital generated from this sale in two primary ways: 1) To maintain and improve the facilities at our church campus so that we can better serve our community. 2) We will use the funds for outreach and ministry to the people of the Wimberley Valley.

 

As for the closing of the property, we did not intend to upset anyone in the community.  What needs to be understood is that there are many who live near this site who experience negative consequences because of the fact that so many chose to use the property in a disrespectful way.  Some of Prayer Mountain's neighbors have their lives interrupted on a weekly basis by people violating laws, committing acts of vandalism and other lewd behavior.  We have been exhausted trying to deal with these issues.  We value the fact that this site means so much to the community yet at the same time we are trying to respect our neighbors as well.  

 

At this point we are very hopeful that we are going to be able to resolve this situation in a way that will make everyone that values Prayer Mountain happy.  We are doing everything that we can to ensure that whoever purchases this property from us will steward it in a way in which will benefit the interest of the neighbors, as well as the rest of the Wimberley community.

 

Thank you,

Pastor Chad Hayes

City Gate Church