Fellowship Monrovia – Building Stronger Ministries Together

For Fellowship Church of Monrovia & Pasadena, the gospel is at the center of everything they do. They strive to be more than just a Sunday morning routine defined by the number of congregants sitting in rows. Their God sized vision to reach the lost and positively impact the communities they serve.Sr. Pastor Albert Tate – a church planter in the truest sense of the word – alongside his staff wanted to grow, wider, taller, and deeper in the communities they have planted within and needed a financial partner to prepare them to execute on their vision. In 2016, the Fellowship Church staff, and the ACCU Ministry Lending Team's conversations (on ways to better assist the surrounding Southern California communities) developed into pragmatic ways to partner together and delivered solutions that fit Fellowship's short and long term financial objectives. 

First, ACCU introduced Fellowship Church to the ACCU Visa 360 platform, which in concert with the ACCU business rewards Visa, was developed to help churches and businesses better document and control expenses through corporate cards.

Next, they sought to tackle various savings practices and techniques – utilizing savings accounts and savings certificates – to maximize growth on funds (later to be used for renovation and construction). 

"It is truly invaluable to have a financial partner that understands our unique business needs as a church, but who is also invested in and committed to our ministry objectives. It's like being able to speak two languages at one time. We are so thankful for ACCU and would recommend them without hesitation." - Jessica Shupper Director of Business at Fellowship Monrovia

Finally (but certainly not last) when Fellowship Church was looking to purchase a building - with mixed results from other financial institutions – ACCU was able to tailor a solution that worked best for their ministry. Commercial real estate can be a daunting task. Still, with a specialization in commercial real estate and heart for ministry – ACCU was able to see and underwrite what is often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. Together and joyfully, the funding of their office building loan took place in early 2020.

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Pastor Albert Tate for over 10 years, personally and professionally. Over the past year, it has been a great blessing to [continue to] serve Fellowship Church by providing banking and lending solutions to meet their exact ministry needs. It is an honor to be in a role that assists churches, like Fellowship Church, in sharing the love of Christ to their communities." Matthew Johansen - ACCU Corporate Relations Executive

Fellowship Church of Monrovia & Pasadena is one of the largest churches in Southern California's San Gabriel Valley.