The adjacent ten acres was purchased in 1998 as an investment. According to Father Karl, the conversation began by looking into the future:“ We began asking ourselves, is this land needed for the next fifty years?” As the church explored its own long-term needs, it became clear that expansion wasn’ t part of the vision. The existing campus could support the next generation of ministry, and major renovations were already underway. Holding the ten acres purely as an asset didn’ t align with the church’ s values, and selling it for commercial or residential development didn’ t fit either.
While the church assessed its future, the Conservancy was also evaluating the area, studying how nearby parcels might strengthen long-term preservation on this end of the island.“ We spent two years acknowledging that we needed a vision for the land. During that time, a pickup truck arrived one day, and a man in outdoor gear was looking at the property next door,” says Father Karl.“ That’ s how I first met Collie.”
Conversations between Father Karl and Collie Farah, the Conservancy’ s land preservation specialist, quickly revealed that the church’ s land held significance beyond its boundaries— not as buildable acreage, but as important greenspace the Conservancy hoped to protect. As the Conservancy began purchasing contiguous properties, Collie and Father Karl kept the conversation alive.
“ Father Karl is a wonderful leader,” says Farah.“ He truly cares about the Johns Island community and understands that what his congregation is doing
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