Realtors attend worship service to pray for better market(ZT)
(2007-06-22 17:47:49)
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Realtors attend worship service to pray for better market
KERI HOLT Florida Freedom Newspapers
Wednesday June 20th, 2007
DESTIN— More than 300 people with a keen interest in the Emerald Coast's realestate market gathered Wednesday at Destiny Worship Center to ask forGod's blessing.
The Real Estate Prayer Luncheon wasorganized in hopes of breathing life and positive thinking into thearea's slumping housing market.
It was the first of whatthe organizers — co-owner of Crye Leike Coastal Realty Wanda Duke,former Destin City Councilman Mel Ponder and Destiny Worship CenterPastor Steve Vaggalis — hope will become a regular, uplifting event.
“The heartbeat of today's economic community is on the backs of the real estate community,” Ponder told the crowd.
Theevent was an hour and a half of fellowship over lunch, scripturereadings, prayer and testimonials. Those gathered had one goal —“changing the climate in the area.”
“We need to thinkpositively and get everyone on the same page,” Duke said. “Positivethings that come out of your mouth will end with positive results. Ifwe lose hope, we lose everything.”
Real estates sales are downall along the Emerald Coast. According to figures from Metro MarketTrends, total sales in Okaloosa County in May were down 44 percentcompared to May 2006, and year-to-date sales in 2007 are down 36percent compared to last year.
During the luncheon,several speakers, including Buddy Runnels of Cornerstone DevelopmentGroup and the Sterling Co., reassured the crowd by reminding them thatthe market has gone down before, but it always comes back up.
“You must have vision, perseverance and passion,” Runnels said. “Work hard. Things are positive; they're just in the future.”
Theluncheon ended with Vaggalis inviting all Realtors present to come tothe front of the church auditorium for a special prayer directed towardthem.
“We are helpless people turning to a helpful God,” Vaggalis said. “That's what this luncheon is all about.”