" Now faith is being certain of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
Overwhelmed, in awe, speechless, humbled. These are just a few of the emotions I've felt over the past few months. Tonight, I'm once again amazed at the faithfulness of our God.
Hebrews 11:1 talks about being "certain of what we hope for." I am certain tonight once again that my God is in control! That my God is still moving mountains and that my God is faithful.
The Lord has sent us two wonderful couples from Olivet Nazarene University in the last few months. One is our youth pastor and his wife. They have jumped right in working to further the Kingdom. Just in the last couple of weeks they have started seeing students who are so hungry for Christ start to open up and share life's struggles. I am thankful for Travis and Stacey and their willingness to follow Christ's calling to Green Bay.
We've also met another couple of ONU graduates Christian and Kayla. These also are amazing young people who are sold out to the cause of Christ. Christian and Kayla have also felt a calling to Grace Harbor and to be part of what is happening across town at "the bar." Christian has also felt a pull from Christ to full time ministry in the future.
Anyway, I tell you this to say, I believe the Lord is assembling a team of people to take Green Bay by storm with the gospel of Christ! Both of these couples are an answer to prayer and Rebekah I count it a privilege to call them friends and co-workers in ministry.
I wanted to share that first because these two couples in the days ahead are going to be key to what the Lord is doing here in Green Bay.
This week also has been overwhelming because of a financial gift someone made to the new church plant of $3,000! I was blown away! I am so thankful for those who are answering the call and saying "Yes Lord, Ill be obedient."
In the process of purchasing this old bar we found out we were going to need plans from an architect to submit to the city for any remodel. I've got to tell you when I heard this, I was somewhat deflated. Hiring an architect can't be cheap. I also don't hang out with architects and had no connections. Well, the Lord had already worked this out.
Kayla, the wife of Christian who have started coming to Green Bay, just so happened to have parent who are architects...who live in Green Bay...and who love Jesus! Are you kidding me!!!???
Long story short, we met with these folks tonight at their office in De Pere. I want to just say...WOW!!! These are people who not only love Jesus, but want to help us reach lost people at our new location. We spent 2 hours tonight talking about objectives, goals, the church, etc before we ever even talked about the building. Keep in mind these aren't just architects who design buildings, but they look at the whole organization. On the way out the door tonight I noticed a large model on the floor and asked what it was. These folks are designing a facility for students in Georgia for the Kathy family who own Chik-fil-a!!! Are you kidding me!!!! God didn't just provide us with any old architects. He provided us with the best because that's what my God does!
I'm just so blown away at the people who are saying YES to what God is doing! I'm so blown away at the opportunity the Lord has given me to lead this endeavor. To be on the front line for the sake of the Kingdom. Hebrews 11 talks about being certain of the things we can't see. Tonight I am certain I serve a God who loves me and who cares about me. I'm certain I serve a God who knows every detail about this bar ministry. I'm certain He is sending just the right people at just the right time. I'm certain He is in control! Lastly, I'm certain in the days ahead, people are going to find hope in Christ at 1280 Reber St.
Continue to pray and ask the Lord how he might be leading you to help in this ministry. Financially? Sending a work team from your church? Prayer? Moving to Green Bay? Be obedient and watch God do some crazy stuff!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Pabst Blue Ribbon and Jesus
"By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going." Hebrews 11:8 The Message
This verse speaks so well to our current situation here at Grace Harbor Church of the Nazarene. For the last two year the church board at Grace has been talking about church planting. We were open and willing to do whatever the Lord asked us to do. Through much prayer and discussion we felt the Lord released us to plant a church earlier this year! Not a traditional church, but to buy a bus, make it a mobile clothes closet and go love people. It was a crazy idea, dare I say a stupid idea! But by faith, we said yes and drove out of the parking lot, having no idea where we were going.
We found ourselves in Eastman Park on the eastside of Green Bay. On September 8th we held our first official service in the park. It was a marvelous day! On this first Sunday we met 98 folks from the neighborhood. We had the opportunity to be the hands of Jesus. It was awesome! Since that first day, we've been able to develop a relationship with 55 families and well over 200 individuals!
Each time we had new families, I would take them a bakers dozen of donuts that next week and just tell them how great it was to meet them. On one of these visits I felt the Lord prompting me to take a family to lunch. I took Raul and his girlfriend to lunch and on the way back we passed an old building close to the park. I asked Raul what it was and he said it was an old bar called Sally's. I should have guessed this with the Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer sign on the building, but I'm a little slow! I did though note the for sale sign out front and made a phone call after I dropped them off.
On the first call I found out a few things about the property:
So, we started praying and fasting!
I'll cut to the chase!
Last week Grace Harbor made an offer to the bank for $5,000! I literally had to argue with the broker to send our offer to the bank. There actually came a point where I asked him if I needed to find another broker to do it!!! He finally decided he would send it over. ;)
The next day we received a counter offer for...wait for it.......$10,000!!! $10,000 for a property they started at $79,000 on and the property itself is worth $30,000! THATS GOD!
So we still didn't have $10k and needed to talk to our district advisory board before accepting a counter offer. In the meantime, well, God had other plans!
Nazarenes: Did you know that we use some alabaster funds here in the USA? Well, I never had thought about it before. After a call from my DS and a few calls to and from the Global Ministry Center (Nazarene Headquarters) my DS calls me back at the end of the day and says this...The denomination, because this is a multi-cultural church plant and most of the folks you are building relationships with are diverse...we are going to give you....wait for it....$20,000 alabaster funds!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? THATS GOD!!!
Tomorrow morning I head to the broker with a signed acceptance of the counter offer. God said, if you'll step out in faith and obedience and you are willing to travel into a unknown destination, I'll take care of you! Not only that but Ill show you how AWESOME I am!
I say a hardy PRAISE THE LORD!!! I hate to beat a dead horse, but is God calling you????? Is he calling you to invest in the lives of lost people here in Green Bay? Is he asking you to step out in faith and be willing to travel to a foreign land having no idea what you are doing? We anticipate a bountiful harvest in the days ahead and we need workers! I can't be more serious.
I'm overcome with joy tonight! I'm speechless. All I can say is THATS GOD!!!
This verse speaks so well to our current situation here at Grace Harbor Church of the Nazarene. For the last two year the church board at Grace has been talking about church planting. We were open and willing to do whatever the Lord asked us to do. Through much prayer and discussion we felt the Lord released us to plant a church earlier this year! Not a traditional church, but to buy a bus, make it a mobile clothes closet and go love people. It was a crazy idea, dare I say a stupid idea! But by faith, we said yes and drove out of the parking lot, having no idea where we were going.
We found ourselves in Eastman Park on the eastside of Green Bay. On September 8th we held our first official service in the park. It was a marvelous day! On this first Sunday we met 98 folks from the neighborhood. We had the opportunity to be the hands of Jesus. It was awesome! Since that first day, we've been able to develop a relationship with 55 families and well over 200 individuals!
Each time we had new families, I would take them a bakers dozen of donuts that next week and just tell them how great it was to meet them. On one of these visits I felt the Lord prompting me to take a family to lunch. I took Raul and his girlfriend to lunch and on the way back we passed an old building close to the park. I asked Raul what it was and he said it was an old bar called Sally's. I should have guessed this with the Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer sign on the building, but I'm a little slow! I did though note the for sale sign out front and made a phone call after I dropped them off.
On the first call I found out a few things about the property:
- asking prices $79,000
- 6,000 sq feet
- bank owned
- on the market for 8 months
So, we started praying and fasting!
I'll cut to the chase!
Last week Grace Harbor made an offer to the bank for $5,000! I literally had to argue with the broker to send our offer to the bank. There actually came a point where I asked him if I needed to find another broker to do it!!! He finally decided he would send it over. ;)
The next day we received a counter offer for...wait for it.......$10,000!!! $10,000 for a property they started at $79,000 on and the property itself is worth $30,000! THATS GOD!
So we still didn't have $10k and needed to talk to our district advisory board before accepting a counter offer. In the meantime, well, God had other plans!
Nazarenes: Did you know that we use some alabaster funds here in the USA? Well, I never had thought about it before. After a call from my DS and a few calls to and from the Global Ministry Center (Nazarene Headquarters) my DS calls me back at the end of the day and says this...The denomination, because this is a multi-cultural church plant and most of the folks you are building relationships with are diverse...we are going to give you....wait for it....$20,000 alabaster funds!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? THATS GOD!!!
Tomorrow morning I head to the broker with a signed acceptance of the counter offer. God said, if you'll step out in faith and obedience and you are willing to travel into a unknown destination, I'll take care of you! Not only that but Ill show you how AWESOME I am!
I say a hardy PRAISE THE LORD!!! I hate to beat a dead horse, but is God calling you????? Is he calling you to invest in the lives of lost people here in Green Bay? Is he asking you to step out in faith and be willing to travel to a foreign land having no idea what you are doing? We anticipate a bountiful harvest in the days ahead and we need workers! I can't be more serious.
I'm overcome with joy tonight! I'm speechless. All I can say is THATS GOD!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)