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!!!
Praise the Lord!!!!
ReplyDelete