Why A Building?
Let me say first of all that I do not equate bricks and mortar with being a church because the Body of Christ is the church. But I do realize how vitally important a tool a building is for reaching our community with the gospel and fulfilling the call of God on this ministry.
I actually believe that we are in the last of the last days, and there are thousands of people: individuals, families, and couples who need the good news of Jesus Christ. But we are almost invisible to them because we have no physical presence in the community. The harvest, the vision, and the call are great, but we need a physical space to do what we are called to do. The lack of an available facility is a hindrance to our mission.
While an online presence is helpful, I long to have a physical place for regular prayer meetings, Bible study, food and clothing distributions, and teaching workshops to equip the body and other activities God has laid in my heart. I believe God for a physical building, and I know that He has ordained people to help.
I am reminded of how the Israelites responded to God's call to contribute to the need of the tabernacle with enthusiasm and sincerity. Their willingness to bring offerings reflects a deep spiritual motivation, rooted not in obligation but in heartfelt devotion. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service... Exodus 35:21 (ESV). The Israelites caught the vision for the building of the tabernacle, and God moved on their hearts to give generously, and in no time they had more than they needed.
I am standing on the Word of God in Nehemiah 2:20, which says, “The God of heaven Himself will help us succeed; therefore, we will arise and build! We will trust His Word and believe in the Sovereign Lord who always keeps His promises.”
The Bible says in Luke 6:31 (NIV), “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” “What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.” Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) What we do for others are the seeds we are sowing that will produce a harvest in our own lives.
I pray that every person whom God speaks to will be obedient to His voice. Sowing into this ministry is good ground. If you believe that this is good ground, and a good investment in the light of eternity—one that holds the potential to make an eternal difference in many lives through the furtherance of the gospel—prayerfully ask the Lord what He would have you to give and then be obedient to His voice.
I want to share a testimony with you of how what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!
A few years back, me and my kids had just moved into an apartment. My kids were latchkey kids, so having a phone in the home was very important to me because they would get home from school before I would get home from work. So I wanted them to be able to call me and let me know that everybody made it in the house safely. I did not have enough money to make the deposit on phone service, but I went ahead and plugged the phone into the wall. A friend of mine's husband was in jail, and her phone service was turned off. She was crying because she wouldn't be able to talk to him since her phone was off. What she needed to have the phone service turned back on was less than what I needed to have my phone turned on, so I took some of what I had and gave it to her to have her phone turned on. Well. That very night I was asleep, and I kept hearing a phone ringing, and in my sleep I was like, "I wish those people would answer that phone." The phone just kept ringing. It would not stop. So finally I woke up, and I realized that it was my phone that was ringing. My phone service had been turned on without me even paying the deposit. I attribute this to God providing my need because I gave into her need. I have done this same thing for my utilities, food, and other needs.
Are you believing God for a new home or a new apartment? Consider sowing into our need for a church building.
I actually believe that we are in the last of the last days, and there are thousands of people: individuals, families, and couples who need the good news of Jesus Christ. But we are almost invisible to them because we have no physical presence in the community. The harvest, the vision, and the call are great, but we need a physical space to do what we are called to do. The lack of an available facility is a hindrance to our mission.
While an online presence is helpful, I long to have a physical place for regular prayer meetings, Bible study, food and clothing distributions, and teaching workshops to equip the body and other activities God has laid in my heart. I believe God for a physical building, and I know that He has ordained people to help.
I am reminded of how the Israelites responded to God's call to contribute to the need of the tabernacle with enthusiasm and sincerity. Their willingness to bring offerings reflects a deep spiritual motivation, rooted not in obligation but in heartfelt devotion. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service... Exodus 35:21 (ESV). The Israelites caught the vision for the building of the tabernacle, and God moved on their hearts to give generously, and in no time they had more than they needed.
I am standing on the Word of God in Nehemiah 2:20, which says, “The God of heaven Himself will help us succeed; therefore, we will arise and build! We will trust His Word and believe in the Sovereign Lord who always keeps His promises.”
The Bible says in Luke 6:31 (NIV), “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” “What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.” Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) What we do for others are the seeds we are sowing that will produce a harvest in our own lives.
I pray that every person whom God speaks to will be obedient to His voice. Sowing into this ministry is good ground. If you believe that this is good ground, and a good investment in the light of eternity—one that holds the potential to make an eternal difference in many lives through the furtherance of the gospel—prayerfully ask the Lord what He would have you to give and then be obedient to His voice.
I want to share a testimony with you of how what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!
A few years back, me and my kids had just moved into an apartment. My kids were latchkey kids, so having a phone in the home was very important to me because they would get home from school before I would get home from work. So I wanted them to be able to call me and let me know that everybody made it in the house safely. I did not have enough money to make the deposit on phone service, but I went ahead and plugged the phone into the wall. A friend of mine's husband was in jail, and her phone service was turned off. She was crying because she wouldn't be able to talk to him since her phone was off. What she needed to have the phone service turned back on was less than what I needed to have my phone turned on, so I took some of what I had and gave it to her to have her phone turned on. Well. That very night I was asleep, and I kept hearing a phone ringing, and in my sleep I was like, "I wish those people would answer that phone." The phone just kept ringing. It would not stop. So finally I woke up, and I realized that it was my phone that was ringing. My phone service had been turned on without me even paying the deposit. I attribute this to God providing my need because I gave into her need. I have done this same thing for my utilities, food, and other needs.
Are you believing God for a new home or a new apartment? Consider sowing into our need for a church building.