After 28 years of wandering around the city of Durham, we finally have a date for the completion of our new church building. As a church we have never owned our own premises and it is an exciting time for us all.
The road to this point in the project is littered with what we call Ebenezer’s, our stones of help or remembrance. Those times where Father has intervened on our behalf, when we have been at a loss for what to do, or enable to move forward without him.
The first Ebenezer came before we had even found the building. As an act of faith the elders called a gift day. This was to be a special gift day when the church was asked to give into the future of what God was going to do in Durham. It was not specifically for the building but for the work of God in Durham. The people of God said amen and gave in excess of £150,000.
The second Ebenezer placed down was the finding of the building. We had been looking for a building for a number of years, yet in Durham our city no building had ever come on the market within our price range or with the floor space we require. So one day, one of our elders and the guy who oversees the church went for a drive. Low and behold what do they see an empty warehouse with 10,000 sq meters of floor space. Further investigation showed that it was free hold, had some parking spaces and had extra land adjacent. Praise God we had found our building.
We are in a battle to buy the building with another organisation, as an act of intent the elders stake their saving and pensions on a NON RETURNABLE deposit. Stone three is laid to rest.
Stone four was laid when we approached the bank and said, can we borrow £500,000 to buy this building which we will turn into a conference centre in the week and use as a church building over the weekend. Yes they said… stunned silence our side a straight yes no quibbling or issues or hesitation…. wow.
Then came the following years gift day, we didn’t know what to expect but to keep the project rolling we needed in excess of £100K. So we pray….. £150K comes in. Now remember we are not a big church only about 100+ members this is fantastic. God is with us Stone five
So now we have the building and the next thing is to get planning permission. A major issue as we had to get change of use and the planning department were not happy about it. In particular two planners who were working on our case were causing us no end of issues. So we prayed and the following week they get promotions and move to different councils. Praise God! Ebenezer six!
The day of the planning meeting is here, we sit in the room and listen to the arguments going back and forth. One side is happy the others are not. They vote on mass to say no, God is with is we are carried by a vote. Number Seven is with us.
Next up was the deed of covenants that needed to be changed, We had to find out what they were and who we had to contact to change them, then get them to change them. We pary they are raised. Stone eight is planted on the ground.
The next gift day rolls in only 6 months after the last surely the church is now brassic, no God is good he has provided again, a further £100K hits the bank God is Great nurmero nine is slammed into the ground
Now we need to find the right builder with whom to spend all this cash and turn a metal box into the conference centre and church building. The final figures come in we are £380K short, gulp, we want to start building in three moths gulp, where can we get the cash from, gulp, the church has given and given…. so we ask for a loan from the church members interest free. £200K is loaned Praise God,… its not enough… pray, pray pray. 10.30am the closing day for the loans, we are £170K short…. 1pm we are only £5K short Praise God next day the £5K comes in PRAISE GOD!! No. ten
The process with the builders continues, we realise there are issues with the appointed builders, we go back to tender, pray pray pray… new builders appointed Number eleven is laid next to the rest.
What have we learned so far?
1. There is no obstacle that Father cannot over come
2. If we stay faithfull to what he has told us we will make it through
3. God is Good
4. God is very very Good
5. Prayer works!!
6. God is excellent and Good
So what does the future hold, we don’t know but what we know is this Father is with us every step of the way, and we expect to see more Ebenezer’s placed in the ground as we move on.
Praise Him with Great praise.
· I may have got some of the timing out on this post its been a long climb to the top of this hill, but the figures are correct I hope. Happy to change them if they are wrong
