by Gail Gritts
When the God of the impossible shows up, you have to stop and take notice!
Carol Buchanan, a long time member of Temple in Wolverhampton had seen an empty church building in her neighborhood. It had parking and plenty of space. She was sure we needed to come and take a look.
When some people come with these ideas, you wonder what it up. But when Carol comes, we pay attention. She was the one who announced back in 1992 that she had found a building…the one that currently houses Temple Baptist Church! So, Carol, Kevin Pine, and ourselves dutifully went to see the building. It was huge! Three floors with ample parking and a nice back garden/yard area. It was not hard to see the potential, nor the work needed to put the inside of the building straight.
As we walked around and listened to the Estate Agent, he told us that the house next door was also for sale. It had been a Police Station housing rowdy teens who needed police supervision. Carol said, “When you send us the details of the church, please send the house details as well”.
Just big talk, we assumed! But to have the house would make the church property much more appealing! So we went away that day to await the details knowing that we had no money in the bank for such a purchase.
Kevin began to talk about the building to a former student, Roger Clarke. Roger is an entrepreneur and has a deep zeal for the work of Christ. So, Roger and another missionary also went to look at the property. Roger was so impressed that he placed a bid on the house. He even led the Estate Agent to the Lord.
Within a couple of weeks Roger’s bid on the police house was accepted. He met with many obstacles along the way, but on January 20, 2012 the police house was his.
We met him there on the 23rd to see the inside (which we had never seen) and that day he gave us the keys. His purchase meant the Bible College now had a permanent home, and the door would soon open for a new church to be planted in the area.
I awoke one morning and began my planning/thinking thing about how in the world we were going to make enough income to make the payments. I had to stop and change my thoughts. If the Lord has given us the building, he won't just leave us. He had it all planned and was fully capable to provide.
How did He do it? Roger carried the payments for the first two years while we put our money into fixing up the property. He continues to subsidize the payments, but the college is now fully self-supported!
Luke 22:35 reads, "When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, ‘nothing’." The God of the impossible met their need, and He has met ours.
When I read this verse in Luke, I had to stop and think again. God sent us to England with a few suitcases and a small crate of personal belongings, which was more than the disciples had. And now, we have far more. Temple started with one single lady and a single mother. Now we have far more. Temple’s building was purchased though there were less than three thousands pounds in the bank and only about fifteen people. Now we have far more. God has always added and provided. We lack nothing. "Be not afraid, only believe." echoes in my head.
I marvel. And marveling is not wrong. It is not doubt. It is wonder and amazement in acknowledging the activity of God who is truly able to do the impossible.
"This is the Lord doing and it is marvellous in our eyes" Psalm 118:23