Ebenezer Update: New Property – Hurry Up and Wait

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Back in March we shared with you the exciting news that we had just been able to raise the amount of money necessary to purchase a nearby piece of property. When I pushed “publish” on that post I had hoped that within a few weeks time we would be able to report that the property had been purchased, and that construction had begun on a new church building.

Alas…things seldom go according to plan. I have put off reporting until now, in the hopes that I might have something more substantial to talk about. Again…alas…I do not. But here is a breakdown of what has ensued between March and November.

As soon as we had the funds in our account we contacted the owner to begin the process of purchasing the land. One of the first things the church wanted to see was the deed to the property. The owner seemed reluctant to produce this document. It became clear that he was stalling because such a document was not (or at least, not yet) in his possession.

That was a big red flag for us. And the second red flag came when he sent us the contract, and the value of the property was significantly higher than what he had originally quoted to us. Assuming there had been an error, we asked him about it, only to be told flatly that this was the new price, and that we could take it or leave it.

When we presented this to the church body they decided, wisely I think, to leave it.

So where does this leave us?

I must confess to a certain level of disappointment in the days following our backing out of the sale. But since then I’ve gained what I believe to be a clearer perspective on the whole thing. I began to detect that our congregation had developed the mentality that our problems would be solved by a new building in a new location. Some in the church have even confirmed this to me in so many words. Thus, the prospect of a move had put the church in a sort of holding pattern with regard to the essential aspects of the church ministry, namely discipleship and evangelism.

So I began to challenge to the church to see this as an opportunity to focus on these things, and let God take care of our location issues when He sees fit. And by His grace, we have seen progress in these areas.

As to the purchase, we are currently looking at a number of properties that present advantages to our current location. We are most interested in moving to a location better suited to minister to the community that our church seems to be reaching. We have nothing solid yet, but some good leads, I believe.

The funds that were donated for this purpose are in a separate bank account reserved specifically for the new property, if and when God provides it. The church contributes to this fund on a monthly basis, and we continue to receive outside contributions as well. Hopefully this will put us in a better position to negotiate when the time arises.

So for now, pray for us that God will give us wisdom to know where and when to make the move, and that He would continue to develop the spiritual life of Ebenezer Baptist Church – which, in truth, is the ultimate goal.

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And be sure to read the action-packed adventures of Missionary Max: Missionary Max and the Jungle Princess and Missionary Max and the Lost City.