BrianIngraham.com | ASPIRE

Have you ever had one of those moments where you get the answer to a long awaited question and you are stunned at the facts? I had one of those moments yesterday with our church building.

We still would like to purchase this old red church building. We have been working on it for over a year now, and it still is coming together. In the mean time, the new owners who are open to selling have let us know we can move back in and use it for church while they decide if they want to sell it to us. Originally they were going to let us use it for just a few hours on Sunday, but now they have let us know we can use it 24/7!!!!! God is at work.

I knew it was possible, but the question was always, “How much for 24/7?” Although I can’t publish it on this blog, I laughed out loud with amazement at God, when I heard how little they were going to charge us. It is about half what we could reasonably expect to pay for a three hour venue rental in our area! I am walking around in the ‘praise daze.’

This situation will only last until autumn unless we can purchase the building… and so we move back in, in faith, that the God who has brought us this far, the God who has done the highly unlikely, will continue to do what seems best in his eyes.

So we rejoice!!!

Kathryn’s Story is now posted on the church web site (www.rehope.co.uk.)

You can also listen to it HERE.

Thank you Kathryn.

No updates with the Church Building yet, so we continue praying. Meanwhile, I thought I would post a few more pictures of our church ‘Easter Feast’ just given me by Tim McDonald.

Fun Times!!!

Holy week just felt right.

On Thursday night (Maundy Thursday) I was invited to preach at a combined service of 6 local churches. It was very special and an honour to be invited to join with the older churches for a combined service. There was something intrinsically ‘right’ about worshipping together during ‘Holy Week.’

Friday found us ‘on mission’ in Glasgow. Several churches pool resources and throw a free BBQ for anyone passing by. They see God’s people working together showing God’s love in a very practical way, we get the joy of working and talking about Jesus. Friday, I was mainly focused on helping the band and talking with a few people who were at the Maundy Thursday service.

Friday night Melia Cox put together our churches Seder dinner. It was a time of remembering some of what Jesus fulfilled in his death, burial, and resurrection.

Saturday I showed up at “on the move” a bit late and was made “onion boy.” So for over an hour I served onions on burgers… I loved it! After an hour and ten minutes of ‘onioning’ a lady (about 55) asked if it was true that we would pray for people. I passed off my onion duty and spent an hour telling this woman the good news about Jesus! Her name is Jane, and she was really excited about the gospel at the end of our discussion. I invited her to our Easter Feast…

Sunday was our increasingly popular Easter Feast. This time Partick Trinity allowed us the use of their newly refurbished building. About 120 people showed up, many from our church and several we met at “On the move” including Jane! The first table I talked to had a crew of poor guys, and one man said he was so excited to be here and that he hadn’t eaten in two days. I walked to the next table feeling that Jesus was being honoured by our Easter Feast as we fed whoever would come. A huge success. Wade cooked it up right! Kathy oversaw the event as a whole.

<– Tony
Tony Gaston was amazing! I talked to an old lady (she seemed around 130 or so) who was all shaky and hunched over. She asked if someone could get her food for her because she was too shaky. I couldn’t think of a better guy than Tony, so I asked and he said he would. Later I walked by and saw Tony feeding this old woman who was apparently too shaky to feed herself. It was the most beautiful moment.

God is doing great things with our church. The people are amazing!!! I can’t wait to see what God will do with us this year…

Everything is happening so quickly!!! Rumour has it that it is possible we may be able to move back into the red church building in as few as 11 days! The new owners have suggested we move in while all the details of potentially purchasing this church building are in process. Here is an excerpt of an email I received last night from the new owners.

“I see no reason why you should not have 7 day access to the property, providing it is protected by a comprehensive insurance. Of course, our own planning and development team will require access also during your occupation for the purposes of surveys, maintenance and upgrade works.  Does this sound OK to you?”

God is hearing our prayers!!! Keep praying that we will be able to purchase the entire property soon, that their price will come down, and money will come in for us. This building is a testimony that God still moves and God still hears prayers. May the impossibility of this whole situation cause the people of Scotland to glimpse just how amazing God really is!

George Muller has been mentoring me these past few months. As I was reading his biography today I came across a passage that reminded me so much of our current situation with the red church building. Muller had his eye on a property in the perfect location and had wanted it for a few years. When he inquired about the property he found that it was not for sale.

“This obstacle only incited to new prayer, but difficulties seemed to increase: the price asked was too high, and the Bristol Water-works Company was negotiating for this same piece of land for reservoir purposes. Nevertheless God successively removed all hindrances, so that the ground was bought and conveyed to the trustees in March 1865.”

We too find our property is priced too high, and another group is also interested; yet we, just like Muller, turn our eyes towards God to remove all obstacles.

• I am praying the cost of the church building comes down to a level we can afford.
• I am praying the needed funds come in so that we can purchase this building.
• I am praying for wisdom in evaluating some potential renting groups and looking for common heart.
• I am praying for the whole property not just most of it.
• I am praying that God would make a name for himself via this building situation.
• I am praying people will join with me in praying this building through.

Any takers?