OK, at this point I was in shock. But it was short-lived when the banker explained that all of our principle givers would have to co-sign the note to guarantee it. I said we could not do that because the Scripture advised against doing so in multiple places (Prov. 11:15 et al). The banker said that was a deal killer. I told him I understood, and that perhaps sometime in the future it would become possible. When we left the bank, I hoped I had not embarrassed my new benefactor in front of his friend. He meant well, and I believe our people would have signed the note. This was a matter of conviction, not preference, however. Where the Bible is clear, there are no options.
For me this was the old ABC sports line about the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” all in about 10 minutes. I got back to my office and phoned all of my elders and told them what had happened. We were all in agreement regarding the action taken.
Later that afternoon, the gentleman who gave us the land phoned me and told me, “It’s all taken care of.” I asked what that meant, and he repeated his comment, “It’s all taken care of.” You see, after we left he phoned the banker and offered to guarantee the note himself … which he did.
It took a year to get all the permits, build the building and develop the land. We sent out another set of Tellstart calls to announce our presence the new community. Our first Sunday in that building, there were 451 souls present. A few months later, we broke 500 for the first Easter in the new location. The church continues to prosper, including a full-time Christian day school that serves 66 area congregations from multiple denominations.
Back to the magic bullet: You can see that no part of the story is repeatable in any other location. This was a great move of God’s sovereignty alone. If God happens to move on your watch, in your location, you are blessed. In 40 years of ministry, this has happened to me three times. That means that this is not the norm. I have spent many years in less favorable circumstances, but always have been encouraged by these hand full of manifestations of God’s mercy.
Often, people would ask about the reason for the success of that church plant. I have no answer. Many men more faithful than myself and with greater gifts have never experienced such a visitation from Heaven.
Arthur Pink wrote, “Since God loves His people in Christ, it is not regulated by their fruitfulness, but is the same at all times. Because He loves them in Christ, the Father loves them as Christ.”