GOD's Open Doors--by Linden Malki

The classic definition of insanity: Do the same thing, expect different results. There  is an exception: if you add one new thing to the mix, the results will be amazing--one way or another. Add a new ingredient to your soup, it may taste better, it might not.  There is one new ingredient that can make all the difference: God.

Fifteen years ago this month we came to worship on a Sunday morning to find a charred ruin where our sanctuary had been the day before. Two years later we discovered that the insurance company responsible for our rebuild--then about half-done--had gone into liquidation after the disaster of 9/11.  We were able to get financing to finish; the loan officer for our credit union told me that he had never before taken in an application with such a high "faith factor", but 40 months after the fire, we rededicated and moved back into a beautiful new worship center.  However, there were financial stresses that led to a need for change.  We were approached by a ministry needing a larger facility, and by the Elks Lodge needing someone to fill an available  rental slot: Sunday mornings. 

Now, four years later, our tenant at Sierra Way, who has been looking at another expansion, has found a building and is planning to move  the first part of next year.  Our attempts at finding a buyer have not succeeded. But add God to the mix: we were led to a minister who is involved with charter schools and counseling centers, and who was led to look for space in San Bernardino, knowing the spiritual needs of this city. 

A tenant moving on; a new tenant for part of the facility--what's the missing piece? Our Pastors and Ministry Board have put in a lot of prayer, and a lot of email and text  and personal conversations with the other parties in this situation in the past week, and it may mean our congregation moving back into the Sierra Way location.  First reaction: been there, done that, are we crazy to think of doing it again?  What are the new ingredients? One: a God-led, financially responsible, experienced, independent charter school, with leadership that we have already worked with successfully.  Two: a ministry team that has grown spiritually and professionally, led by a pastor who is within sight of successfully completing a Doctor of Ministry degree. Three:  A congregational family of leaders and people who have spiritually grown together and work together in an awesome way. 

During the height of these conversations,  Pastor Paul said that he wanted to make sure that we were operating with clean hands and a pure heart. I was amazed to find on Friday morning that the NCF Daily Bible reading was Psalm 24(chosen for that day a week earlier), which is the source of Paul's statement; and which also talks about opening up the doors for the King of Glory to come in.  I got a vision of God opening doors not just for us, but doors that He Himself can come in.

 God's Open Doors

The classic definition of insanity: Do the same thing, expect different results. There  is an exception: if you add one new thing to the mix, the results will be amazing--one way or another. Add a new ingredient to your soup, it may taste better, it might not.  There is one new ingredient that can make all the difference: God.

Fifteen years ago this month we came to worship on a Sunday morning to find a charred ruin where our sanctuary had been the day before. Two years later we discovered that the insurance company responsible for our rebuild--then about half-done--had gone into liquidation after the disaster of 9/11.  We were able to get financing to finish; the loan officer for our credit union told me that he had never before taken in an application with such a high "faith factor", but 40 months after the fire, we rededicated and moved back into a beautiful new worship center.  However, there were financial stresses that led to a need for change.  We were approached by a ministry needing a larger facility, and by the Elks Lodge needing someone to fill an available  rental slot: Sunday mornings. 

Now, four years later, our tenant at Sierra Way, who has been looking at another expansion, has found a building and is planning to move  the first part of next year.  Our attempts at finding a buyer have not succeeded. But add God to the mix: we were led to a minister who is involved with charter schools and counseling centers, and who was led to look for space in San Bernardino, knowing the spiritual needs of this city. 

A tenant moving on; a new tenant for part of the facility--what's the missing piece? Our Pastors and Ministry Board have put in a lot of prayer, and a lot of email and text  and personal conversations with the other parties in this situation in the past week, and it may mean our congregation moving back into the Sierra Way location.  First reaction: been there, done that, are we crazy to think of doing it again?  What are the new ingredients? One: a God-led, financially responsible, experienced, independent charter school, with leadership that we have already worked with successfully.  Two: a ministry team that has grown spiritually and professionally, led by a pastor who is within sight of successfully completing a Doctor of Ministry degree. Three:  A congregational family of leaders and people who have spiritually grown together and work together in an awesome way. 

During the height of these conversations,  Pastor Paul said that he wanted to make sure that we were operating with clean hands and a pure heart. I was amazed to find on Friday morning that the NCF Daily Bible reading was Psalm 24(chosen for that day a week earlier), which is the source of Paul's statement; and which also talks about opening up the doors for the King of Glory to come in.  I got a vision of God opening doors not just for us, but doors that He Himself can come in.