Challenges

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God."
Romans 8:28

Even faithful Christians know that sometimes dreams turn into nightmares. The Bible is filled with stories about how God's people face problems and challenges but are transformed through the troubles. The people of St. John's could not foresee the problems they would face in trying to accomplish a church renovation. Our saga had problems of biblical proportions, from the exodus to a flood to more than one plague of undesirable critters!

First the exodus. Sunday school classes had to move so site preparations could begin, and adults and children met blocks away in portable classrooms at Lamar Middle School as well as in private homes. The church staff packed up and moved into what is now the youth building across the street. Most furniture and fixtures were put into long-term storage. Then the demolition crew went to work, tearing apart the north education/office wing to remove asbestos and rotten wood. Lots of rotten wood. So much of the structure was torn down that the north wing looked like it had been bombed, leaving a skeleton in silhouette against the sky. Workers also demolished all the church restrooms, so our "facilities" consisted of a porta-potty on the front lawn for men and a women's plywood restroom rigged up in a corner of the fellowship hall.

Meanwhile, architects drew plans, the Building Committee made hundreds of decisions, and everyone was excited. The project would be done in two phases-first the north wing and then the south wing. A capital campaign sought to raise necessary funds, and projections showed that pledges were generous enough to make the down-payment and comfortably handle the monthly obligations. We were praising God!

Then our plans were put out for bid and those transforming problems began. The construction bids came back $1.7 million (?) higher than expected. The Texas Methodist Foundation rescinded its offer to loan money for the entire project, saying it would only fund phase one. No banks in town would loan us money, either.

In the midst of this financial turmoil, our beloved pastor Winn Alley had a stroke while preaching at the 8:30 a.m. service and was in treatment and recovery for what turned out to be a long and difficult year.

The church family knew God was by our side, but people undoubtedly whispered, "Lord, did you have to test our faith like this? Will we ever attract new members with bombed out Sunday School rooms and a porta-potty on the front lawn?"

God nodded, knowing that one day the St. John's flock would look back fondly on their three year period in the belly of the whale. God knew our faith would be strengthened and our love for one another would grow.

Eventually the decision was made to proceed with phase one alone, but there was a collective sigh of sadness knowing the sanctuary and narthex could not be renovated for years to come.

Nevertheless, we continually urged one another to increase our personal sacrifices so the entire renovation project could be accomplished. God encouraged us as well, and the sacrificial giving was bountiful, each contributing according to his or her ability to give. Members made above-and-beyond contributions every month. The youth gave funds raised from pumpkin sales. Some sold property, gave from inheritances and retirement savings, or liquidated stocks and bonds. Young families postponed buying new cars, furniture, and homes so they could build their church.

Then one beautiful day, God smiled again. The gifts and pledges were suddenly so large that St. John's could afford to proceed with the entire project; needing only a future capital campaign to reduce the principal owed. We were praising and thanking God for the opportunity to face full-blown construction inconveniences-like worshipping in the Great Hall for a year and wondering if we'd ever see our "stuff" again. We said hallelujah, anyhow! Our church was going to be all new: top to bottom, wall-to-wall!