The purposed image for stained glass (in progress).
A few years back when we were living in Oregon the Lord was working all sorts of amazing things in our lives. It was the product of a very trying time. We spent a lot of time at our church. It was an amazing season with one sort of church service or another every night of the week. Almost daily there was morning worship, evening service, and sometimes evening worship. There were a number of things I was coming to the Lord about and every day out of desperation I would just sit and pray and read and wait… and wait… and…
Then the Lord started moving and answering prayers in ways with results that had His signature all over it. As I kept returning to my seat to continue to wait on the Lord it was so awe inspiring to see the power, perfection, and beauty of the work that God does with precision, that all I ever want to do from now on is just wait on the Lord to see the great works that He is orchestrating. That season taught me the beauty of waiting. Now I underline any verse I come across that that speaks of waiting and being silent before the Lord.
“…Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive.”
II Chronicles 6:18-21
I had never been one to put much importance in a church building, but that changed when I was in need of a place where I could daily get away to a place design and dedicated to seeking the Lord. The image came to mind of a “waiting room” where people were waiting to hear from the Great Physician who was working healing in their lives. I thought that, although the Mission is already a quiet place set apart to seek and serve the Lord, it would be great if it had chapel specifically for that. Upon our return (which was another of those answered prayers) it turned out that Adam Hulstrom, John Wencl, and Miguel Rivera (and maybe others) also had the same vision for a chapel.
In the last year, after finishing the last building project, we decided to finally start moving in that direction. We thought that we wouldn’t request any money for it until some other projects (seemingly more important… hahaha) were covered. That’s when the Lord intervened and readjusted our priorities according to His priorities. A man who didn’t know the Mission approached a pastor who was bringing a group and asked if we had a chapel (not a gymnasium or pool or other random thing). The pastor said, “No, but they want to build one.” The man said, “Every orphanage needs a chapel,” and proceeded to write a check for a $1000. The Lord spoke, and it was clear. Without daily coming and talking and asking Him we can do nothing.
We have made it repeatedly clear that this is purely a freewill offering. If someone wants to give their time, labor, materials, or money, it’s all by the Lord’s Spirit as they feel led. So far $6070 have been given towards it. A person says they have a bell for it. I’m astounded weekly when I give visiting groups options for projects that guys and girls, younger and older, choose to go out in the near 100 degree weather and pick and dig. Yesterday a guys that visits monthly “happened” to have a jackhammer in his truck and has loaned it to us for a month. There is so much more to this already long story that I will spare you. But this is the work that God has ordained for this season and will be excited to share in the coming years to see and tell the great things that Jesus is waiting to do when people come and ask and trust and wait on Him.
The front facade and floorplan to seat 72.