When I was a child my mother would purchase one of those Christmas calendars that helped count off the days until Christmas Day.  Each day my brother and I would take turns opening one of the little doors to reveal the next day. I’m not sure if those calendars helped Christmas to come any more quickly–in fact, it probably made the day seem even farther away–but we certainly enjoyed the time of anticipation.

These days at Harvest Baptist have been “calendar watching” days. The new building for which we have sacrificed, worked, and prayed has taken shape and is even now in the last phases of completion. (Check out harvestbaptist.info for up-to-date pics.) 

Pray with us that the occupancy permit will be granted in time for the children to start school by the end of August. I’m not sure that the children will be praying as fervently as the rest of us! And specifically pray that all of the preparations will be in place for our Grand Opening service on September 20. 

The purpose for our new building has always been and will always be for the reaching of people. Church buildings retain value only as they remain tools in God’s hand to see boys and girls, men and women come to Christ and grow in grace.

Pray! Pray! Pray! (And count the days if you must…)

admin Building Building, Harvest Baptist Church

Building programs are painful. They tend to swallow up one’s schedule and challenge one’s sanity. Ours has not been the exception. In fact, as far as the ministry goes, conducting a building program is somewhat like running a Christian school: headaches, heartaches, and lots of money. As one encouraging friend commented to me at the incipient stages of our planning: “It [the building] will cost you a lot more and take you a lot longer than you think it will!” Unfortunately my doom-and-gloom friend was absolutely right. 

But blessings abound as we remain faithful! Solomon said that the “desire accomplished is sweet  to the soul.” Just yesterday the external structure of the school portion of our new building was completed. Let the walking tours begin! As I spent some time alone last night–in the dark–walking through this new building, I couldn’t help but thank God for the marvelous way He has provided for our needs.

The church portion of the building is slated for completion in August, and the interior of the school portion is scheduled to be finished by the end of May. So, while it is true that “hope deferred maketh the heart sick” (and we’ve had our share of set-backs in the form of government agencies, permit hold-ups, environmental concerns, traffic studies, inclement weather, etc.), it is also gloriously true that the “desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.”

It’s been a sweet day.

admin Building Building, desire, location, property, school