Providence Baptist Church - Monthly Magazine

A Place for Just One More

Shepherd's Staff by David Horner

      When the efforts to relocate our facilities to Baileywick Road began in 2001, little did we know that we were only beginning our journey to gain more room for those who want to make Providence their church home! As those plans fell through in the late spring of 2002, we were disappointed but by no means discouraged. The Lord was still in control, and we were glad to leave matters in His hands.

      During the entire time we were pursuing plans for that site, we never stopped looking at alternatives since real estate transactions can and do fall through. Our leadership team continued to look for property near our current facilities to see if it might be possible to add on to this building and expand here. Back in 1999 and 2000, those doors appeared to be closed, and so we proceeded with search for a place to relocate.

      When the Baileywick plan did not work, we went back to the drawing board and revisited the idea of staying at our current location. In God’s perfect timing, we discovered this time that He was opening the way to an exciting new possibility of assembling enough parcels of land to remain here. Key to our success in staying and building here would be the purchase of adjacent land to our north or south. Then sign went up offering the Alpine Ski Center property for sale. Could it be possible that the Lord was moving us in that direction? After all, Days Inn was between us, and they would have to be open to selling as well.

      Well, here is what the Lord has done! Back in October, we were able to come to terms with the owners of Days Inn and Alpine Ski Center properties pending our careful study of the sites to be sure we could use them for our intended purpose. In the negotiated deal, we were given 120 days to exercise due diligence to make sure we can use the site, whether for building or parking. That “free look,” however, required confidentiality since any public discussion of our intent could impact the business of the Days Inn had we decided after our study not to proceed with the purchase. Consequently, as we have done our homework, we have had to remain silent about our exciting news, waiting for decision to be finalized that we would indeed proceed to closing on the properties.

      The elders met on Thursday night, January 15, 2004, and agreed to go ahead with the purchase of both parcels giving us an additional 5.25 acres of land upon which to expand. This will allow us to get moving on Phase I of our building plans: the construction of a new worship center designed to seat between 2,300-2,500 people. Following will be Phase II: the renovation of the existing worship center building to accommodate space needs we have in the Children’s Ministry, a larger fellowship hall, a youth meeting room and various other auxiliary rooms to enhance our ministry.

      Presently we need approximately $3 million to pay for the properties in addition to the $2 million we currently have available toward the purchase of the land. As expensive as the property is, the overall costs of staying here will be millions less than having to replicate the square footage we have in our current facility if we had moved to an entirely new site. As the project moves forward, you will be informed of more specific costs and financial needs.We would like to pay for the land as quickly as possible in order to focus the money gathered later in the year for the specific needs of construction of the new facilities. Therefore, we are asking for extra effort and generosity over the next six months to pay down as much as we can on the property in order, possible, to devote all the funds raised later to the building itself.

      These are indeed some amazing and exciting times for us here at Providence. What we have prayed for continually over a five-year period appears to be coming to pass, and for that we are eternally grateful to God! At a time when we are seeing more people coming to Christ than ever before and more visitors coming every week than ever before, we want the Lord to do whatever it takes for us to work together to fulfill our calling to ministry.While we are planning for and designing the new space, we know that we face about three more years of working with existing space needs. We are diligently working on alternatives to make room for more each week (more will be forthcoming on that point in the near future).

      Join us in rejoicing at the goodness of God in this entire transaction! Who would have thought that the Days Inn and Alpine Ski Center would ever be available? No one but the Lord, and He changed hearts and minds to make it happen!

      What next? Keep praying for more property to become available since we will need it for parking in the years to come. Ask the Lord how you and your family—each one of you, boys and girls included—can play a part in purchasing the land, and then prepare later on in the year to participate in a larger way in providing for the building needs. Look for ways to become a more inviting member of the body, keeping your eyes open for others who need to know Christ and asking them to “come and see” what He is doing among His people here! And give thanks! God has indeed overwhelmed us with His provision for our needs in ways that we could not have expected.

      So get ready! The best is yet to come!

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