Building a Church is a monumental task! Believe me I know! I have experienced 3 of them with my husband, the Bishop. And our first one was in Africa - which was an adventure all by it's self! And the building my husband built first was as a young man, and it was to seat 400 plus people! We grew so much during that process. The newly formed nation of Zimbabwe where we were, was just coming out of a long war, and we were given the job to pastor the main church in the capital city newly named Harare, we had our first baby there (alone - just us - no parents present), and built another church - in a township nearby called St Mary's all by ourselves - as just kids we learned to grow ... stretch and grow - and we came back the the States still in our 20's but changed people.
It's one thing for a church family to pull together and build a structure, it's quite another to start from ground zero - a baby fledgling church of only a year old and go through the process. This one is done basically alone as there is no one that the relationships are strong and bonded enough to be a support to the pastor while going through building. We have done this too. It's a difficult process that tests every fiber that you possess - this one took almost 10 years to do - but it's done now and we are happy with our facilities.
And we have also went through a building program only to suffer a complete loss at the ending stages - due to architecture misdesigning for the winter snow loads. But that's another story for another blog. Some joys and some sorrows happen to us all.
So needless to say we both have a very tender heart towards Pastors who are going through a building program. And today we were privileged to visit one such pastor who is completing his new church facilities.
Pastors Delbert and Eloise Herrin along with their son and his wife Pastors Kevin and Melissa are almost to the end of a long building program. We are happy for them and have tried to be a support during the ordeal. Believe me, we know what they have all been through to get to this nearly complete stage.
Inside the new sanctuary with Pastor Delbert and Eloise, along with some other Pastor friends from California. Pastors Steve and Shelley Owens who were here preaching at New Life this past weekend. Oh yes, don't forget my dear friend Sis Glady's Owens - one of my dear friends who was a pastor's wife for 50+ years! Every pastor's wife needs a Sis Glady's!!!! All the best to you, our dear friends, this phase will end and you will get past the daily grind of building.
Is it worth all the blood, sweat and tears? Ask the people who enter the church doors to receive Eternal Life. It's all done to give others the privilege of hearing the Word of God. Well done good and faithful servants.
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