A New Building for a New Millennium

What kind of planning, what type of detail, or what meticulous engineering goes into the creation of a building? For that matter couldn't the same be said for the making of a person from beginning to end of life, or the making of a ministry, each with their own complexities and facets? When all of these converge into one, (the persons, the buildings, the ministry) over a span of time, God's best work is done. Like a delicious cake from ingredients to presentation, the end result of ministry is a display of its Creator’s glory that real people experience in real time.

Such is true of the Christian Mission, from founding to expansion into their Wolf Creek Highway home. The stories of these times are often amazing, but all demonstrative of God using gifted people to bring about His design, in His precise timing and plan.

Time, growth, and entropy during life in their first 2 locations, had escalated the need for new housing. God began to stir the hearts of the Board members to look to Him in a bigger way. He made it known to one Board member that He was on the move in providing for their increasing need, and gave him the boldness to go after it.

Given the resources of a largely volunteer staff, and a work supported by donations, it seemed pretty illogical to dare hope for a new building. Yet, the Father dared them to push out on Lake Faith. He would hold the oars and guide the little boat they were in. He would provide the tools, the materials, the craftsmen and skills, and the very ground they would need. These are stories yet waiting to be told. Thankfully, the history now preserved in pictures, scrapbooks, newspaper articles, and the memories of many faithful people who still serve the Lord through the Christian Mission, provide us with a rich recollection of the journey toward completion of the newest building, now nearly 19 years old. Precise provision, at precision timing, with Spirit led people would literally meld the materials into the present structure that is the Mission. When God says it is time, there will be no obstacles. Only opportunities to see Him in larger ways!

As God's building, ourselves, we find that in our humanity we are plagued by limitations, both physically and metaphysically. We simply run out! We run out of time, strength, energy, materials, vision, or even life. Yet we serve an unlimited Father, who never panics, only plans, and delights to make use of our lives, often long past what we would dare hope to ask or think. His best work is often done at the end of our own.

He takes the long view of time. For example, He used Elijah and Moses long after their earthly lives seemed over, if one thinks of the fact that they made a New Testament appearance to Jesus, and that Elijah will play a part in the end times recorded in Revelation. God's stories run long and rich! By comparison, the Mission is a mere 45 today. Many of the key players/founders and laborers who helped in the making of this building have joined Him in heaven, yet their legacy lives on in the brick and mortar, in the electrical and plumbing systems, in the cabinets in the kitchen, and in the tasteful and welcoming decor throughout, The present workers work in their shadows...ministering God's life changing love to thousands who are being rescued and restored. The Board and volunteers today carry on the labours of the generous, faithful, and faithfilled crews of yesterday, who had the vision for the eternal value of a place like the Mission, where the hurting can find peace of heart and soul within a place of peace and beauty. A place where God lives....where the hands that hold theirs are hands of truth, gentleness, and support. Should the Lord tarry another fifty years or even longer, the faces may change, and so may the buildings,

but the lifegiving breath of the faithful God, breathed through His beloved children will continue to infuse new life, joining together the past and present into the future. Happy birthday Christian Mission!