Nothing happens by chance, the Lord knows how to place us at the right place at the right time. On 27th January, we received shocking news in the morning from the landlord of Tacloban Church premise that we must vacate the place within 4 days! We later found out that she’s sold it to someone last year and had forgotten to inform us until the eleventh hour when the new owner plans to take possession of the place in 4 days’ time. All of us were shocked speechless with this unexpected big problem thrown at us. We were caught in an extremely difficult situation and honestly, it scared me to tears because based on what I know, looking for a suitable and affordable place for the church within Tacloban City is near to impossible. With scarcity and high rental prices, we didn’t know where to begin to look for another church premise, but the word of the Lord reminded me that when He is involved, anything can happen.
We prayed, fervently asking God to guide us and lead us to the right person who can help us. The Lord kept assuring us with His word in Ezekiel 12:28. Every prayer that we make before God is not forgotten but our good Heavenly Father remembers them all. Every prayer will be fulfilled without delay, in God’s timing. He is always on time to rescue us in every impossible situation.
That very afternoon after receiving the bad news, I had an appointment to meet one of our church members. I believe God had already prepared Him to be the instrument for the place we are to move into next, because as we met I sensed in my spirit a boldness to ask him if he has a building for rent. He said “Yes!” and in the middle of our conversation, he said, “Come, I’ll show you the place and if you like it, you can rent it for the church.”
When I saw the place, I was immediately overwhelmed with great joy and peace in my heart and there the Lord spoke, “This is the place.”
God provided a new place for His church within the city on the same day we were told to move! This new place is better than the old because it not only has a nice view of Tacloban City especially in the evening, the flooring is made of reinforced concrete as compared to the old timber flooring of the previous place. We can now sing and dance before the Lord during praise and worship without fear that the floor would shake or collapse under our weight! Thank you, God and all our brothers and sisters for your prayers, which is a big help to us!
Praise God! Nothing surprises God because He knows everything in advance and nothing in our life happens by chance. The bible says the steps of the righteous man are ordered by God and He reserves the best for His people. When God wants to do something wonderful, He begins with difficulties. If it’s something very wonderful, He begins with impossibilities.
Our church-planting course started in January and will be completed in April before the Youth Conference one week after Easter Sunday. Graduation will be held during the Conference when Ps Francis Chen his team from CNL Singapore comes on 12th April. Through God’s grace and leading, I believe and pray that some of these graduates will receive a burden and calling to start new churches this year and to understand that ministry is a chain of commitment.
Whether our work is successful or not has nothing to do with us. Our call is not to successful service but to faithfulness.
God bless you all!
