Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.  
                                                                                                              --Proverbs 11:14

One of the best parts of being in the Harvest Bible Fellowship is the connection we share with many thriving churches.  Several churches recently began or completed building programs.  The Harvest Palos Future Facility Team contacted a few churches to hear their stories and to receive any advice they had for us.  This is one testimony we heard that we wanted to pass along to you:

Harvest Bible Chapel North Phoenix
Pastor Bill Borinstein
Launched 2008

When Pastor Bill arrived, Harvest Phoenix had 50 adults, and they met in a cafeteria.  Within four months, the church grew to 160.  Over the next year, they grew to 230, then 280.  They knew it was time to upgrade their location.

The market was tough, and it was difficult to find properties that would meet their needs.  They soon discovered three prime locations that seemed promising.  Just when things seemed to be moving forward, all three sites fell through.  It was very discouraging.

They then discovered an old furniture warehouse that sat empty.  Pastor Bill's first response was, "This is not going to work."  But the idea began to grow on him.  The warehouse was big.  It had 80,000 square feet of space.  The location was great.  It sat at a major intersection by a regional mall.  However, the price was astronomical.  It would have cost them 10 million dollars to purchase the entire facility.  This was impossible for a church of 280 with a budget of $600,000.

So they decided to draw up a lease agreement.  They decided to lease 15,000 sf of space for 5 years.  They then hired an architect familiar with church design and built a church inside the warehouse.  They collected a building fund offering of $127,000.  The landlord contributed $286,000 to the work (it was worked into the lease amount).

They finished the work, moved in, and God began to grow the church.  They hit 400 in January of 2011, then 500 by April.  In 2012, they moved to 3 services.  On Easter of 2012, they had 840 people.  They now operate on an annual budget of $1.2 million.  They have 8 full-time staff members and are baptizing people every month.  

When asked about the lessons they learned during the process, Bill replied, "Faith."
It took a lot of faith to move the church 12 miles away, and several families decided to leave.  But they were originally in a community of 40,000 people.  They moved to a community of 250,000 people.  The change was worth the risk.

It took a lot of faith to hire staff to keep up with the growth.  "We've never had the money for the next hire."  But God provided again and again.

When asked about the idea of leasing instead of purchasing, Bill said there is great value to an "intermediary step."  Their current building is allowing them to grow what is really important---the people.  One day they hope to have their own building.  They are currently praying that the landlord donates it to the church.

Summer Recap,

The Future Facility Team was hard at work this summer.  Our first set of leads emerged last spring, but none of them panned out.  So, we took a map of the entire region, divided it up, and assigned a team member to scout out properties in each of the sections.  This produced a bunch of new leads.

We now have a stack of papers, pictures, and printouts that seems overwhelming.  So many options to consider, and so many variables to think through.  The biggest question we discussed this summer was, "How do we pick the RIGHT ONE?"

We turned to the Bible and read a profound short story in the book of Matthew.  Peter had a run-in with some tax-collectors who "audited" the giving of Jesus himself.  After Jesus confronted Peter about the conversation, the Lord said this:

  "However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.  Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."  Matthew 17:27

While this is not one of the greatest miracles on record, it was an amazing demonstration of God's power.  Peter had already seen great miracles.  He was in the boat when they had a miraculous catch.  The nets broke and the boats began to sink because so many fish were caught.  But on this occasion, Peter didn't need a net.  Jesus told him to cast a hook.  He would catch only one fish.  But within that fish, he would find the exact coin needed to pay both Jesus' tax and Peter's.

How will we find the RIGHT ONE?  The same way Peter caught the right fish.  We believe the Lord Himself will direct us to a property that is "swimming toward us."  We believe the Lord is already preparing the place in advance.  While we diligently follow-up on every lead and cast our hook in the water, we are waiting for something divine to happen.  We want nothing less.  We want God to find the location for us.  We want God to affirm His choice as only He can.  We want a "miraculous catch."  Pray that the Lord will bring this to pass according to His timeline.