Faith Through the Journey

For the past 35 years, my husband and I have been an active part of a church that has met in a converted mall. The massive building has been used for many different ministries under the umbrella of our church. The building is 40+ years old with major foundation problems, astronomical utility bills because the energy efficiency is not good, and the wear and tear a building that has served thousands of people with a wide variety of service opportunities just goes through. Last year construction was begun on a new building on the other end of our existing property that will serve the church family going forward. Yesterday at the end of the service, my husband pointed out to me that this was our last service in the existing building. The first service will be held in the new building in a few weeks, but we will be out of town until then.

As soon as he said that, the tears started for both of us. Since the church came into existence in the fall of 1987, we have been involved in nearly every aspect of the ministry. We taught Sunday school, worked in the nursery, helped with the children’s AWANA ministry, listened to thousands of Bible verses the children memorized, we sang in the choir, taught adult Bible studies, prayed with many people who needed prayer, and various other service opportunities. When the doors have been open, we have been there many thousands of hours. We have made many lifelong friendships, laughed and cried together with so many dear friends. Our two oldest children were baptized in the baptistry in the sanctuary, our youngest daughter was dedicated there as a baby, and our now adult children and their spouses and children have also been there on their visits to San Antonio. It’s been home for us for so many years, and the memories yesterday were overwhelming. The Christmas program when our daughter brought the house down when she ad libbed her way through a solo, our son as one of the lead parts in the Easter pageant, the Vacation Bible School programs with hundreds of children and the children’s pastor and the organized chaos of it all, all of it came flooding back as we looked around that big sanctuary one more time. The building will be coming down at some point in the next months, and I’m not sure I can watch.

It’s just a building, after all…and the church ministry will go on in its new earthly home. There have been many hundreds of people who have come and gone from the church, many of them going on to new places of ministry around the world. It’s been a place where hurting people have come to heal, people who saw our sign from a hotel room nearby where they had gone to end their life and instead met Jesus, people who needed food and clothing and even a safe place to sleep, so many stories and so many miracles. The main message we have always stood for is JESUS: Jesus. Period. He has led us, He has blessed us, and the work will continue, in a slightly different location, as He continues to show us what He wants us to do and we are obedient to follow where He leads.

As we were about to occupy the original building back in 1988, the verse we read was Isaiah 55:12. Our move to the other end of our property will be with the same mission and celebration. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”