From the October-December 2006 Issue
With the help of our God
Jorg and Heike Muller
The new buildingBy the time you read this article the church in Warburg will have moved out of its present premises in which she has worshipped and served the Lord for the past fifteen years, and which many of you will remember from personal visitation or photographs. This building, situated in the market square of the “old town”, has been a most suitable place to accommodate the work of the church. After so many years filled with so many memories, it will certainly feel somewhat strange not to “go to church” the usual way, especially for me, as I have had my study at the church for the past twelve years.
Somewhat unexpectedly the church had received a written notice from her landlord earlier this year to vacate the building by 30th September. We had already been looking for other premises for some time, but nothing seemed to suit the needs and the finances of the fellowship.
At the beginning of May my attention was drawn to a residential building right in the centre of the town, next to the local hospital and the Roman Catholic primary school. Since then I have often been reminded of Nehemiah and how he was able to testify to the fact that the gracious hand of his God had been upon him. Similarly I have often been able to report back to the members how much I felt the gracious hand of our God upon me during all the negotiations with the owner, estate agent, the local authorities, etc. Our God has been attentive to our prayers, giving us success, so that we hope to sign the contract at the end of August, take over the new building on 28th September, and start to renovate the house during the half-term school holidays – the first two weeks in October.
There were moments and weeks when this smooth transition seemed impossible. The gracious hand of our God brought about an agreement. And to this I can testify also with regard to many other meetings beforehand; numerous meetings and phone-calls with the mayor, the hospital manager or the district council to secure all necessary official permissions to convert the building into a church and extend it for a meeting hall. The church members have been unanimous in their decision to buy, covenanting to give time and finances in order to put all the plans and vision into action.
The new premises
The layout of the building easily accommodates the weekly work of the church and the Pastor’s study. In addition it has a small but pleasant top-floor flat, which we hope to rent out to a young lady known to the church. During the first two weeks in October it is planned to renovate and refurbish at least two rooms for the children. In the meantime my study will move under the same roof. The rest will be done over the next month. The plot of land behind the building is more than large enough for a meeting hall and the required parking spaces. The hall and an extension to the present building, which will accommodate an entrance hall, a kitchen, etc., will not be started until spring next year. We would obviously value your prayers that the gracious hand of our God may continue to be upon us, upholding us to serve him with joyfulness. Pray for a spirit of love within the church, that we may serve one another with the gifts entrusted to us.
Baptismal service
As Christians we are aware of the fact that the progress of the Gospel does not depend on a building, nor even eventually on our “Ora et labora”, but on the mercy of our gracious God. We as a church had been particularly thankful that we were able to hold a baptismal service at the end of May. As you can imagine, this focus came at the right time – and it was a very joyous occasion as well. Altogether six people were baptised. And Heike and I were overjoyed that our two daughters, Johanna and Miriam, were also baptised after having professed faith almost two years ago. Although the service was held in the afternoon and in a church nearby, still many friends and relatives came – about 80 adults plus children. Friends and relatives who attended, and who had never witnessed believer’s baptism before, were very responsive to the message and the whole “ceremony”.
Please continue to pray that in the many facets of church life it will be seen to the honour of our God that “this work has been done with the help of our God”.