As many know we had been focusing all of our efforts into getting into an apartment complex where we have done some outreach projects. The corporate office was for it, but what seemed like an open door quickly became obstacle after obstacle. One night we finally said, "Ok God, if you are closing this door and this is not where we are supposed to be, then please show us an open window somewhere else." I prayed, and immediately opened by Bible to a random place...but God is not random. He immediately drew me to this verse: "On the road someone asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you wherever, " he said. Jesus was curt. "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know." Luke 9:57-58
I immediately thought..."Well let's look into moving into the projects of Savannah." I looked into it and the waiting list was closed. No chance. That same day I posted a status on Facebook about the verse I had read and the fact that we were open to going wherever God would have us go. The next day Glenn received a message from a guy that he knew from back in his days of managing the clubs. According to Glenn this guy was there almost everyday. He told Glenn in his message that he doesn't pray but the night before he said a prayer before he went to sleep. He woke up at 4:30 am and couldn't sleep so he checked Facebook and read my status that Glenn had shared. He immediately sent Glenn a message and said he might be able to help us out. He told Glenn that he had a house on the East side of Savannah in a neighborhood that some would be leery of moving into. We decided to check it out. The house was big and beautiful. The downstairs will provide ample space for Dream Campaign meetings, tutoring, bible studies etc. We plan to build big tables with long benches in the dining room for family dinners with our neighbors. Unfortunately, the previous tenants had all but trashed it. It needs some TLC. He offered us a reduced rent for the first 4 months if we would take it "as is" and clean it up. He would provide supplies. The side yard is big enough to do block parties, cookouts and outdoor movie nights. We stopped by the community center on the corner on our way out and discovered that this is the first summer in 12 years that they were not hosting a program for children. Kids out for summer....no program....hmmm.
Glenn knew immediately that this was our house. I didn't have that overwhelming peace I had hoped for and was nervous. But then I remembered that God doesn't always give that peace in the midst of a decision. Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith. We sat on it. Prayed on it. Talked it over. Crunched numbers. When I got home, I opened my bible again to this, " God, I've heard what our ancestors say about you and I'm stopped in my tracks, down on my knees. Do among us what you did among them. Work among us as you worked among them." Habakkuk 3:2 and "All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant." Psalm 24:10.
I couldn't sleep that night and I was researching the neighborhood online and discovered that 32% of the people in the neighborhood never graduated from high school. 32% of all families in the neighborhood were single moms. And we were told that a house 2 doors down was known for being the McDonald house where you could get anything: Drugs, Women and Children. My stomach was in knots. How could we not move into this neighborhood? Wouldn't Jesus be there? Maybe this was the definition of rough. I went to bed knowing this was the reason we had come up against so many obstacles in moving into the apartment complex. God was preparing the hearts of people and the place we would soon call home.
We called Glenn's friend and told him "Yes." We drove by this morning and a man walking down the street told us that as soon as he fixed his lawnmower he would come see us. He said that he would bring his grandsons to help him since they would be out of school soon with nothing to do. He gave us his name, address and phone number.
This afternoon when we went to pick up the key to the house the lady across the street was on the porch and I went over to introduce myself. She has lived in the neighborhood for 63 years. She knows everyone and everything about the area. Her daughter is a certified grant writer and she had a list of people she wanted us to meet. She mentioned the man who owned the company on the corner which does historic preservation and is very involved in the community. She told us that he just purchased the boarded up house across from us and is turning into some kind of cooking school by a lady on a food channel. Most exciting is the fact that the empty lot directly across from our front door is about to become a community garden that kids in the neighborhood will take care of in conjunction with the school. We knew none of this when we made the commitment, but God was there long before.
We have a long road ahead. A lot of work and a lot of fundraising. The numbers don't work on paper, but we KNOW this is where God would have us. The circumstances have lined up exactly as they needed to and sounds like the future of our little block is ripe for community outreach. We have taken a leap of faith in some sense, but the leap is met with extreme peace and faith that our feet will land on solid ground. We will have a guest room in this house where we invite our friends and supporters to "Come and See" what God is doing and be a part of it.
Our theme verse for The Dream Campaign is Ephesians 3:20: "God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!"
Did I mention that a family donated an SUV to the ministry this week as well?
I am so humbled and honored that he entrusted us with this ministry.
This will be the House of Dreams. A place of peace, safety, laughter, love and hope for all who enter.
We invite you to join us.
We created a website for fundraising. If you would like to be a part of this story, please visit and find out more: http://www.gofundme.com/HelpUsDream. If you would rather send a contribution by mail please send it to: The Dream Campaign, P.O. Box 5306, Savannah,GA, 31414
Every penny goes to helping us get settled in this new community and towards ministry projects for the next 4 months.
Blessings,
Morgan
No comments:
Post a Comment