Life has been a blurry flurry of weeks rolling on by since we moved from the GHC. We set up the new office and IHOPMichiana, and even an office for our bookkeeper, copy room and a little break/briefing room. It’s amazing how much you can get into a little space. Then a few storefronts down and around the corner, we have been able to set up (and keep set up) the meeting area for the church. We have over 300 chairs, a stage, and even hung a screen and projector up. Yesterday we hung up our sign over the office for IHOP and the Office, and got the phones and network up and running as well. It has been beautiful over the past week and I have so much wanted to be outside enjoying the fresh air. Mall air gets old after a while. Demolition continues at the 240 and there’s still quite a bit to do. Then reconstruction can begin!
It’s really wild how we do what we do regardless of where we are. Here I sit in this little prayer room, with 36 chairs and a live team playing and singing unto The Lord, and know that no matter where we are, what we are doing is what we are called to do. Building a house of prayer is no easy thing… having been a part of this for ten years now, I can testify to that. But I know that The Lord is pleased that we are doing it, even in this humble room. And then I think of what a blessing it is to be in such a room, with painted walls and padded chairs. So many have their prayer rooms in a dusty alley or under a canvas stretched between some poles in an African village. We are blessed every day we get to do this.
In everything, it’s important not to lose sight of the greater vision — loving God and loving others. All the administrative / logistical / operational struggles and things that have to be planned, figured out, changed, and changed again, are important, but ultimately must come alongside the vision of loving Him and loving our neighbors. That tension is what makes it all interesting, doesn’t it? How do we love the person when they are talking your ear off when you need to get something done? How do we balance relationship with walking out destiny and purpose? Somehow they can be combined, but that’s the challenge of working in ministry. It’s good. Stretching. Frustrating. Healing. Rewarding. And many more emotional descriptives. In the meantime, The Lord is good for giving us grace to do this. We sure need it. For each other and for ourselves. Thank you Lord!