Since its founding in 2001, Rock Church – now called Generation Church – has rented meeting facilities from Chandler-Gilbert Community College. But by 2008, with an economic crunch in full swing and our church populated mostly by young adults who have little money to spare, we were no longer able to afford college rental fees. Since November 2008 we’ve been meeting in homes, except for all-church gatherings that are still held at the college. Our big concern was that we still owed the college $15,000 in past-due rent. With no way to generate the funds we needed, all we could do was call on God for help.

Thankfully, God has given us favor with the college. From day one we cultivated a climate of respect for the school’s facilities and staff. We have also made sure we leave no trace of our weekend presence. And for special college events we have offered our stage and our sound and lighting equipment, including the 45-50 man-hours to set it all up, plus our trained staff to operate the equipment for their functions. In addition, I have spent hundreds of hours facilitating Bible studies for the Christian club on campus and training its leaders. We have never asked the college for anything in return. We simply wanted to reflect the character and goodness of God. Would our nine-year effort to be a positive Christian witness now be spoiled by our delinquent rent payments? We fervently prayed it would not.

In January I met with the facilities manager to go over our rent status. She informed me that she had kept track of the number of times we had shared our equipment with the college. She said the college would “comp” us $9,262.09 in past-due rent. She also urged me not to worry about the remaining $6000 we still owed, as the college would continue to “comp” us for any help we gave them in the future. I was ecstatic! God was answering our prayers, but in a way I hadn’t expected.

Then in June I met again with the facilities manager. To my amazement, we were credited for the entire remaining portion of what we owed – $6,091.07. In half a year’s time $15,353.18 in debt had been wiped from the books! When I thanked her for this obvious kindness, she replied that the college was truly grateful for our help. I could barely contain myself as I walked out of her office, overwhelmed by the kindness of this person who owed us nothing but who had gone out of her way to make sure we were generously compensated for the use of our equipment. Without a doubt, this was a work of God.

I am continually amazed by God! Who else takes a trouble and turns it into a surprise gift? Who takes a disaster and makes a blessing out of it? Today I stand in witness: No problem – including past-due rent – is a match for God’s grace and power!

Pastor Forrest Erickson serves Generation Church in Chandler, Arizona (www.azgeneration.com)

Pastor Erickson

Comments(1):

1. PTL

   Forrest, Showing the campus community what "real" believers are all about! Keep up the good work and may our wonderful Lord continue to provide for you as you bring the Gospel to Chandler. "...and if necessary, use words." (St. Francis) Shalom, Shel

   Sunday, November 08, 2009 Shel