The Story of How God Blessed Us to Pay Off a $338,000 Debt in One Week!!

Me and Don Spark (an elder) after having picked the check up from the bank.

“Nothing really happens until God’s people step out in faith.”

I preach this message regularly to the 7 Oaks Church of Christ congregation, but this past Sunday I had a powerful illustration behind it!

Let me tell you a little background information so you can understand the power of this story in seeing God work.  Back in 2014, we added a 4000+ square feet educational annex.  Involved in this building project were also the addition of two new canopies, LED parking lot lights, and other minor improvements.  The total cost of these projects were around $600,000.  We had reduced the debt on this project to $338,537.97.  These debts were costing us about $1,000 per month in interest alone.  The church was paying for these debts through quarterly 5th Sunday contributions which were typically between $17,000 – $20,000.

But this past week we were shocked and thrilled to learn we were named as the sole beneficiary of a trust.  When we found out the amount of money, we were fully convinced in the providence of God.  We received a gift from the trust of $367,000.  We are able to completely retire our debt.  No more interest will have to be paid, freeing us up to invest in more missions and ministries.  The project that was begun in 2014 is paid for in 2015.  We never would have thought it possible.

The story behind this gift is even more remarkable.  You see the lady who bequeathed this money was not a member at our congregation and died back in 1998.  She spent most of her life in another state.  She was a dedicated Christian lady, who chose to bless the Lord’s church.  Her half-sister had been a longtime member at 7 Oaks.  This lady named Elizabeth Allene Morris had established this trust in 1993.  She established the trust so that her sister would be provided for from the trust as long as she lived.  Her sister passed this past September.  7 Oaks was the sole beneficiary for the remaining trust value.  We had no idea.  Most of our church family do not know either of the ladies involved as the sister who was a member had moved off years ago to be cared for by family.  Mrs. Morris is an example of someone who understood the big story of this life is God.  We are all just supporting actors playing our part in the grand story of God.  Most of us will likely be forgotten in a number or years too, but we should invest and honor the eternal causes that will go on for eternity.

While there are so many thoughts related to this story, one of my favorite is how it illustrates that God’s shovel is always bigger than our shovel!  It reminded me of Jesus’ words, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap”  (Luke 6:38).  God gave to us abundantly and it ran over, even providing a little extra!

***To listen to this past Sunday’s sermon where I celebrate and reflect upon this gift go to the Audio Resources.  It is titled “Celebration and Reflection on Paying Off the Church Building”