“We have the money,” he reminded her. “We can afford it.”
“I know we can afford it now, but it’s not something we can sustain over the long haul. Can’t we start smaller so that we do more over time?”
“I’m open to suggestions,” he said.
She couldn’t help but lean over and kiss him. They were really partners in this ministry, and he considered seriously every idea she had. If she didn’t already love him, his respect for her and her ideas would have made her love him.
“What’s that for?” he asked.
“Because I love you,” she said simply.
“I love you, too,” he said. “Now tell me your idea.”
“I think there needs to be a closer tie between the sermon and the blessing. Last year, after preaching a sermon on good stewardship, Bishop Long at New Birth asked folks who had gotten themselves into trouble with credit card debt to come to the altar so he could pray for them. He ended up praying for them and paying off their credit card debt.”
Andrew leaned forward and kissed her. “Marrying you is the best thing I’ve done in my life,” he told her. “That’s exactly what we’ll do, but instead of credit card debt, we’ll do mortgage debt. This is what was missing from the sermon.”
“Paying mortgage debt might be too ambitious, Andrew,” she said. “Couldn’t we start even smaller?”
He shook his head. “Mortgages are on my heart. You have to trust me on this. It’s what God wants.”
Sandra still wasn’t 100 percent on board with the idea, but she trusted her husband. His gambling days were behind him and so were the lies and half truths that went with them. “Then that’s what we’ll do,” she said, giving him her full trust.
Chapter 11
Andrew stood in the pulpit, his ministerial staff on the platform with him, his brand-new choir robed and seated behind him, his wife and First Lady in the second pew left of the aisle. He looked out on the congregation, his congregation. Since the sanctuary was a little over a quarter full, he guessed the total in attendance was a little less than six hundred. Having this many attendees on the first Sunday increased his confidence that the church would be filled to capacity within six months. He could see it in his mind now and he knew it would happen. He’d bet all the money he had that it would.
Catching himself thinking about gambling, Andrew quickly turned his attention back to his congregation. “The Lord has shown me,” he said, “that some of you are struggling with your housing payment. Some of you have asked for help and not gotten it, others of you have exhausted all the help you have, while others of you are too ashamed to let others know you’re having trouble. Well, the Lord is speaking to all of you today and he wants you to come down to the altar so that I can pray for you. Your help is coming. You just need faith to hold on until it gets here. You can exercise your faith this morning by coming down to the altar.”
As he gave the altar call, his eyes landed on Luther wearing a smug grin as he made his way to the altar. About fifty others joined him. “Don’t let pride keep you from your blessing,” Andrew added for the benefit of those who might be reluctant to come down. About twice as many more people joined them at the altar.
“The altar call this morning is for each of you. God wants to bless you, and we here at Showers of Blessings want to bless you. We’re going to pray for you, but here at Showers of Blessings we believe that prayer, like faith, is dead without works. The blessing God has for each of you standing at the altar is six months’ worth of housing payments.”
A huge sigh went out among the congregation. Andrew spoke to them. “Some of you sitting out there now wish you had come to the altar, but it’s too late. You’ve missed a blessing because you wouldn’t follow the Lord’s instruction. The good news is that the altar is still open for you, but not for the housing payments. The altar is open for you to take a step of faith. All you have to do is stand to your feet where you are. The altar of God is all around.”
After the congregation stood, Andrew prayed a prayer of faith and blessing on them all. When he finished, the choir began a song as the deacons came around and took names and contact information for everyone at the altar. That done, Andrew said, “Now we’re going to open the doors of the church for membership. Showers of Blessings is a new church and we want you to be a part of us. If you feel the Lord leading you to join with us, please come down to the altar as the choir gives us another song. If you’re not ready to make that decision today, that’s okay. Just keep coming back until you do feel it’s right.”
More than half of the church came down. After Andrew officially welcomed them, he said, “We’re going to give the benediction now and invite you all to share in refreshments with us in the fellowship hall. First Lady Sandra will be there to meet you, and I’ll join you shortly. Those of you desiring membership, please stay here until we get your names and contact numbers.”
Andrew gave the benediction and then waited for the ushers and Sandra to lead the congregation to the fellowship hall. He noticed that only a few people chose to leave instead of staying to share in refreshments. Another good sign.
Andrew took special care to greet every new member personally. To help him remember names, he had a photographer take a picture of each person, label it with his or her name, and put it in a folder for him to study. He knew it would be a tough job remembering all their names, but he was committed to it. People needed to know that their pastor knew who they were.
After he had greeted the new members, he left them and joined Sandra and the others in the fellowship hall. His wife was encircled by a small group so instead of interrupting her, he made his way around the room meeting the others. He stiffened a bit when he saw that the next couple up was Luther and a woman he guessed was his wife. The wife’s eyes were damp.
“Thank you so much, Pastor,” she said. “I’m Carrie, Luther’s wife. You really blessed us today. We’re really going through a hard time. Since Luther lost his job, we’ve had to use credit cards for things his salary normally covered. Your help came just in time because our credit cards are at the limit. Isn’t that right, Luther?”
Andrew blinked twice. Was this woman now asking for help with her credit cards? He glanced at Luther.
“She’s right, Pastor. It’s a miracle, like God handed down manna from heaven just when we needed it. If we needed those credit cards now, we’d be in trouble because all of them are at the max.”
Andrew wasn’t stupid. Luther and Carrie were asking for money for their credit card bills. This couple was going to be a problem. He’d have to figure out a way to deal with them.
“You two just keep the faith. God will open a door for you,” he told them. “All you have to do is trust Him.”
Chapter 12
Andrew called a short meeting with his leadership team in the conference room after the social hour in the fellowship hall ended. “Numbers?” he asked.
“One hundred and two people came down for the first altar call,” Jacob Wilson said. “Those will be getting mortgage or rental assistance for the six months you promised. I estimate that will cost a little over half a million dollars.”
“That much?” Rob Moore asked.
“It’s money well spent,” Andrew said, brushing aside the comment. “What about membership?”
“Three hundred and thirteen people joined, including eighty-two of those who got housing assistance. That brings our total membership to four hundred and twenty-five. That’s not bad at all.”
Andrew