One of our churches owned a rental property. Keeping up with the repairs and dealing with responsible and not-so-responsible tenants created nagging headaches for the trustees. When the house became empty, the board began discussing what to do with it.
One of our parishioners approached Dick with an idea. “I feel God is leading me to open a Christian tearoom,” Debbie told him. “I would like to buy the church’s rental property.”
Debbie’s vision to provide a Christian meeting place for people to enjoy one another’s company and find strength for life’s journey held appeal. The proposal went through the appropriate committees and a date was set to vote.
During the weeks preceding the meeting, unofficial deliberations over the idea cropped up at sporting events, the church coffee hour and family dinners. Some supported the proposal, glad that the building would be used for ministry. Others, like Patty Smith, our church secretary, and her husband Gary, felt strongly that we should keep the property, concerned that by selling it, the church might limit her future possibilities.
The evening of the vote, Dick opened the meeting with prayer. Debbie presented her ideas for the tearoom, her offer for the property, and answered questions. She then excused herself from the meeting.
Dick opened the floor for discussion, alternating speeches “for” with those “against”. After a prayer for wisdom and the fulfillment of God’s will, the ballots were passed out.
The proposal passed with the required two-thirds majority. I wondered how the ones who had wanted to keep the property would handle their defeat. Sometimes the faction who loses feels justified in expressing their disappointment by refusing to cooperate.
It didn’t take long to find out... A few days later, Debbie did a walk-through of the house. She found that the furnace was not operating and called the church to ask who had worked on it in the past.
Patty Smith answered the phone. Without hesitation she volunteered to have her husband come and take a look at it. In a very short time, Gary fixed the furnace, free of charge.
Two people graciously accepted an outcome that obviously disappointed them. By offering their help, Patty and Gary demonstrated the generous, self-less character God was talking about in Philippians 2:1-4: “If Christ’s love has made any difference in your life, put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”
We all face situations where we don’t get what we want. Can we follow Paul’s advice and the Smiths’ example by setting aside our own desires, and serving where we have the opportunity? When we do, it’s always a win-win.
Be encouraged!
