by Bong Magno
When Noah was instructed by God to build an Ark, he obeyed and trusted the Lord without any question. Noah did not delay, but worked on the Ark armed with God’s specific plan on how it would be built. The construction of the Ark took years to complete, and during the construction, Noah continued to preach about God’s grace to the people. At the time, floods did not exist and from what I’ve read, neither did rain. Could you imagine the faith and trust that Noah had placed on God?
GSCC is about to embark on the next phase of its mission with God. Our Ark is nearly complete in its purchase contract with the bank and Harvest Seminary. In fact we just received the good news that Heritage Bank has approved our loan application. I truly believe that God is providing us a building that will be a venue to train God’s children to reach out to the Milpitas community and spread the Good News. It is through faith and trust that our leaders and members have placed on God, the same faith and trust that Noah had on Him.
The projected close of the escrow, according to Bro. Romy, at the earliest is at the end of September and October 15 the latest. Once we obtain the building permits renovation will commence and is expected to be completed by November 15.
Hence, GSCC is projected to move in the building, by the first week of December, during which we will have our first Sunday Service in our own place of worship. Already we are looking forward to an open house to mark its inauguration on December 10. Praise God that He continues to sustain GSCC, despite the economic hardship that afflicts all of us. Truly, God provides.
As we await the completion of the underwriting process, our Board of Elders has organized a renovation task force headed by Brother Ed Purification. Plans are being studied and everyone is invited to join and put ideas out to insure that all the needs of each ministry is met. Sis Joy Roque has come up with an impressive design of the altar. Once renovated the GSCC ark will have a gathering hall which can seat more than 150 worshippers and where a baby grand piano donated by a generous believer will find a place for service. The congregation will be treated to a well appointed stage large enough to meet the requirements of theater productions, 4 rooms where ministries can hold fellowships, a nursery / music room for kids, a spacious office for our pastors and a kitchen for the culinary skills of the Hospitality Ministry.
The building price is $950k. We have offered a down payment of $285k and Harvest Seminary granted as a loan of $126k. The loans shall be amortized at about $5,000 monthly, yet our BOE plans to adjust our expenses and is confident about the generosity of members; thus, meeting the monthly obligation does not pose a problem.
Noah was a righteous man who found favor with God. His faith and trust in God enabled the ark to ride through the deluge flooding the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. GSCC, which has faithfully pursued its vision to become a church that loves God and others, has also found favor with God. Like Noah, GSCC constantly walks with God as it single-mindedly seeks His wisdom. Like Noah’s ark, the GSCC ark will ride through the deluge of the worst recession that has wrecked the even giant economies of the world. Metaphorically, Noah’s ark is seen as the “spiritual precursor of the Church in offering salvation to mankind.” In its part of the world, GSCC, as it keeps looking to Jesus, lives up to that metaphor.
