The Purchasing of 40 Chestnut Street

Whether borrowed, leased, or owned ... having a "place" to do the work of Rescue has been high on the priority list.  Here's what the Lord has done...

Quick recap:  Mid-summer, a local pastor showed us some sites that he thought would do well for a Rescue Mission.  One in particular caught our attention.  It was for sale, but someone was already in a contract to purchase it.  The pastor led us in prayer, "Lord, if You want this building for the work of the Kingdom ... unravel the deal."  Three weeks later, the deal unraveled!  The Lord then provided the means for us to enter into a purchase contract for this site ourselves.  What we needed now, was the financing.

Five days before the contract was about to expire, we still had not secured financing or any significant donations toward the purchase.  Executive Director, David Blacksmith, was seeking the Lord regarding this, and there was a certain level of anxiousness within him ... concerned about where the money was going to come from.  As he was praying, the Lord guided him to Acts chapter 4. There he read where the people of God prayed ... acknowledged His sovereignty and recited His works done in the past, and then asked for boldness. The area in which they stood shook, and God granted their request. They spoke with great boldness and power. Then, the next few verses came very alive...

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had ... from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." Acts 4:32-35

David Blacksmith, our Executive Director, tells what happened next, "I highlighted those words which "spoke" to me as I read it.  My subsequent prayer went something like, "O Lord, how awesome indeed are your works, how You moved men to give for Your cause. Could it be that You have someone in mind to do the same ... to relinquish their possessions for the Kingdom purposes of the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission? Is this possible? Is this what You have in mind?" I left my "prayer closet" with that question ... unanswered. That was Monday."

"Two days later ... Wednesday ... I received a phone call. The individual said, "As I was in prayer this morning, the Lord moved on my heart to support this new Rescue Mission. I kinda resisted, pushing the thoughts away. But the Spirit would give me no rest. I picked up my Bible and began to read ... in the place where I am with my regular Bible reading. The Lord clearly spoke. He told me to sell a piece of land we own and give all the proceeds to the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission for the sole purpose of securing this building.  ALL the proceeds." The going rate for the land he spoke of ... $100,000."

Since that incredible day, the donated property has been sold, and we are awaiting the proceeds to secure the sale of the building.  We've reached an agreement where we are able to move into this facility by November 1st and begin ministry to the neighborhood and the Homeless.  We will not be able to sleep anyone at the facility until we obtain the use permits.

As we write this, we are in awe. How MUCH does God want the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission to exist?!  How earnest is His heart toward those without hope?!  How determined is He to mobilize His church to ministry in Southern New Hampshire?! 

Beloved, God is at work in New England.  Let's Give Him Praise!