Here at NCC, God has blessed us with more people than will fit in our current facilities, and so we’re attempting to purchase another piece of property. The other potential purchaser is a wealthy real estate developer, but we’re believing God for a real estate miracle.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m not always a fan of the emphasis that churches sometimes place on building campaigns. They may be necessary and good things, but they don’t usually stir my soul, and I feel that they can divert attention from more important matters. That said, I believe the senior leadership at NCC has done a great job of stewarding the physical space we do have, and we really do need more of it.

As Pastor Mark was praying that God would give us this property, he felt like God’s Spirit said to him, “Mark, stop praying for it and start praising me for it.” When you read the story of the Israelite takeover of Jericho, God says to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.” The Israelites didn’t actually possess Jericho at this point. They were still standing outside the walls, but God had already given it to them.

If God has already done something for you, what do you do? You praise him. That’s the only appropriate response.

We could be wrong. God could choose not to give us this property, but we believe that He’s set it aside for His purposes and that He will allow us to steward it.

So that’s what we’re doing. We’re praising God for a piece of property we don’t yet own.