Greetings once again from the land of great cappuccinos and pasta! Now we also need to add to that list - the land of a great new move of God!As the Lord would have it, as a result of owning our own church facility, our international church has expanded in several ways. We've had to add 25 more chairs to the main worship hall, maxing our capacity. Our children now have their own complete Kid's Church during the entire time the adults meet. There is literally not enough room for them! This is a great problem to have, but also brings us once again to our knees. Our prayer this time: "Lord, please do it again!" We are in need of expanding our facility.
Next door to our current worship center is another building that has stood empty for 20 years. The asking rental price is $9000 a month for rent! We are negotiating with them and they have agreed to our $1500 a month plus renovations offer for the first two years. However, we are not able to do this until we have a previous obligation fulfilled.
Although our building is paid off and totally owned by us, we still have $54,000 remaining to be paid back to AG Financial for the down payment we made. Our church is making that payment faithfully, but at this rate will take another five years to pay it off. Simply too long!
We have never appealed before concerning this as we did not realize that our growth rate would pick up so rapidly. We would simply like to ask you to consider us in your missions giving once again - to help us expand to the building next door. The new building will house all of our youth and children's activities, after-school program, church office, and our future Master's Commission program. This will free up the current building for the overflow of the main worship hall.
Dear pastors, please also consider this request for your fall missions conventions. Your one-time offering will go directly to paying off the down payment loan, which will free up our own church finances to pay the rent for the new building. Our project number is the same before, and can be sent directly to Springfield.
The Holy Spirit is moving in a mighty way here as we experienced a great revival in the last year, and people's lives have been changed by God's Spirit and Word. We pray that nothing, not even buildings, will hinder the growth of His church.
God bless all of you and may the Lord anoint each one of you with greater power as you continue to minister by His Holy Spirit.
Your friends from Italy,
Pastor Steve & Patti Gray
When sending your gift please specify on the check that it is for the Padova Building Project #9137. Include our name, Steve & Patti Gray, account number 267920. Send to AGWM Attn:Eric Huyck 1445 Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO 65802
