L. D. McNall Westminster Presbyterian Church Chehalis, WA Aug 10, 2008
Exodus 35: 4-11a; 20-22a, Exodus 36: 1-8a, Philippians 4: 15-20
It happened long ago, an impossible thing, and yet they did it – they built a church in the desert. They even out-did Bob Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral. He formed a church in a “drive in.” The people came in cars. But this church in the desert went where the people went; a tent – a tabernacle, a church that traveled. Some doubted it could be done “Where’s the money?” “Where are the materials?” “Where are the workers?” But others said, “We are well able to build it.” They believed Pastor Moses who spoke his faith to the people. He told them what God told him. “Build me a sanctuary. Follow the plan I gave you.” So Pastor Moses laid it before the people. He believed they could build it.
You could have given this pastor a strange nickname, “Bulrushe”, so named ’cause that’s where his sister laid him, by the river in a basket of bulrushes. Not only strange in name, strange in ideas, for he believed that even in the desert there were resources to build a church. So he kept talking God’s Bank, “the Bank of Heaven.” Now that’s a strange idea! “Where’s the money?” “Where are the stockholders?” Yet all he would say was, “You’ll see!” This “Pastor with strong faith” laid plans before the people just like they were stockholders. He said: “This is what the Lord commands, ‘whoever is of a generous heart, let him make an offering to God. Whatever you choose give it to God.’” And you know, his strange ideas brought strange and wonderful results. These desert people made a generous offering to God. They brought free-will offerings for the building of the tabernacle.
Now, here’s all this building material, but in this desert place? Where are the workers??? The next Sabbath Pastor Moses gives another sermon, “Take heart, for God calls Bez a lel and O ho liab, gifts them with skills, inspires them to teach in all crafts needed.”
On Monday, Moses delivers to the craftsmen all the offerings for building that Tabernacle. Meanwhile, every morning here come the people laden with gifts for the new church. Finally, in desperation, the workers come to Pastor Moses saying –“The people bring too much!! We have more than enough!!!” So the pastor speaks to the people –“Stop giving!!!” We have more than enough!!!” They give like they own the bank!!! They do the impossible. They build a church in the desert!
When God commanded Moses to build the Wilderness Tabernacle, he also called workers and leaders. God call two men as chief craftsmen – Listen to their wonderful story as told in the Living Bible: “The Lord appoints Bez a lel, General Superintendent. Bez a lel does beautiful work in gold, silver and bronze. He cuts stones like a jeweler, and does beautiful carving. Bez a lel is a master craftsmen!!!” Bez a lel and O ho liab do for the Tabernacle what Moses does for the Exodus Joshua for the Conquest. They do God’s work in a challenging place. Marvel not at their skills. Give thanks they are ready when needed. For God gives them skills to do a great work. The Tabernacle construction calls for designers and carpenters, weavers and even jewelers. When needed – they are there !!! They use their talents for the glory of God, because they believe their skills are given by God.
Today, in the same way, God calls people to lead the church. You don’t always know who they are!! You find them when you need them!!! God always has leaders to lead!!!
In my last church in California we needed a teacher and an elder–a teacher for children, an elder for stewardship. We searched until we found them. The teacher never taught. The elder never led. But both turned out as good leaders. Alicia became a model teacher. Even though young and untried, yet her class flourished. It became the largest in the church school! As chairman of stewardship, Bill surprised the congregation, as well as himself. For he led the congregation, to double its giving over the previous year.
I grew up in a church where people said “Amen” when the preacher spoke the truth. I said, “They doubled their giving over the previous year!” AMEN!
As members of that congregation for many years, Bill and Alicia possessed leadership skills, yet, were never asked to serve. Finally, their leadership blessed the congregation as well as themselves!!!
Leaders are out there! You just have to find them. Train ’em! Turn ’em loose! Let ’em lead! AMEN!
Not only are leaders out there; resources are there, too! God doesn’t give birth to a church and not give leaders or provide the money! You need money, as well as leaders, to carry out the mission of the church! When it comes to money for the mission of the church, Jesus has already spoken: “Ask and you shall receive!” I learned that secret through a little leaflet I found at a Presbytery meeting. The front said: “How to raise money for your church, in three little words!” So I opened the leaflet and out leaped these words: “Ask for it!” James says: “You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss!” We need to think out of the box! Think big, and ask big! For we have a Great God who owns the bank! Paul knew that secret when he said: “My God shall supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory!” Put God to the test! Discover what He will do! AMEN!
When I began as pastor in 1939, I wish I had known then what I know now about Heaven’s Bank!!! I didn’t know God’s Bank has unlimited resources!!! I also know its most unique feature! Unlike the Bank of America, or Venture Bank, or Key Bank, with funds in a vault under lock and key, the funds in God’s Bank are not in a vault. Unlike them, God’s Bank keeps its funds in the hands of the stockholders. And strangest of all, when asked, the stockholders reach in their pockets give so generously they surprise themselves and everyone else! God’s Bank keeps its funds in the pockets of the stockholders!!
Back in the sixties, when I was pastor of a church in the Redwoods of California, the time came for a new sanctuary. The need was definite but the congregation small. We didn’t know whether we were able to build. While deciding, we asked Clifford Post of the National Church “Can this little church do that big a job?” He asked for two things: The number of families in the church, and the occupation of the breadwinner. Within a few days, back came the reply: “After careful research I can definitely say,the Garberville church can afford a new sanctuary.” We made our plans. We set the date for this National Fundraiser to travel from the tall skyscrapers of New York City to the tall Sequoias of Northern California to test the truth of his answer to our question.
However, the very week before he was due to arrive, the Northern California flood of 1965 rumbled in. Rains descended, rivers overflowed uprooting trees, destroying houses, ripping apart the fabric of the community. They called it, “The rainstorm of the century!”
Our brave leader from the Big Apple was due to arrive at the peak of a raging flood via the only public travel left, the Greyhound. The floodwaters isolated our community. To the north and the south whole sections of highway 101 were swept away. We were cut off from the outside world, marooned in the Redwoods by the angry Eel River!! Canceling the campaign was never an option. We had planned too long, prayed too much, hoped too high, not to go on!!!
Our response to the challenge of the flood was to call our man in New York City. “Come west, Mr. Post. Come to the Redwoods. We’ll meet you in Willits, 40 miles south of us.” Don Bushnell, an experienced surveyor, who had trampled all over those hills and valleys, volunteered his old Jeep. He offered to drive it, not by the damaged highway running beside the river, but by a narrow muddy road, up along the crest of the mountains, an early-day mail route now traveled only by the locals. Some didn’t know it was there!! Though we cleaned that muddy Jeep dusty old chains still covered the floor. But the side-curtains restrained most of the rain. We had never seen our man Post – not even a picture. But we spotted him, the best-dressed man, getting off the Greyhound in a blue suit and wearing new shoes! We never knew what he thought of that young pastor and his bearded driver dressed in blue jeans and brown boots, but he went with us. He had no choice! This well-dressed man from New York City led those country folk of the mountains to raise enough money to build a beautiful church that stands today as a tribute to what bold faith can do even in a bad situation!
That was back in the sixties, when a dime was a dime, a dollar a dollar. It would take over $100,000 to build that church today!!! During the campaign I had hoped for $15,000 to $18,000. But when the giving was all done, the pledges all in, that little congregation gave over $36,000 to build a new sanctuary, in spite of the flood!!!
And that was just the beginning. During construction, Mel Coombs, a wealthy mill owner, called me on the phone. And this is what he said; “L. D. when are you going to let me help you build that church?” Mel Coombs gave the best – double A prime redwood, priceless, worth thousands of dollars. You rarely find such quality redwood on today’s market!!!
During a flood in the California Redwoods, I had my first lesson about God’s Bank!!! The resources to build a church and carry on its mission are all in the Bank of Heaven. When you ask, the stockholders will respond with generous gifts!!! AMEN!
I probably wouldn’t be standing before you today, if God hadn’t taught me then the truth about his bank I’m proclaiming now. I didn’t read it in a book, nor learn it in seminary! I learned it, doing the work of the church. I learned through experience. When you learn by doing, you believe what you learn and you’re glad to share it with others.
I recently read that “Good ideas come from God!” I believe they do. The Israelites worshipped in a Tabernacle Tent; the Garberville Congregation in a new redwood church; because God gave someone a good idea – a vision! Building the redwood church in Garberville was not my idea. I was so busy with pastoring the church, building a new church never entered my mind. But it did enter the mind of the Chairman of the Dept of National Missions – Dr. George McCauley. On one of his visits, right out of the blue, he said to me, “L. D., when are you and the people of Garberville going to quit putting good money down the rat hole of this old building?” That question, with its good idea, was the beginning of that new redwood church.
God put the idea in the mind of Dr. George McCauley! In 1853, George Whitworth came to Chehalis with a good idea. That was the beginning of this congregation! From that day till this, God has been putting good ideas in the minds of the pastors and people of this church! Jean Bluhm, your historian, told me of your sesquicentennial of just two years ago when more than thirty former pastors gathered to celebrate with you. Many, if not most of them, mentioned that their years with you were among the best of their careers, showing that the match of pastor and people was a good idea! Another good idea was when you called your recently retired pastor, Ralph Carr. That idea was valid for 31 years. I am confident that another good idea was in calling your present pastor, Brian North. I understand that he led you in opening your church to the refugees of the 2007 flood, your church leading the way and other churches here following your example.
It seems to me that, from your beginning in 1853 to the present, God has been giving you good ideas as well as good leaders. You have many good ideas for which to thank God – ideas like: giving 1/3 of you budget to missions, providing clean-up teams for the devastation of the 2007 flood and teams for Katrina, hosting after-school programs for children, supporting the homeless, contributing to the Food Bank, sponsoring the University of Livingstonia, and you can add to this list of missions for Westminster Church.
If you have a project, waiting for money to fund it, wait no longer. The issue is not lack of funds, nor lack of leaders. The issue is faith! Yes, if you have the faith, God has the resources and leaders !!! Moses believed that, Whitworth believed that, Carr believed that, North demonstrates he believes that, and I believe that!
I am sure you believe that. If so, let me hear a another good, AMEN !
St. Augustine said: “Leave the past to the mercy of God, the future to the providence of God, and the present to the love of God!” That’s Augustine’s way of saying what Paul said, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory!!!”
Perhaps I have been sent to remind you that – If you have the faith, God has the resources!!! Amen !!!
