Healing and Hope Mark a New Season in Murray

In September 2019, I preached a Murray, Utah renovating their miracle message called “Man of God, God wants to Confirm You” about how I believe God wants His prophets to request big things in front of the congregation. He wants His people to witness the miracle. So, I told my church that God wanted to give us a building.

Our lease was set to expire in September 2021. I had two real estate agents looking for buildings, and they couldn’t find a reasonably priced building the size we needed. We were willing to double what we had been paying in rent, but still nothing. I believe it was simply not God’s will for us to sign a lease. He wanted us to buy a building and be unhindered when the time came.

I talked to my pastor, Bill Neil, about renting a hotel conference room for our services while we prepared to buy, and we both believed it was God’s will. I spoke to my council and other pastors who have done similar things; everyone thought it was a good idea.

So, in the summer of 2021, I told my church that we were letting our lease go to be ready when God gave us a building.

Leading up to this step of faith, I preached to my congregation about us being modern-day Levites. When Israel was in the wilderness, the Levites broke down the tabernacle components, carried them to the next stop, and set up the tabernacle again. My church wholeheartedly bought into the concept. We dispersed the equipment so no one would have to handle it all. One person brings the piano, one brings the computer, another brings the projector, another brings the drums, etc. They are responsible for bringing the items to church, setting them up, and then taking them down and storing them at their homes. Because of this partnership, we can set up in 15-20 minutes! My people are more needed e building! than ever, and it has brought us closer together. We lost no members through that process; we even saw people added to the congregation.

We were being strategic, but we also knew we needed a miracle. We were saving money, but not enough to raise a down payment of 25 percent in a year or two. We were doing this because we needed a miracle. I told my church, “We’re wrestling the angel, and we’re not going to let go until he blesses us.”

As of October 2021, we had no building of our own; we had stepped out in faith, believing that God would give us one. In November 2021, we discovered that our church was named in the will of Ezekiel Contreras, a friend who had passed away. He genuinely loved our church and left us enough money to buy a building. We got our miracle!

We bought a building in March of 2023 and have been in the process of renovating it. Please pray for favor with the city of Murray that they will release us and give us the needed permits.

I wrote a book called Devine Wilderness: Discovering God in Difficult Seasons that tells the rest of the story. It’s available on Amazon.

Thank you for your prayers.