MEN WHO DREAM

I've never really understood whether God chooses men who dream or if He gives dreams to the men He chooses. I do know that much of what has been done for the glory of God was born of dreams.” ---Ron Boutwell, 1978

Monday, November 26, 2012

OUR FIRST HOME OF OUR OWN #6



(From my column “Looking Forward and Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, January, 1987.  Bracketed information has been added.)

I returned from the Christian Drama Conference in Houston with many convictions, two of which I’ll relate: 1) That I, not someone else, must provide spiritual leadership and not just artistic and business leadership. 2) That we needed a new home, a place where we could have our own identity. (We had been in the basement of Springfield Family Restaurant. Then we were inside ShowBiz Pizza.) We prayed that God would show us when and where. The answer to when came within the next two weeks—just as we began rehearsals for the first show of our third season. ShowBiz Pizza informed us that they were closing. Wow! A few weeks earlier and that news would have been the final blow of defeat, but now we welcomed the news as God’s answer to our prayer of when. The answer to where also came within a few weeks when God led Pat to a little corner building at 200 E. Commercial. The building, though small, seemed just right for our present needs, and it was affordable. We signed a one-year lease with an option for two additional years.

Time was short. We had just over a month to be out of ShowBiz. Even before the actual lease agreement could be prepared, we began the monumental task of turning a shell of a building into a theatre in four weeks. Besides this, we were keeping the first show of the season going at ShowBiz while beginning rehearsals for the second show which had to be ready for the opening of this new theatre. Needless to say, those who were involved with Stained Glass Theatre didn’t sleep much that month. The work load was tremendous, but spirits were high. We could almost daily see God’s mighty hand at work.

As we began to face the reality of the cost involved in turning a long-empty building into a theatre with lobby, ticket booth, office space, light and sound booth, auditorium, stage, and dressing rooms, we began to walk in faith. This time, instead of borrowing $2,000 to meet moving expenses, we prayed and trusted God to meet our needs. It was indeed at this time that our wonderful God moved in such a miraculous way that even now, over a year and a half later, tears of joy, amazement, and gratitude fill my eyes as I write this, for God answered our prayers and provided for our needs in a way we could not have imagined. We had to get started on constructing the theatre immediately. This meant lumber, nails, paint, wall board, etc.; and that meant great cost. We didn’t have the money or the time to raise the money, so how could we do it? God knew. It was at this financially crucial time that God reached down and touched the heart of a Christian roofing contractor who came to us and said, “Order whatever you need, and put it on my account.” We couldn’t believe it. Can you imagine how incredible and beautiful those words were to us, “whatever you need”? It was truly a miracle. Not only had God used this wonderful man to meet some of our construction needs, but all of them. Thank you, God! And we sincerely thank the man that God used to bless us. That which I’ve related is enough of a miracle, but that’s not all, for the miracle goes on. You see, God has continued to use this same contractor to provide material for every show we have staged since that time plus some for new renovations on the stage and auditorium areas that are presently in progress. Praise God! And thank you, Mr. H----! [Thank You, Father! Praise Your Holy Name! Jehovah!]

COMING NEXT: A GIDEON MIRACLE                                 
An incredible incident that blessed and strengthened the faith of many.