(From my column “Looking Forward and
Glancing Back” in the SGT monthly newsletter, October, 1987.)
As the
opening week of our Season of Praise
approached, there was a great sense of expectancy for all of us at Stained
Glass Theatre. Not only were final preparations for the premier performance of HI TOPS in full swing, but a
most unusual and important event affecting our future home was scheduled to
take place. That event was the annual meeting of the Board of the Musgrave
Foundation at which SGT would be considered for a gift. I don’t believe that it
was just a coincidence that this very important meeting was held the same week
we were to begin our Season of Praise—a
season in which we would be facing the challenge of raising $60,000 in order to
pay cash for our “Promised Land” and move into that beautiful land DEBT FREE!
No indeed, for I believe it was another example of God’s perfect timing in blessing
SGT’s ministry.
I may have
gotten ahead of myself for many of you may be asking, “Who or what is the
Musgrave Foundation?” and “Why would they be giving funds to SGT?” To answer
those questions, let me tell you a beautiful story of God’s miracle-working
power.
Late last
spring SGT gave a special preview performance of GOD’S MIGHTY OAK
to the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International. We didn’t have any
idea that night that God was setting into motion a series of events that would
bring to SGT’s building fund a very special gift. As we found out later, there
was a man who attended the performance who was blessed and led to invite a Mrs.
Musgrave to see the show. A few weeks later Mrs. Musgrave did attend and surprised
us by informing Terry and Jim after the performance that she would like to help
us. She said that she had a charitable foundation that would be meeting in
September and when the Board met, they would remember us. Needless to say, we
were overjoyed. We were also joyful when we learned that Charles Fuller, a
friend and supporter of SGT, was the president of the Musgrave Foundation.
There was no doubt in our minds that this was all arranged by God and that He
had something special for us. So I’m sure you can understand our expectancy
when we found out that the Board would be meeting the week that we were to
begin our new season and fund-raising efforts. It was all coming together as
only God could do it.
The Board
was to meet on Wednesday, September 16, and we were scheduled to open HI TOPS on Friday the 18th.
Ten days later, on the 28th, we would have our big Prayer and Praise Celebration at the
new building. We wanted to have something exciting to announce as a “kick-off”
to our fund-raising campaign.
Wednesday
the 16th of September came, and the morning began with prayer—prayer
from many places and many people for we had asked numerous individuals and
groups to pray for us on that morning since the Musgrave Board would be meeting
at 10 a.m. When I checked my mail at noon, there was a letter with a $250 gift
in it. Praise God! Things were beginning to happen—I could feel it. I knew God
was going to move in a wonderful way. That night at rehearsal, we got “the
call.” It was great! The Musgrave Foundation had given us an outright $1,500
plus an additional $5,000 matching grant. We were thrilled. We knew God would
help us to match the grant. What we didn’t know was how quickly. On Thursday a
check came for $200—we were excited. It was the beginning of our match. Then
Friday came! Wow! God opened the windows of heaven. Checks and pledges began to
come in—a pledge for $3,000! It was incredible! By evening of the second day,
the match had been met. Praise God!
So we
opened our Season of Praise
on that special Friday, a day to truly praise and remember how our wonderful
Lord had so beautifully met our need. To cap off that marvelous day, as if we
needed more, we opened to a sold-out house and a standing ovation! It had been
an unbelievable three days! How good
and mighty and wonderful is the Lord we serve! In just three days, God had
given us over $12,000!
Yes, we had
prayed for something exciting to announce at the September 28th Prayer and Praise Celebration, and the
Lord answered that prayer with such an outpouring of His grace and love that we
struggle for words to adequately Praise Him. How marvelous is His power and His
lovingkindness! Praise You, Lord! Praise Your Holy Name—Jehovah! Hallelujah! Amen and Amen!
COMING NEXT:
THE BATTLE . . . PAIN, COURAGE, VICTORY!
EPHESIANS 6:12
