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FROM
A TAVERN TO A TEMPLE
(This
piece was orignally carried in The
Pentecostal Evangel several years
ago.)
Some of
the best years of my ministry were spent
in a tavern -- a "converted"
tavern that is. In fact, I will be
speaking there again Sunday, July 12. Let
me tell you the story. I trust you will be
blessed.
In 1984
I was called to pastor a small church in
Central Missouri in the town of
Warrensburg. The church had developed a
reputation; an attitude. It had asked
several pastors in a row to leave. The
last separation was particularly painful.
On top of this, they were in the process
of completing a new building out on the
edge of town. For years, this fellowship
worshipped in a little building that
barely seated 100. Now it had moved into a
lovely, new, brick edifice--complete with
carpet, padded pews, and a pretty steeple.
The building could handle 220.
Nevertheless, it was going to take more
than a new building to turn this work
around. In fact, the district
superintendent at the time told me that he
had considered closing the work. I
understood.
Still,
my wife and I felt led to accept the
challenge. The Lord assured us that He
would be with us if we went. We knew that
He would have to be or else we would be
just another preacher that tried and
failed in Warrensburg.
To the
glory of God, things clicked. The church,
which had never averaged 100 in 60 years
started growing. The congregation was,
generally speaking, made up of young
adults and teenagers. Whiteman Air Force
Base was only 9 miles away. Central
Missouri State University was just across
town. First Assembly starting drawing
heavily from both. Then too, we brought on
staff an outstanding youth pastor. He was
a deacon in the church at the time he was
hired. He and his wife were like magnets
to young people.
Well,
in but a short time, our new building as
much to small. Another deacon came to me
one day and told me that he had received a
word from the Lord. We were going to buy
"Patti’s Place" and move our
church there. Just to be honest, I was
less than enthused about the idea. Instead
of hearing God, I thought that he had
eaten to much pizza.
Nonetheless
it wasn’t long before Patti and her
father approached the church about the
possibility of our buying their night
club. "Patti's Place" was known
as the place to party. Mickey Gilly, Randy
Travis and others had performed there. The
place seated 2,500 in a building nearly
the size of a football field. It had disco
balls, strobe lights, a long bar, bingo
boards, beer coolers, Spuds McKenzie
posters, gallons of beer and wine and the
largest dance floor in the county. It was
the farthest thing in the world from being
a church.
Nevertheless,
we ended up buying the place lock, stock
and "beer barrel" for
approximately 25 cents on the dollar. The
fact that a church had purchased a
complete nightclub made front page news in
the local newspaper. "The
Pentecostal Evangel" also carried
the story. Hardly anyone is town knew
where the church was before, now seemingly
everyone knew!
Like
any other conversion project, this one was
fun, interesting and yet difficult. Our
first workday in the "new"
building was highlighted by a huge
bonfire. Bingo cards, party tee-shirts and
underwear, posters, and the like were
piled high in front of the building. Each
worker was given a bottle of beer, wine or
a wine cooler to pour onto the trash.
Several kegs of beer were also tapped. (No
one drank anything!) The pressurized
contents shot into the air like a geyser.
All of this alcohol provided excellent
fuel for the fire. No doubt, though,
everyone there that day smelled like the
town drunk. The fire was then lit. Wow!
What a sight to remember!
In the
Old Testament, the conquering army always
enjoyed the spoils. As God's army, we too
enjoyed the spoils of our victory. We had
an auction to sell hundreds of tables,
chairs, pitchers, champagne glasses, the
disco balls and lights, and more. The
church netted over $13,000.
This
money was used to help improve and remodel
the facility. Rolls of toilet paper and
yards of solid grease clogged the sewer
lines. The six rest rooms were in need of
repair as was the floor and ceiling.
Nicotine had stained everything a dingy
yellow. Much cleaning had to be done.
Although the property was only 12 years
old, it appeared to be much older.
Everything
had to be transformed. The old pool room
became the nursery. The performers'
dressing room became the Rainbows' room
and my office, the spout where the glory
comes out, had been a liquor store!
Then
too, the place was dark! All of the
fluorescent light tubes had been painted
black, red or blue. They had to be
changed. The darkness went well with songs
of despair, divorce and dope. However, for
songs of joy, Jesus and Jehovah-Jirah,
"Let there be light!" Darkness
thrived where spirits were being served,
but the gloom was driven away by the
coming of The Spirit! The whole atmosphere
of the place changed. It soon began to
feel like a church; to even smell like a
church. God’s presence and God’s
people made the difference.
The
fellowship continued it’s remarkable
growth after the move. Literally hundreds
of people found Christ as their personal
savior. People were also healed and
delivered. Glory to God.
Oh, by
the way, the other building--minus the
pews and the steeple--is a now drug and
alcohol rehabilitation center. Isn't it
amazing how God works everything out? The
income from the lease of the previous
facility more than paid the mortgage
payment each month on the "new"
site.
At the
beginning of this piece, I noted that I
will be preaching there on July 12.
(Marilyn will be speaking to the ladies
that Saturday.) It is my joy to be the
speaker for the church’s mortgage
burning service. The present pastor called
and said that since I had been the one to
get them into debt, it was up to me to
come and get them out of debt. Again, what
a thrill. Oh the joy of serving God as a
pastor/preacher!
Many of
the people from the church have now gone
out into full-time ministry. Pastor Stone
who served with me there as an Elder was
called into the ministry during this time.
Others too are pastoring, working in youth
or music, one is a missionary to Romania,
another is the basketball coach at
Southwestern University of the Assemblies
of God in Texas.
A
large, marquee sign out by the highway was
also included in the purchase of the
nightclub. Shortly after moving in,
"Michael Jackson - Live" was put
up in lights. Several called for tickets.
What a joy it was to be able to say that
what we had to offer was free and that no
ticket was necessary. The price had
already been paid along time ago on an Old
Rugged Cross. "Whosoever will"
could come and be welcome for
"Patti's Place" was now HIS
place. The tavern was a temple.
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