During this process David asked if the new pastor would have any input into the plans for the new church or had everything been decided?  The elders assured him that they would welcome his observations and gave him a copy of the plans.  He then e-mailed them with about 8 pages of observations! This was obviously someone who did have a burden for the project! Interestingly we were able to combine the commissioning service for David with a service of dedication for the land.

Thus David, Rachel and their four children Ben, Daniel, Jacob and Emma joined our church in Spring 2006 – yet another leap of faith.  How could we provide a home for a family of six and put up a church building?  Yet again our faithful Lord provided, and just as well because communications came thick and fast from David to the architects and back again, as we had a limited amount of time in which to complete the church building or the land would revert to the council!  However, in order to build we had to be ready and available as a fellowship of God’s people, and thus a great deal of work was required in many areas.  The implementation of the strategy, to realise the vision for the building project, meant some changes and adjustment, but also brought a great sense of moving forward.

But although we seemed to be on the home straight, there were still some twists and turns to come.  When the design was completed and put out to tender, the prices were substantially more than had been expected.  That led to a lot more prayerful heart-searching about whether we should be spending a lot of money on a building at all, or whether we should try to re-design it so it would be cheaper, or step out in faith.  The decision was taken to dispense with the services of the architects, and enter into negotiations with a local contractor to take the existing design and modify it, so that it would still provide the required facilities but at a much better price.