By then the vision for the building was even clearer – it was to be the Whole Life Centre: a resource for the community, for reaching out to the community with the gospel, a place where people could find life – and life to the full.  It was to be so much more than just a church.  However, even with the reduced price from the local contractor, we had pledges for only about half of the required funds.  While we also had the offer of a church mortgage and a bridging loan from Kingdom Bank, we would be considerably short of the funds required to complete the project.  We had applied to various bodies for grants towards the cost, but none of the applications had been successful – some were cutting back on grants due to the economic situation, others wanted us to have proved that we could get funding elsewhere before committing themselves.

It seemed to be Catch-22 – they wouldn’t give until we had more funding, we couldn’t get the funding unless they gave!  It was clear that if we were to go ahead then we would be relying totally on God to provide the resources that would be needed.  After more prayer and heart-searching, and further negotiations with the contractor, in the summer of 2008 the decision was taken in faith that we would start the building project.  The contract was signed and the work started at the end of August, with a planned completion in June 2009.  At last, after nearly 17 years, the building was under way!  But there was more to come …

David Morris had been the driving force behind the project, turning it from a design on paper into the start of a real building – bricks and mortar, steel and glass – and the pledges were coming in.  But just as the project was moving ahead well, so we were faced with what might be the biggest challenge yet.  In the middle of November 2008, David resigned as pastor without notice.  The circumstances giving rise to his resignation were extremely painful for his family, and for the whole church, and the repercussions are still being felt.  It had huge implications for the arrangements with Kingdom Bank, which were still being finalised.

Thankfully, the bank was extremely understanding and we were eventually able to complete the legalities to enable us to draw on their funding.  The contractor too was understanding, even though we were not able to make some of the stage payments on time.  As a result, there was a temporary halt to the work for a few weeks early in 2009.  But the situation has been an opportunity for witness to the local community, and has also resulted in a tremendous coming together within the church as the fellowship has recognised the need for unity and prayer at such a time.  We are now pressing ahead with the building, and with raising funds to complete the project.