He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32)

Who am I to sow forty-three (43!) acres of seed that needs sowing?  As I started this job as Properties Supervisor of Church of the Open Door (COD) in January, I asked myself this question. I also remember thinking, “I don’t know where to begin!”

“Little by little” is what I heard the Lord answer me.  

When you plant a seed, it takes time to grow. I’d like to tell you some of what has been planted and is growing in the world of properties these past six months. Our staff and many volunteers have come together in a variety of ways, from landscaping to organizing to repairing to team projects.

Little by little, I am watching Church of the Open Door become a tree, one in which “the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches”.

• One of our young men created a workout space on campus for our teens and young adults to exercise and get healthy.
• A few of our dedicated retirees cleaned up and brought back to life our workshops. They also repaired the ramp to the classroom by the nursery and built the big new banner frame at our entrance.
• Other helpers installed our new GaGa Ball Pit in the play area near the main office.
• Our faithful volunteer landscaping team regularly gifts our campus with mowed lawns, tended flowerbeds and working irrigation.

Little by little I planted seeds of faith, trust, patience and belief and handed them over to the Lord for Him to water and grow. He showed me favor and brought me what I needed – volunteers from within the COD family and amazing work from other places, too.

• Everest Tree Company, our tree service, has generously given us a full-time worker to manicure our property at no charge, including trimming our trees twice a month.
• A member of Eagle Scout Troop 443 repainted our tennis courts, added some benches and beautified the walkway to the outdoor volleyball court.
• The county repaired our driveway (and then some!), a fulfillment of their promise after using our road extensively during the Colby Fire years ago.
• Solid local contractors were engaged to complete our new recording room and repair the concerning gas/water main leak.

I am so thankful for the Lord’s provision of volunteers and other friends who help care for these forty-three acres! I am so excited about the way God is using and will use this campus!

We still have more work to do here at COD, but I know our God is faithful! He will continue the work here – little by little – until the day of completion. 

Love in Christ,
Annette Greek, Properties Supervisor

P.S. If you would like to be part of taking care of this campus, and see up close the ways the Lord is building and growing our property, please let me know. I would love to find a way for you to serve!