The writer of Hebrews begins one of the most famous chapters in all of Scripture with these words, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is only necessary for things that we hope for that we cannot see. As Paul says, “Hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one still hope for what he sees?” (Romans 8:24)

Hebrews 11 goes on to talk about the men and women who were used by God in powerful ways, not because of their superior intellect, resources, impeccable past or pedigree, but because of their faith – specifically their faith in the unseen promises of God.

Like Hebrews 11, you and I stand on the shoulders of men and women who have seen the unseen by faith and have led us forward courageously for over 100 years. 

In the recent history of Church of the Open Door, we stand on the shoulders of a group of faithful women at our church who were convinced in the promises of God, confident God wanted to pay off our burdensome mortgage in a miraculous way.

As a result, the people of Church of the Open door began praying together, “Father, please give us all the joy of regular giving, and retire the Worship Center mortgage.” As time went on, our prayer became more specific, “Father, please retire the Worship Center mortgage by 2025.”

As a community, we began trusting God by making gifts towards the principal of our loan above and beyond our regular offerings.

Church of the Open Door family, because of your faith, God has done “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

This is what He has done: 

• In 2008, we took out a 5 million dollar loan to build our Worship Center.
• In January 2018, our mortgage was at 4.5 million dollars.
• In January 2019, it was 3.8 million.
• In January 2020, it was 2.6 million.
• In January 2021, it was 2.1 million.
• In January 2022, it was 1.3 million.

In January 2023, what will our mortgage be? IT WILL BE ZERO!

This sounds impossible, because it is!

I’m writing to tell you that the mortgage has been PAID IN FULL!

God has done it!

We so appreciate your partnership in prayer and your gifts to the Principal Project over these last years! Our eyes naturally gravitate towards the larger gifts given in this process, but I am convinced that each and every one of your gifts was a gift of faith and sacrifice.

On behalf of the elders & staff at Church of the Open Door, thank you!

We will be planning a time to corporately celebrate this amazing answer to prayer in the coming year. It’s going to be amazing.

Thank you for being part of how the Spirit is moving us forward together!

Much love,

David Anderson
Lead Pastor

P.S. There are two weeks remaining in 2022. Would you prayerfully consider making a tax-deductible gift to our General Fund? A gift of any amount makes a difference. These year-end gifts are such a breath of fresh air to our staff and elders as we seek to make up the significant shortfall in our General Fund.