We had no funds with which to buy property and preferred at the time to purchase an existing building, which we could remodel to meet our needs. No such was found within our financial reach when a brother in the USA offered to supply the difference between our resources and the costs incurred if we bought a suitable plot on which to build. He contributed $260,000 and, in order to be able to do so, sold a valuable family possession.

After we purchased the land we were still unable to build. One day an anonymous donor sent us $800,000. To this day we have no idea who our generous benefactor is, but will be naming one of our main rooms after him, “The Mr. Anonymous Room”. A group of Dutch ministers got together, formed an interdenominational fund and took out a large loan (for which they were personally liable) in order to provide us with funds to continue. They have since paid back that loan and sent a great deal more.

EDI, a German organisation dedicated to Jewish evangelism joined hands with Hilfe Fuer Brueder and provided funds for all the piping in the building, and then sent a team of dedicated men who installed the piping throughout the building. The funds sent sufficed to complete drainage, sewage and most of the water work on the site. A brother resigned his job and devoted three months to wiring the building for the electrical systems. Another company in the Netherlands provided us with all the tiles we needed, and then sent a team over to help lay the tiles! This team has promised to return in October to assist in laying other parts of the tiling.

Meanwhile, we received a letter from Mr. Anonymous, who enquired after the state of the building and then sent an additional $200,000. Other bodies contributed smaller amounts and individuals did their utmost to support us. Jeannie, in the English Midlands, embroiders bookmarks and creates small greeting cards. When these are sold, the money is devoted to the Grace and Truth Building Fund. Patmos international has twice sent a contribution. This all brought us to the state in which we have completed all of the major construction and begun working on the “finish” phase of the building, with $3,000,000 spent (75% of the estimated costs of the building once completed).

We have never had to bring a halt to construction due to the lack of funds. Then, toward the end of June 2004, it became clear to us that we were fast running out of funds. So we informed the staff that, on the 1st of July, we shall stall the work until the Lord sees fit to provide. No appeals were made and when a congregant suggested that we make the situation a matter of fasting and prayer, the response of the Elders was, “We do not fast for money. We fast for spiritual gifts, for the work of God among us, for conversions and restoration, not finances”.

God honoured that standard. Two days before the work was to grind to a halt, our friends from Finland called, delighted to have heard that we had received the $1,000,000 of which we were short to complete the project. It was with some consternation that I had to inform our friends that, to the contrary, in two days time we are calling an halt to construction. The next morning our Finnish friends sent us $25,000 and undertook to provide another $10,000 for the next five months – enough for us to continue work on the building until the end of the year!

The dome is now up, about 30% of the tiling done, most of the electrical wiring and the piping for the plumbing is completed. Winter is approaching and there is reason for concern lest the building remain exposed to the elements for yet another rainy season. We have just been informed by our Dutch friends that a Dutch Christian has made the church his beneficiary upon his death and that, having heard of the situation of the building, decided to provide us with “an advance” on the inheritance by sending us $110,000 to clad the building!

In addition, the money will serve to pay for the 50% of the value of the hardwood we need to build doors, cabinets, steps, the pulpit and so on. The other 50% is to be generously paid for by the Dutch wood importer, as well as the costs of shipping the wood to Israel. One of the few major projects still remaining is that of the heating and cooling system, but the Lord who has brought us so far will surely provide here as well.

At present, we are preparing volunteer teams of competent woodworkers and are looking for a company that is experienced in stone cladding and which will contribute its time and expertise to that work, thus reducing our costs by some 50% further.

We look back with utter amazement, stunned by the goodness of God and frightened by the responsibility laid upon us to use the funds entrusted to us wisely and the building in a maximal way to the glory of God and the good of the Israeli church.

Pray for us and, as you do, give thanks with us to God for his goodness.