July 28, 2009

Good Morning, Family & Friends!

God is in the house at Valley Cowboy Church and we have exciting news to share!

As most of you know, we have been meeting at the Howard Johnson's just outside of Lexington, VA since our beginning on March 1 of this year. We started there with the idea that we’d have our VCC services at that location until the Lord led us elsewhere.

It appears that He has done so – led us to a new location!

We have been approached with an opportunity to purchase a wonderful church building located in downtown Glasgow, VA, a small rural town situated about halfway between the locations of our current church families in Buena Vista and Buchanan.

The church itself is a lovely brick church, built in 1888 and remodeled in 1947 and then again updated around 2005. It has a large fellowship hall, a sanctuary that will probably seat 150, a baptismal pool in the sanctuary, 2 separate classrooms, a full kitchen and a pastor’s office.

The fellowship hall is perfectly suited for musicians and small concerts. The music is what gets the unbelievers and the unchurched in the doors - what an opportunity to reach the lost & unchurched! During the week, it could serve as a senior center or some other community service.

The classrooms could be used for Bible studies, but also to

bring life to a PRO-LIFE counseling center for area teens. The nearest

such centers are in Roanoke (45 mi) and Staunton (65 mi). Both centers have told us they would send trained Christian counselors to help. In 2005, Rockbridge County had one of the highest ratings in the state for unwed teenage pregnancies. Valley Cowboy Church has an opportunity to help to save lives and souls!!!

The original asking price for this structure was $125,000 and has just been reduced to $85,000. The county assessment for this property – it is on 5 small city lots – is $203,500.

We have asked the initial questions and find that we would need $15,000 down, $2,000 for closing and another $2,000 for taxes & insurance. We have been granted permission to RENT the building for $800 mo, but the banks tell us that if we purchase the building, it will only cost approximately $521 for the monthly payment. At this point, the rent is not applicable to the purchase price, so it would be wise stewardship not to rent any longer than necessary.

We have prayed both in the church building and about the church building, as well as God's leading for us to use it to His purposes. We feel that the use of this church building is in God's plan. While we will still continue with our "mobile services" as the Lord leads us,  there is much to be said for a church "home". 

We ask you to pray about this church building and about the work that can be done there in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask you to pray for us, personally, as we take this huge leap of faith.  If there are any of you reading this who feel led to contribute financial support, please know that we welcome any financial blessings you may feel led to contribute.  Any such contributions can be sent to:

                                        Valley Cowboy Church
                                           156 Adair Hill Drive
                                    Rockbridge Baths, VA 24473

Please keep this whole thing in your prayers & feel free to share this information with anyone you can think of.  We will be sharing news of this incredible opportunity to serve the Lord as we progress. Let us know what you think!

We love you all and look forward to hearing from you! 

In His Service,

Pastor Cliff & Kristen