I really love this testimony from Delaware, U.S.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Potter's House, had started off as a bible study. They met at one of the study rooms at the University of Delaware but as time went on, they needed a space of their own. So Pastor T embarked on the mission to find a space to rent. If you've ever tried renting a space for church in this day and age, you will be familiar with the response "We do not rent to church organizations". Yes, they say that and I think it might be in their right..? Pastor T got a lot of those responses while searching for a space but did not give up until finally someone said she could come and check out a space. Yay!
She went out to check out the space with her family. It was by the main road, a lot of traffic passing through (which is a plus cos location could aid in creating awareness for the church) and it looked nice on the outside. There was a good amount of parking space and it was easily accessible. When you walk in, it looked big enough. So the space was alright. It was a four-cornered office, like a mini hall that could fit about 80 or so people seated, but there was one issue, NO BATHROOMS. Like, zero, not even the .5 in the 2.5 baths in many homes; none at all.
Thankfully the owner of the space said "We can build a .5 bathroom for you". Okay, he didn't actually say that but the bathroom he offered to build would be the same as the .5 bath (that means it would be the toilet and the sink. A full bath would include the shower or bath tub). And he adds, "It would cost you an extra charge of $15,000" which they can pay over a certain amount of time, under the contract of the lease. This meant they would need a commitment of a few years from the church to keep renting the space.
Pastor T felt the money would be a lot per month but since this was the only site willing to rent to a church organization, she and a few people agreed the church should make the commitment. So she called the leasing agent to tell them they would sign the contract and make the first payment but she couldn't reach them. She tried and tried but all to no avail. After a few weeks of trying to get a hold of them, she decided to search again for other available spaces to rent and she finds a place in a corporate area. It was called White Clay. She goes to see the space and it looked perfect. Big space, extra rooms in the building for storage, office, and a room that could be for the children to have fun & learn.
As the agent is walking them through the building he says the space was once a gym. The one question pastor T had was, you guessed it right, "Does it come with a bathroom?" The agent says yes and shows them two doors, "Men", "Women". As you walk into the bathroom the first thing you see once you turn the corner (to your right) is a locker room of about 40 lockers with a little coat hanger area. It has a whole wall with a huge mirror to check yourself out from head to toe, and then some. Then to the left is a large shower area, 2 bathroom stalls, and 3 sinks. Her husband turned to her and said "GOD really does have a sense of humor. HE was like, you want bathrooms? I'll give you bathrooms!" and they both laughed. Boom!!! So they have 2 identical bathrooms with all the lockers and the rest. And at the cost of nothing! The rent was so good that they didn't need to think twice before they said yes to the space. Also, did you catch that earlier? The name of the place was White Clay and the church is RCCG Potter's House... A potter only works with clay. Wow! Amazing!! Daebak!!!
What a GOD! HE does have a sense of humor and He can change that once seemingly hard & serious situation to become a thing you now laugh about. I pray that would be your testimony. You will come out of it laughing and your joy will be full. Pastor T is still in awe of this testimony though it's been 3+ years now. She still can't get enough of it. GOD will step into your situation, turn it around for your good, make you have a good laugh while at it, and leave you in awe for years to come. Trust Him. HE is faithful.
And Yes, I got permission to publish this testimony :)