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Supernatural Provision

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By Tera Kaiser

On May 3, 2020, a huge hailstorm swept through Rapid City, South Dakota, where my kids and I live. I was away from the house with a friend when the storm hit. When I returned, I was dismayed to see from the car that my skylights were shattered. Before I even exited my friend’s vehicle, I texted Sharon Hansen, a friend from church whose husband, Jim, had just been at my house a week earlier to fix one of my skylights that was already leaking. The sight inside the house wasn’t any better. Hail was pooled in each skylight, and it was raining in both of my bathrooms.

Jim came and boarded up the skylights to keep them from allowing any more damage and informed me that there was extensive damage to my roof and to my vinyl siding. I called and filed an insurance claim to begin the repair process but received a low insurance settlement. I wasn’t sure how I would pay for all the repairs, so I prayed about it.

Part of the volunteer work crew (left to right): Jim Hansen, Brice Molitor, Rich Styles, Gaylord Brumbaugh, and Jason Holdaway

This scenario set in motion a series of miraculous provisions that unfolded over the next few months. It would be difficult to name every miracle that God granted my family. A few of them include donated siding, corners, soffit, trim, building materials, house wrap, deck materials, insulation, gutters, downspouts, and so much more. But even better than the “things” God provided were the amazing people He provided. What an encouragement to my family’s faith! More than 22 men from our church, Open Bible Church of Rapid City, and the community along with many companies in the area provided time, talent, and resources to make our house into a beautiful new home! I am thankful to have witnessed the body of Christ in action.

On May 15, Jim called to say that the owner of a company had donated all I needed to re-side my entire house! He even said if I needed anything else to purchase it and charge it to him! We began to line up men to help with this massive project, and Jim contacted some roofers. The roofers came early on a Saturday morning, and while they worked, Jim permanently boarded up the skylights. Within half a day, I had a brand-new roof! 

On June 4 another terrifying hailstorm swept through the city. The kids and I huddled in the middle of the living room praying the windows wouldn’t break and the new roof wouldn’t be ruined. Praise God! The roof was still good and no windows broke! The storm did, however, cause more damage to the siding, which turned out to be yet another blessing from God. The insurance company allowed the additional damage to be added to the already existing claim, making it possible for me to purchase a new furnace and air conditioning unit. This blessing was amazing because it was something that God knew I needed badly since I am unable to breathe well when temperatures are too hot or too cold.

During the next few months people continued to bless my family. On Fridays and Saturdays men were making all kinds of repairs. Besides re-siding my house, they first raised one side of my house that was low and fixed a window that wouldn’t open. They replaced two doors and installed a new window in my son’s room. Someone donated new gutters and downspouts. For the first time since owning this home, rain didn’t come pouring in by my front door. Many other minor repairs were also taken care of. The guys even repaired the boards on my back porch that were rotting, making it safe for my kids. They also completely rebuilt the front porch and installed custom-made railings. So much time and thought went into the whole project – so many hours, days, weeks, and months. But God knew what He was doing and what was to come of all of this. My family is blessed, and because of that, I am able to share my testimony and shine His light for all to see. This is the body of Christ in action!

Before (May 2020) and after (November 2020)

About the Author

Tera Kaiser is a single mom to three wonderful children. The family started attending Open Bible Church of Rapid City about seven years ago. Tera has worked on staff at the church for over three years. She has a passion for women’s ministry as well as teaching children. Tera loves going for bike rides or hikes with her children and friends.

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2024 Open Bible National Hispanic Conference: “Best Conference Ever!”

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On September 19-21, pastors from around the country gathered for the 2024 Open Bible National Hispanic Conference, held in Antioch, California. Attendees of the conference numbered close to one hundred and represented nineteen different Open Bible churches. Templo Santo Community Church was the hosting church for the conference, and our theme was “CHANGED: Transformed to Transform.” We were blessed with the presence of powerful speakers: President Michael Nortune, Dr. Nicholas Venditti, and Pastors John Mendez, Michael Zakarian, and Caleb Plummer.   

The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.

The conference started with a welcome dinner where pastors and leaders were able to reconnect with old friends and connect with new friends who were first-time attenders. We had a powerful night of worship during which President Nortune spoke a prophetic word about entering a new season. God has opened a wide door for Open Bible, and new opportunities are on the horizon for our ministries.    

Throughout the following days, we heard challenging messages on embracing our vision (Dr. Venditti), navigating culturing changes (Pastor Mendez), loving and embracing the next generation (Pastors Zakarian and Plummer), and depending on the presence of God (President Nortune). In addition to these incredible sessions, we had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of San Francisco and the surrounding areas.  

In our closing session, Pastor Mendez encouraged us that we were chosen for this time in history. The Church as a whole, the Open Bible denomination, and Hispanic Ministries are needed for such a time as this.  

As we concluded with a time for more fellowship, here are a few of the things we heard people saying:  

“This conference exceeded my expectations.” 

“I felt the love and unity within the Hispanic Ministries.” 

“The messages were relevant for our time.” 

“Best conference ever!” 

We look forward to what God has in store for Open Bible’s Hispanic Ministries. We believe that a door has been opened for our dream to come to life – having a Hispanic ministry in every state in this nation.

About the Author

Jorge Navarrete

Jorge Navarrete was appointed as the senior pastor of Templo Santo Community Church in May 2002. Prior to that, he served as youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, member of the Board of Elders, and as church administrator for Templo Santo. In May 2017, Jorge was appointed to serve in his current role as Director of the Hispanic Ministries for the West Sector. Pastor Navarrete also works for the Supreme Court of California as the Clerk/Executive Officer. He has served in this role since 2016. 

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Florida Open Bible Church Brings Hope to the Homeless 

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There are over 10,000 homeless citizens in Lee County, Florida, but thanks to a creative nonprofit idea and a fully sponsored shower trailer, Open Bible Community Church (OBCC) has found a unique way to serve them.  

The 32-foot long shower trailer, housing two separate rooms and ten private showers.

Located in North Fort Myers, OBCC is pastored by Joe and Pat VanEst. When Hurricane Ian hit their county in 2022 and homelessness exploded, pastors Joe and Pat responded by founding “Hope Ambassadors,” a nonprofit designed to empower individuals through disaster relief and ongoing rehabilitative efforts.  

Beginning by providing food and hygiene kits to homeless communities, the team soon realized there was a need for showering facilities. Through a string of miracles and one philanthropic donor, a shower trailer was purchased, and Hope Ambassadors now owns the only shower trailer in Southwest Florida. Housing two rooms and ten total shower units, the trailer visits two homeless communities twice a week and has already provided nearly 500 showers to families in need.  

“This has totally changed the thinking of our church,” says Pastor Joe VanEst. “We are building relationships with these folks, and it’s only a matter of time until we can share Jesus with them.” Already, the church has seen growth from visitors who have come to church after using the shower trailer.  

Hope Ambassadors is quickly building relationships with other local nonprofits that provide services like haircuts, food, and clothing. Future dreams include creating a commercial kitchen that would create nutritious, freeze-dried meals for hungry families. Hope Ambassadors’ mission statement is “To heal communities in the spirit of unity,” and thanks to God’s grace and provision, they are well on their way. 

“This has totally changed the thinking of our church”

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He Has Made Room for Us 

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Rehoboth Open Bible Church has stood strong for forty-five years. Our journey began in the cozy apartment living room of Revs. Easton and Joy Grant in Brooklyn, New York, with seven adults and seven children. As the years passed and our congregation flourished, outgrowing the capacity of two hundred set by the NYC Department of Buildings, the church initiated a second service in 1998 and began an arduous search for a new, larger home, a journey that has tested our determination and resilience. 

Finding a suitable space to meet [in Brooklyn] is daunting, with people seeming to occupy every square inch

Brooklyn, one of the most densely populated counties in the United States, presents a unique set of challenges for churches. Finding a suitable space to meet is daunting, with people seeming to occupy every square inch. There are no new spaces for churches in New York. Currently existing churches were originally built in the 1800s, often by Catholics and Presbyterians; modern churches must convert commercial spaces or purchase existing spaces occupied by older churches or temples. Even when property can be found, political and business environs do not want such valuable real estate removed from the tax roll and often restrict access by religious non-profit organizations. Thus, most churches in Brooklyn are classified as storefronts, utilizing small commercial retail spaces or the front rooms of homes.  

When we were appointed as pastors of Rehoboth in 2011, the search for a larger facility was already ongoing. Four months into our role, we drove by a former Jewish temple on 888 East 56th Street which had a sign saying, “For Sale or Triple Net Lease.” Despite our uncertainty, we called the listed number and met with the owner.  

Founding Pastor Easton Grant prays over current pastors Leroy and Dalton Spencer

Most of the property was in a deplorable condition, requiring eyes of faith to visualize its value. Based on the redlining lending practices of the neighborhood and commercial banks’ refusal to lend to churches, the likelihood of acquisition was slim to none. Negotiations were painful, but after numerous meetings and much prayer, two years later we achieved an owner-seller financing purchase. That was the first miracle in the journey to 888, since we would not have been able to qualify for financing on the open market.  

The purchase consumed all the church’s savings and more. Despite this, God provided monthly mortgage payments of $16.1k while funding the church’s day-to-day operations, our second miracle.  

888 East 56th Street is more than a building. It continues the legacy of bringing Rehoboth’s soul to life.

We launched a three-year capital campaign in 2015 that proved God’s power in Rehoboth’s life at a new level. Like Gideon, God used a small group to catch the vision, amassing funds exceeding the pledged amount by nearly forty percent! God’s faithfulness gave birth to the third miracle – providing the equity needed to match our upcoming construction loan.   

In 2019, six years after purchasing the property, we obtained a construction loan and refinanced the seller’s note at a lower interest rate, providing more funds for renovation – miracle number four. 

With much excitement after the groundbreaking in December 2019, construction began in March 2020. Three weeks in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, sending NYC spiraling. The city that never sleeps shut down tight for three months. While COVID-19 kept us all enclosed, our property renovations were in limbo. Unattended projects suffered, material prices quadrupled, and labor costs followed suit.  

Rehoboth church members march in celebration from their old church location to the new one at 888 E 56th

The challenge of dealing with unscrupulous consultants, renegotiating contracts, finding new subcontractors, confronting disfavored lending practices, and seeking to manage construction timelines was an enormous feat. But God provided miracle after miracle by granting favor, stretching finances, creating new alliances, empowering us with new boldness to advocate, and providing the changes we needed while keeping our integrity intact. As one major devious player on the project stated, “With all that I have done, you should not be here. I know God is with you.” To which we say, “Yes, Amen!” God is with us. 

On Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024, we held our final service at our previous address. Afterward, we marched to 888 East 56th Street with a police escort and a drumline, waving palm branches and flags in joyous jubilation. Our seniors who were unable to walk traveled via cars behind the marchers. All reveled in the moment, singing and giving God thanks as we beheld the miracle on East 56th Street and rejoiced in what God had done! 

Upon arrival, we introduced ourselves to the community, recited Psalm 24, opened the doors, and let the King of Glory in! We then held our first service at 888, celebrating jubilantly the fulfillment of the biblical promise our church name represents. The founders of our church chose the name “Rehoboth,” taken from Genesis 26:22:  

The beautiful sanctuary in the new church building

And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So, he called its name Rehoboth because he said, ‘For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land’ (NKJV). 

888 East 56th Street is more than a building. It continues the legacy of bringing Rehoboth’s soul to life, providing room to become, belong, and believe for those who are here and those who are yet to come. What God said with His mouth, He has fulfilled with His hands this day for His glory. He has made room for us! 

About the Author

Leroy and Dalton Spencer

Leroy and Dalton Spencer are the lead pastors at Rehoboth Open Bible Church, in Brooklyn, New York. They have been members of Rehoboth for over 25 years, serving in various capacities before assuming the helm in 2011. They are passionate about advancing the kingdom of God, prayer, and caring for the sheep with a good shepherd’s heart. Leroy and Dalton believe people are our greatest asset and fully embrace the mandate to bring them to maturity by equipping them with the Word and life skills.  

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