Across The Nation
Sunshine Open Bible: Armed with a Testimony and a Mission!
By Aaron Keller
In July of 2020, I returned to Des Moines, Iowa, to pastor Sunshine Open Bible, the church I grew up in. I was aware of the risks, remembering the words of Jesus in Mark 6:4: “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” However, the calling from the Lord was strong, and I remained confident in His purpose.
Our location, 2130 Easton Boulevard, was in a good spot right next to the interstate, but the property was small. The church had a small lobby, minimal parking, and too few bathrooms. The congregation became trapped in a continuous cycle: we would grow but then eventually shrink as we were limited by our space.
Throughout the years, pastors and other church leaders had entertained the idea of finding a new location. But the challenge was finding a property with adequate space on which to build. In the past they had considered moving to the suburbs but knew that a move of that magnitude would cause us to lose some of our members. Additionally, the cost to buy property and build seemed astronomical.
When I became pastor, I was blessed to already have solid relationships with the board. I was aware of their desire to move and shared in that desire. In one of my meetings with the board, I expressed that continued desire but allowed that it would be foolish for us to actively pursue anything until we heard from God. We agreed it was best to save money and wait for the Lord’s direction. Once we came to that conclusion, I decided to be content and obedient where we were.
Then April 21, 2022, just before the start of a scheduled board meeting, my wife, Wendy, called. She had seen on a local news channel that after 172 years of ministry, First Presbyterian Church in Des Moines was shutting its doors. The location of their building was 3100 Easton Boulevard, only ten blocks up the street from our location. The prospect of buying this property seemed too ideal. It would be double the space of our current location; the church sat on four acres as opposed to our half an acre. I tried not to get my hopes up and told her we would discuss the prospect at the meeting. It would be worth it to at least “kick the tires.”
That weekend I sent an email to the Presbytery (the administrative body that represents the congregation in a Presbyterian church) to inquire about the property. A gentleman called and informed me we could walk through the building that Friday. From there I assembled a team of fourteen for the walk-through. During the walk-through we were informed there were twelve churches, four developers, and a Christian school also interested in the property. My heart sank a bit, but I decided to glue myself to the representative from the Presbytery and walk only with him. He expressed his desire to see a church purchase the property. I shared with him our church’s heart and expressed excitement that we could relocate and still retain all our members because of the proximity of his location.
Our team returned to our building to discuss the pros and cons of such a move. Then we took a vote among the board and others who walked through the property; it was a unanimous decision. We made an offer for $50,000 over the asking price, and then waited. Three days later we were informed that the Presbytery had received five offers; three were higher than ours. My heart sank again, but the representative from the Presbytery insisted we get our preapproval letter submitted. We had not received one yet because a week prior we never anticipated making an offer on another location. Later that day the preapproval went through.
Wednesday, May 4, I received a phone call: the Presbytery council voted 100 percent in favor of accepting our offer. All I could do was sit back in awe of what God had done. I didn’t think it was possible, but He was displaying to me firsthand that He was in control, and we needed to continue to follow His promptings.
I am never one to learn quickly. Later that next day I panicked again because I realized I had a property to sell, and we had two parsonages we would also be selling. As we met with the realtor, I learned how difficult it is to develop comps and price churches. Most churches appraise at 45-60 percent of their assessed value. I was concerned the move might be too much for us to afford.
The next week my realtor called me to discuss a listing price, and although I liked her price point, I felt it was possibly too high. We decided to let the market decide.
On May 12, I was lying awake in bed at 5:00 a.m. when I received a message on the church Facebook page. A lady I didn’t know was asking if we were purchasing the property at 3100 Easton and wondered what we were doing with our current property. After I answered, she asked if she could share my phone number with her pastor. Later that day, after I had spent two hours with her pastor, the Church of God submitted a full asking price offer.
Two amazing miracles in two weeks! We had not even been actively looking to relocate, but now it was clear: we were relocating. Shortly after that we had offers on both houses, and everything fell together very quickly. I told God, “I’m sorry I ever doubted You.”
We finally took possession of the new property on August 1 of this year, and our church celebrated every step of the way. What has encouraged me the most has been the unity in this transition and everyone’s giving glory to God for the work He has done. There is not one person who can take credit for making this happen, which makes it all the more special. God moved in His perfect timing, and we were along for the ride.
Over the few months we have been on the property, we have made it our own. Our volunteers have come together and worked harder than I have ever seen a group work. On October 23 we celebrated our Grand Opening. This gave us an opportunity to appreciate how God has worked everything out and to praise Him for what He has done. It was also our chance to step out after a lot of work and start focusing on the community around us. Our people are now armed with a new testimony and a mission. We are eagerly anticipating what God is going to do next.
About the Author
Aaron Keller is the National Director for MOVE Ministries and the lead pastor of Sunshine Open Bible Church in Des Moines, Iowa. MOVE Ministries started in 1981 and has completed 45 projects around the world.
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.
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.
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”
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.
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.
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:
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.
