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On April
6th, 1996 we began nurturing the lawn, cleaning and painting
the building, and getting the space ready for us to meet in.
Interestingly enough, the pulpit and the stage were built
with the materials from a wall that came down! Everyone pulled
together and helped transform this old building into a Sanctuary
for the saints! It took about eight days to get the building
somewhat ready for services. What a labor of love! God continued
to do a work, and there were too many miracles to write down.
Ephesians 3:20!
After
meeting every Sunday for about six months, our time at to
meet at the Hot Springs was over. The Bible College had gained
County approval to move from Twin Peaks and it was time to
renovate the Fellowship's building into dorms. This left us
with nowhere to meet. But God had gone before us, and what
we thought was a setback actually turned out to be a blessing.
In September of 1996 I was driving home from work and the
Lord prompted me to drive one block further. He led me into
the parking lot of an abandoned nursery. At once I noticed
the "For Sale or Lease" sign. The place was a mess, but the
moment I stepped foot on the property I knew it was where
God had directed us.
We began
by holding many prayer meetings on the front porch seeking
God's will. We watched as He opened doors and made impossible
things happen. We stepped out in faith and proceeded to purchase
the property. From that point God continued to bless our ministry.
After the first rain we realized we needed a roof, and within
two weeks God brought materials for a new roof. As we approached
the summer months God provided Air Conditioning units. Little
by little, it began to look like a little country Church.
.In October of 1996 we held our first Sunday service at the
new building. (If you have not looked at the photo albums,
please do, you will be blessed to see the transformation.
Again, what a labor of love!)
As our
church continued to grow we began to experience opposition
from the enemy, but God always proved faithful. At first,
we received permission to move in and hold church services,
but when the "Calvary Chapel" sign went up, the Vintners complained
to the County. The County tried to get us out of the "Barn"
by trying to pass an ordinance that would ban churches in
the Wine Country. However, God had other plans. I received
a phone call from Jay Sekulow with the American Center for
Law and Justice as well as Bob Tyler and they began to come
along side as legal counsel. Once again God proved Himself
faithful on our behalf! On June 22, 1999 the County gave us
our Public Use Permit, and on July 9, 1999 we closed escrow
for the purchase of the property. In March of 2002 we held
the first Sunday service in the newly constructed facility,
the "new barn." Then in November of 2004 we completed the
amphitheatre (our final major project) on the upper pad. God
has been so gracious to us here at CCBF and we continue to
stand in awe of the work that He does as we simply study His
Word and lead others to Him.
So here
we are, continuing with the same vision we had when we were
just a small home Bible study. Our vision is and always will
be to love God, love others, minister to the needs of God's
people, and continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
What a
blessing to serve God's people here at the Barn. We pray He
would continue to bless you, watch over you, fill you with
His grace, strengthen you, and cause you to stand for Him.
We love you all dearly and pray for you daily.
In Christ's
Love,
Pastor
Clark & Sally Van Wick
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