I try to keep my blog posts short, but it’s tough with this one because it’s such a big miracle. We have signed a contract to purchase the People’s Church on Barracks Row.

A miracle for them + a miracle for us = double miracle.

First things first, I love the pastor of the People’s Church, Michael Hall, and his wife, Terry. We have become fast friends over the last year and a half. He’s more than a friend. He’s also a hero. He’s 71 years-young and he’s ready to replant the People’s Church in Maryland where most of their congregation lives. He has the spirit of Caleb. It was Pastor Hall’s parents, Fred and Charlotte Hall, who bought this old theater in 1962 and founded the church. We feel like we’re not just buying their building. We also feel like we are inheriting and stewarding their legacy!

We thought it’d take 3-4 years to build out phase 1 of our building program on Virginia Avenue. Then it was like God said, “Try 3-4 weeks. I’ll give you a stepping stone 3 blocks away and it’s already built.” We’ll launch a 9 AM service on Barracks Row on Palm Sunday. For the next several months, we’ll share the space with the People’s Church while they prepare for their move to PG county. FYI–God has already given them an amazing piece of property for an amazing price!

We’ve got more questions than answers at this point, but we’re praising God for a presence on the “main street” of Capitol Hill. If I could handpick a location anywhere in the city, the 500 block of 8th Street would top the list. It doesn’t hurt that my two favorite restaurants, Matchbox and Ted’s Bulletin, are on the same block! Once again, God is positioning us in the middle of the marketplace.

We’ll obviously use the space for our weekend gatherings. We’re also exploring the possibilities of returning it back to it’s original use as a functioning movie theater. One thing is sure, we want it to be a place that serves our Capitol Hill community.

Here’s a shot of the facade from 1914, 1962, and 2011.