Several months ago I asked for prayer for a piece of property on Capitol Hill that we were pursuing. Then I went silent. Here’s the rest of the story.
When I cast our 2020 vision a few months ago, something snapped. I realized we need to make decisions in ten-year terms, not two-year terms! While our vision is to meet in movie theaters throughout the metro area and we are strategizing a chain a coffeehouses, we knew we’d eventually need one permanent location that could facilitate our 2020 vision. We’re not envisioning a traditional church per se. In keeping with our DNA, we’re envisioning a coffeehouse and a theater. We’ll also need office space for 100+ staff. And we’d love to design a unique space for kids and families.
Long story short, combine our 2020 vision with the fact that we’re outgrowing the performance space at Ebenezers and that led to some real estate reconnaissance. We only found four properties on Capitol Hill. That’s it. Two of them were the right size in the wrong place. One of them was the wrong size in the right place. And one of them seemed perfect. The problem? Someone put a contract on that piece of property while we were literally on the property with our realtor. That was March 17. And that was the first death. Then a few weeks ago the contract came to the end of their feasibility period and they asked for a ten-day extension. We were told that if we put some nonrefundable money on the table they’d give us the contract. My heart skipped a beat. Then we experienced a gut-wrenching disappointment. Despite the nonrefundable offer they gave the other party ten extra days. That was the second death. Finally, at the end of the ten day extension I emailed our realtor while watching Karate Kid at Potomac Yard. Almost ruined the movie for me! He said we didn’t get it. That was the third death.
Despite those three deaths in the physical realm, it didn’t die in my spirit. I preached a message on Easter about Lazarus. Even after her brother had been dead four days, Martha said: “Even now God will give you whatever you ask.” What’s amazing about that is that Jesus hadn’t even been raised from the dead yet. She didn’t even have a category for resurrection, but she still believed. It was like she was saying: it’s not over till God says it’s over.
So last week I was hiking the Inca Trail in Peru. I don’t know how or why, but somehow the other contract died and our contract was resurrected. The date? Three months to the day of the first death: June 17. Here’s what I love. It happened while I was totally out of communication and out of control. I didn’t find out until two days later! I called Lora from a payphone in Aguas Caliente after getting to Machu Picchu. I feel like it was God’s way of saying: I’ve got it under control even when you feel out of control.
The property is located at 733 Virginia Avenue, SE. It’s right at the vortex of Capitol Hill, The Navy Yard, and The Riverfront. It’s actually on lower Barracks row. It’s got about 150 feet of frontage to the 295/395 expressway which is amazing for visibility and accessibility. And there is a pay-to-park parking lot right across the street that is free during our service times! That is invaluable in an urban context. After such an exhaustive search, it literally feels like we got the last piece of viable property on Capitol Hill. So many possiblities with this property.
Long story short, we’re in a feasibility period looking at the property environmentally, legally, and architecturally. Sure would appreciate prayers for wisdom and favor. But I wanted to share a huge thank you to those who prayed months ago for this miracle! God has answered those prayers. And we are rejoicing over God’s favor!
