New Church in Ibrány

We were able to attend the Open Bible Church in Ibrány on Sunday.  It was a special day since it was their first service in their new building.  The top picture is the outside of the building.  The picture above was taken at the beginning of the service.  Many other people came, too, and crowded into this room or stood in the hallway.

There was much to celebrate on Sunday.  This church was started by INSTE graduates who evangelized in their town and expected much from God.  Just one year ago, they began meeting in a rented room in the community center with just 15 people.  During the past year, many have accepted the Lord, been baptized and become part of the church.  Early this year, they began looking for their own building to meet in.  They had no money, but they knew this was what God wanted and that God would supply.  Then, unexpectedly, they received an anonymous gift of about $10,000 to go toward a building!  In looking around town, they found a house for sale for almost twice that amount, but after some time, the owner decided to sell to them for the money they had!  The papers for the sale were finalized and they were able to move in on September 1.  Just a week before that, the community center gave them notice that the last day they would be able to rent their meeting room would be the last Sunday in August!

Much work had to be done to ready the house for worship, but the Open Bible people worked very hard, tearing down a wall to make two rooms into one large meeting room, leveling the floors, painting, cleaning and much more.  They had no chairs, so a call was going to go out for everyone to bring their own chairs to the service.  However, a church in another town heard of their need and sold them 50 chairs and a pulpit for a nominal amount.  God has supplied in every way.

Many people testified on Sunday of God's healing and supplying power in their lives.  May God bless this new church and may it grow and mature to become a mighty, godly influence in this community!