Ministry:  Solid Word Bible Church (SWBC)

Location:  Indianapolis, IN

Project:  Permanent church home

Story:  Have you ever wondered about God's timing or why he puts us in certain places?  Do you ever wonder if God is paying attention to your circumstances?  Solid Word Bible Church is a shining example of God's timing and leading and the impact we can have on our community when we follow God's leading and wait for Him.

Let's start this story by sharing the impact that being in the right place at the right time can have on a life.  Being in a residential community affords many opportunities to be seen as people are just going about their day to day activities.  One day, a lady walked by SWBC.  She stopped into the building and as a result started coming to mid-week Bible study.  She had grown up with a knowledge of God and Jesus but did not have a current church home.  One of her current needs was for a job.  She began attending midweek Bible study, made friends and was given assistance finding a job.  Now she is an important and active participant in SWBC's after school program, active in a church body and growing in fellowship with other Christians.

The road for SWBC has been marked with God's finger prints.  In 2000, Faith Missionary Church planted Solid Word Bible Church.  SWBC has moved from a hotel to a school to using an existing church's facility to a strip mall, all before having their own building.  All the while this congregation managed to stay in the same community.  God gave them a concern for their community that just wouldn't let go.  While in the strip mall, they began losing attendees because there simply wasn't enough room!  In 2006, they were nearing the end of their lease at the strip mall and clearly out growing their rented facility.  "We were holding VBS classes in our parking lot to accommodate all the children," shares Curtis Coston, Administrative Pastor at SWBC.  The congregation was too large for many locations but not large enough to be able to afford the location that appeared ideal - an 20,000 square foot warehouse on 20 acres in the middle of their community that was for sale for $1,500,000.

As the time came for the lease to be up, SWBC met with Christian Investors Foundation (CIF) and went through the process of pre-qualifying for a mortgage and determining what they could afford in a permanent home.  Even with the portion of their loan that qualified for a reduced rate under CIF's Urban and Intercultural Ministry loan program, they were nowhere close to the $1,500,000 that would be needed for the building they were interested in.  Again, God moved.  SWBC was able to purchase the building for $800,000.  God is indeed faithful.

The story doesn't end there!  The influence of SWBC is seen in many ways within the community.  The school principal from the middle school across the street has welcomed SWBC into the school, saying "I can't believe you guys are here!"  The church is running a mentoring program for middle schoolers after school.  They also have an after school program for the neighborhood elementary school.  Due to the abundance of land with their current building, VBS was able to bring in 2 live horses (in the middle of the city!) to attract attention for the western-themed program.  They are getting the attention of the community around them in so many ways!

Pastor Curtis speaks with the heart of this congregation sharing "We want to become a beacon. We have grown from infancy, needing help from others and have now grown to help others."

Stay tuned!  This church isn't done yet.  They are now (2008) working on expanding their sanctuary and using more of this building that God provided as they grow and reach out to the people around them.