Giving Glory To God For The Things He Has Done!

by Elder Sandra Austin

"Memory lane from over 20 years ago (1986) - Pastor Wintley Phipps preached a semon entitled 'I Have A Made Up Mind.'"

It was my first time visiting Capitol Hill Church. I will never forget it! "I can't believe it!", I said. "God must have read my mind!" I jumped up immediately during the Alter Call because the Holy Spirit was upon me to join Capitol Hill. "God has a plan for us at CHC!" My husband looked at me and said, "You are joining Capitol Hill?"

"Yes! Today dear." I replied.

I reminded him of Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you... plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE!"

I never realized at that time that I would be the chosen Relator to sell East Capitol Church and the Real Estate agent to negotiate to negotiate the purchase of our new church at 914 Massachusetts Avenue! At that time, God sent a Realtor by the name of Sandra Austin. God sent a contractor by the name of Brother McClain. God sent an artist by the name of Howard Bullard to design our stained glass windows. God sent numerous painters - even those that didn't know how to paint! To God be the glory!

After seeing the building, some members became upset wondering "How will we ever pay for this huge church? We only have 50 active members!"

The pastors words continued to resound. "The bigger the boat, the bigger the note." He always continued to be very positive. "Pray, Sandra, pray" he would say. He had a dream for CHC and he instructed me as the Realtor, "We must stay on the Hill! The church cannot be over $400,000 in price! Don't look anywhere else!"

Okay", I said. "This is a hard mission, but nothing is too hard for God!"

I found several churches - until one day, Sister Linda Phipps called me concerning a church. "A congregation on Capitol Hill is in a financial disaster and will probably lose the church", she said. I immediately contacted the Real Estate company to pick yo the building keys. I remember going to pick up the keys and hearing the broker say "bring back the keys today, please. I have another potential buyer to see the building. The Folger Shakespeare theater wants this building BADLY."

We looked at the abandoned church building. It was in terrible shape and needed LOTS of work. To make matters worse, the selling price was $500,000!

I got a call from the real estate company requesting the keys. My heart started skipping beats. The law is to give the keys back immediately after the showing. God kept speaking to me saying "you must show this to the CHC officers immediately or else the building will be sold!" I cride, "Lord! Help me! What should I do?" I wanted to be honest with the keys. The the answer to my prayer came! I got a call from Pastor Phipps. "Sandra? Do you still have the keys to the church?" "Yes! Yes, I do!" I replied. "Wel, can you meet me at the church to show one of the Allegheny East Conference leaders?"

"Glory to God!" I said to myself.

So, I held on to the keys overnight to show the CHC Church Board. This gave me and the church some time to draw up a letter of "Intent to Purchase" until the conference and Church Board could agree on a price to purchase the building. Praise God!

After hours of negotiationg, we were able to purchase our new church home for $425,000! In 1998, we celebrated 25 years as a church and 10 years in this 'new' building which went from "Terrible to Spectacular."

Gold-guilded columns, white walls, beautifully painted posts and dorms, sanctuary and foyer trimmed with hardwood, Three Angels on stained glass windows, new carpet, restored historical pipe organ, new kitchen, mirrored sound room, glass enclosed mother's room, a wonderful fellowship hall, 2 additional houses with offices, pastor's studies, anoutreach center and many more ammenities!

To God be the glory! Today, our church home has a estimated market value of well over two million dollars! Look at what God has done for us!

Thank you God!

Excerpted from CapitolHill Church 25th Anniversary Momorial Booklet 1998

Brief timeline of events