The struggles of building a mission

(DOWOCA) - When a new mission, created from convert zeal to found a Church near the country’s largest university, has the opportunity to welcome its bishop for the first time there is a simple description: sweet. Not knowing what to do or what to expect made it all the better. We did not have parishioners steeped in traditions for such a momentous occasion; just raw enthusiasm to have our archpastor in our midst. We joyfully prepared to just be with His Grace, with everyone scrambling to get ready for the bishop’s visit. In true ‘jump in before you are ready’ fashion, we even asked to celebrate a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, even though none of us knew exactly what to do. With help from SubDeacon Johann and our choir’s hard work to prepare, we borrowed Proto-Deacon Alexis and by the grace of God all was beautiful. His Grace spent all day Saturday with us. First was a ‘family BBQ’, then gift gathering for St Innocent orphans, followed by Vespers and an informal talk with everyone. Sunday was attended by 60+ faithful and some visitors – most who had never been to a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

St John the Evangelist Orthodox Mission (www.stjohnaz.org) is in its fourth year, and this past year was blessed to move from an inadequate storefront, to a facility that we all pray will be a property we can purchase as our permanent home. Our new location consists of four former model homes on 2 acres on University Drive, the main access into ASU, about 1.5 miles from campus.

We have taken a Mountain Chalet and converted it to a Temple. Another cabin houses our kitchen, office and restrooms. The former model home office serves as offices for several ministries in our city: Tempe Christian Resource Center (a live-in, bible-based, rehab program), Christian Interface Ministries (whose mission it is to bring together Tempe churches and ministries to work together), and CARE (an outreach of the State Government Chaplain). The fourth house will be used for gatherings and classrooms.

We began the Mission four years ago in Bill and Cathy Gould’s living room with 4 families. After a few weeks, we moved from there to a chapel at a mortuary, until management changed. Next was a house in a residential area. We were constantly looking for affordable space zoned for “assembly”. At every turn the city nixed occupancy due to some city code. Finally, Fr Damian’s activity with CIM ministries and partnering with its director, Gary Bartlett, led to the mayor and his staff actively helping us. With the help of city employees, we found this property just as the owner was closing operations and quickly worked through building codes and bureaucracy to use it as a church.

The chalet building was an unfinished shell. No plumbing, electricity, or insulation. Just the framing, exterior walls, windows and a roof. Much of the work to create a church was performed by a host of very good friends and even some folks we hardly know but thank God for. With little in the bank, the vast majority of materials and labor were donated and the Diocese gave us a loan for the things we needed to purchase. Our prayer is that God will bring us people to serve. Who knows what great things God will do? For He is with us. Holy Apostle, Evangelist and Theologian John, pray to God for us.