Sharing by Brother Z Wang from the Fundraising Team

In 2008, when I first arrived at SVCA, the new Bethany Hall for 450 people had just been put to use. I remember that the Bethel hall was still a vacant site, filled with many dismantled items. Many weekends, I would join brothers and sisters to clean, level the ground, remove debris, and repair the leaky roof. In the blink of an eye fifteen years have passed, more debris has accumulated there, almost turning into a cluttered activity space.

Thanks to God, through the pastors and church leaders, the call was made: “How long will this land lie desolate? Rise up and build together!” At the end of 2022, during the communication meeting among the pastors and elders, everyone agreed to fulfill God’s original promise to complete the thousand-seat Bethel Hall. In 2023, we officially established the Bethel Project Committee to start the building of Bethel hall. Although this time two of the three giants from the first phase of construction seem no longer there, the enormous financial challenge of the project remains, especially with an estimated cost of nearly 20 million dollars. Our church currently has fewer than 250 contributing units (families) - out of the nearly 590 church attendees, 90 are in the Tri-Valley branch and 90 are children. The fundraising team is under great pressure.

Through the unified prayers of brothers and sisters, Friday Bible study on Nehemiah, and Sunday messages on tithing and offerings, brothers and sisters have been motivated and increasingly offered their time, talents, and money. The number of church financial offerings per month has steadily increased, reaching 451 offerings in July. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! By the end of August, we raised more than $1.18 million in this year alone. Although there are still some ways to go to reach the goal, what God has initiated and promised will surely be accomplished. “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, and the whole earth will be filled with God’s glory!”

This is our opportunity to learn to give willingly and wholeheartedly, and in faith, breaking the alabaster jar and letting the fragrance flow for all generations. In my offerings I would also like to experience what some brothers and sisters have experienced - “It hurts, yet my heart is joyful”.