We have lost count of the times we’ve moved in the past 26 years, and it feels bizarre to be homeowners finally. Yet, we still feel as if we are renting or looking after this house for someone else.
We had been feeling desperate after five months of trying to find a house in the place where God wanted us. We looked at so many, had so many different ideas of what we could do. Should we buy land and build a house, find a fixer-upper, or even go back to renting. Our budget wasn’t big enough for what we wanted. But God… The miracle find came when we had surrendered it all to God and started looking at terraced houses (condominiums). Not something we wanted, but we just thought that was all that was left for us. It was a warm sunny day, and as we drove into the street saw a sign on the model house “back at 11.” We drove around the neighbourhood and came across a sign saying “Open House.” Meaning that whoever wanted to view the house could go by and view it without an appointment.
My friend Colleen had prayed that we would see an ‘Open house’. When we arrived and looked closer at the sign, it said “Open House Realty”. It was a realty company selling a house that we hadn’t even seen on the internet. The seller just happened to be standing outside chatting to her neighbour. We asked them if they knew anything about the house and got a long story about the brother who lived downstairs in the basement and his sister (that we were talking to) that lived upstairs. We asked if we could see it, and she said she was happy to show us the upstairs but that she didn’t speak to her brother due to a massive fallout between them. To cut a long story short, she was able to ask him to let us see the downstairs. We put an offer in way above our budget, and God made it miraculously possible for us to buy it. Ours was the only cash offer.
We moved in September 17th. The neighbours welcomed us with open arms and have done so much to help us. They have been an absolute blessing. The story of the previous owners began to unravel and even on the day of closing the sale they had a massive dispute in the attorney’s office. Let’s just say that downstairs was not much less than a brothel. There had been a shooting also and drugs were being used. It could only happen to the Munford’s 🙂
Since we’ve been here, we have had endless opportunities to pray for people in just six weeks. We can’t write about all of them, but one that stands out as a powerful testimony to Jesus. Some friends from a church that we attended 10yrs ago when we lived here decided to get together and see what furnishings they had for us. We had nothing except a sofa and armchair and a matching rug. We got a call from a lovely lady who had furniture for us. We went over, and the first person we saw was her 17yr old son. He had been a bit of a handful, and his mum wasn’t sure where he was with the Lord. She had prayed for years that he would hunger for God. Long story short – we prayed with him, told him his destiny, and he has talked about Jesus ever since. He watched ‘The Chosen’ and, through tears, was saying over and over, “He’s so gentle and kind.” He has fallen in love with Jesus, and his peers are coming now to watch The chosen with him. True revival has come to this house!
So what is next for us now our sabbatical is over? Before we knew we were being called back here to the States, a dream had been percolating in the hearts of lead pastors Eric and Candace Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding, California. They knew that God was calling them after 17yrs of being in California but didn’t know where. After three months of dreaming about God’s heart for them, they took a trip to Greenville – about half an hour from us and felt this was where they were to plant a community.
This is who they are:
We seek to create a place where God and people meet, where beautiful things happen, and beautiful things are created. A place for anyone to belong before they believe and a home for anyone in search of a home. We aim to be a multi-dimensional community (ethnically, culturally and generationally) of people who walk in the ways of Jesus and who are fully alive in Him.
Our intention is to remain curious about the wonder of God, to live our lives fully surrendered to God, living out truth together and seeing the soul of humanity experience the fullness of Jesus in every area of life.
This is done by creating spaces and places where people experience the presence of God, are shaped by His love and engage in life on life relationships. As we explore these spaces, we recognize there are unique gifts, talents, and ideas inside of each of us, and we are not limited by them, but they rather are incubators for creating the future. This is STUDIO
This statement resonated within our hearts. We all, as a body, have so much to offer, and our gifts are stifled in some churches. This is not a criticism but an observation, and we love what Studio stands for and is creating. As older people, we want to be used and still have so much to give. They told us they wanted us and needed us. People to empower others, be spiritual parents, lead a small group, and be fully used by God wherever we can. This is what we were born for. We will also be very much involved in “Neighbors Worldwide”, a WEC ministry to immigrants in our locality. We will mainly reach Asian Muslims, African Americans, and anyone else who comes across our path with the Gospel in street evangelism, prophecy, and healing.
It occurred to me that many think and even say that this world is getting darker. If that is so, then it means that the Church is not shining as bright as it should in all the world. We want to see the Glory of God cover the earth in these difficult days and see His Kingdom come here on the earth. (Matt 6:10)
Thank you to all who have prayed for us to find a home and place of ministry right where God planted us. We look forward to sharing more testimonies soon.
God bless you all and keep you. With our love, Linda and Chris
