by Jared Knutson

When God opens the door and you walk through, the windows of Heaven are open and the blessings flow. When His saints pray, in the name of Jesus, for His will to be done in their lives, we watch in awe and amazement as the blessing of answered prayer flows forth.

The Prayers
The members of Lemoore First Southern Baptist Church have been praying for a couple of years for God to increase our membership, and that we would see the baptistry used again for young, old and in between. That we would see the facilities used to reach the lost. That on Sundays we would see all the rooms filled. That the nursery would be full. That the noise of children would be heard in the hallways. And that the voices of many would be raised in song during worship. And that we would see the aisles full of people coming forward, seeking God's will in their lives.

The History
On March 7 at a special called meeting, the seven remaining active members voted to turn over all property and assets to Sequoia Baptist Association. The church is debt free with an estimated value of $1 million. This was a very difficult and emotional decision, knowing what our prayers had been but knowing that if this was God's will, we had to be the best stewards of God's property we could, making sure it was done with integrity.

On March 11 we were contacted by Danny Sotelo of the California Southern Baptist Convention church starting group, to see about the members of Templo Luz del Valle using our facilities for worship. We met with Danny, Pastor Alejandro Valle and 20-plus members to discuss the possibilities.

We heard testimonies of their prayers for a place they could use for worship, Sunday school, Bible study. They had been using a church on Sundays, but it did not meet their needs. They told us about their love for one another and for the lost in Lemoore, how they were seeing people come to Jesus and baptized. They had grown to 75, with sometimes 100-plus in attendance. They were using their homes for Bible study during the week.

They had asked God to point them to a place that would meet their needs and that they could help take care of, and be able to meet together at one time. One person related that she had been baptized at Lemoore First Southern many years before.

They asked if they could use the facilities starting the next week, and wanted to start work that day to clean up the property. The answer was yes, and we told them if they would supply the manpower, we were willing to pay for any expenses.
The meeting was closed with prayer, thanking God for an opportunity to help our brothers and sisters, and asking if this was an answer to our prayers.

Answers and Praise
Within an hour, the church was a beehive of workers. The parking lot was filled with cars and there were people everywhere working. The next eight days were pure joy, seeing the answers to our prayers coming to pass so fast and beyond our dreams.
Approximately three acres, overgrown with weeds one to four feet high, were mowed down and cleaned up; the exterior of the auditorium was painted; the flowerbed was cleaned out and landscaped; the leaky baptistry, with no water supply, was cleaned out and tiled, with a new water supply and heater installed; Sunday school rooms were cleaned out; and the furniture and supplies that were in storage were put in place ready for use.

The door is open, what will we do?
On Saturday, March 20 the members of First Southern voted to rescind the March 7 motion, and to continue on as a church. The next day the members of Templo Luz del Valle met for Sunday school and worship, with approximately 100 in attendance. The prayers for adults, young and old, children and babies were answered, once again beyond our imaginations and expectations.

On Sunday, March 28 at a special meeting, a motion was passed to accept Alejandro Valle as a member of Lemoore First Southern. A second motion was passed to appoint him as interim pastor effective immediately. At the end of the service six people were baptized in the refurbished baptistry.

Do I need to say there was great joy in praising the Lord Jesus that day?

On Resurrection Sunday, April 4, during the invitation, another 42 members of Templo Luz del Valle came forward and joined Lemoore First Southern. During the service three more were baptized. The work goes on and the prayers keep getting answered.

When God's people ask in faith for His will to be done, He answers: "I have heard your prayers and with love I give to you in abundance." We stand amazed in His presence.

Lemoore First Southern Baptist Church did not close its doors after 60 years - it simply changed color, language and culture.