GOD’S MOUNTAIN TOP
Part one
On November 10, 2008 the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors, with a vote of 3 to 2, denied the Mariposa Revival Center’s application to make a small modification to a Williamson Act contract to allow us to build our church on our donated land.
Many people have asked us why the church doesn’t look for property somewhere else, and whether we have any new plans for the future.
To address the first question, here at Mariposa Revival Center we are absolutely convinced that the Lord has directed us to build Him a church in a specific place. That place is a mountain top just outside of town that has become a place of unnecessary contention from a few people in this community. This is ironic as the very purpose of the church is to be a blessing to all the people in Mariposa as well as to the nations of the world. That church is to be a place of uncommon worship and preaching the Word of God, and to love and help the lost and hurting. It is also to be a base of operation for His ministry to the community.
Among other missions we have been commissioned to feed the poor of Mariposa. Most Mariposans are aware that “The Lord’s Pantry,” a ministry of MRC, is a very active and reliable ministry to the community. In its 12th year of operation it is the largest food ministry in the whole region of the Sierras.
Secondly, as we are convinced that we have a mandate from the Lord, we can not quit or give up the battle. During World War II in England’s darkest hour Winston Churchill declared “Never Give up, Never!” That goes right along with God’s Word in Galatians 6:9 that says “Be not weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap, if you faint not.”
So, if God gave us the challenge of building that church, our only choices are to quit Him, or to obey Him and stay in the battle and believe that He will part the Red Sea. We choose the latter.
The church property is the 5 acre mountain top (plus 2 acres for the driveway) where the large white cross stands, on Highway 140 just west of Spring Hill School. The land was donated to us by Frank and Francis Long back in the early 90s.
Under California law, the Williamson Act contract allows each local County to decide whether to allow a non-agricultural use on Williamson Act land by finding the use “compatible” or by “cancelation” of a portion of the contracted land to allow the use. Our request was to use a total of 7 acres out of 3,700 to build a church. According to experts, the grass allotment is 15 acres per head per year of grazing cattle on this ranch. That means that our church would decrease the agricultural production of the 3,700 acre ranch at a rate of one half of a cow. In our view, this is not a significant impact. It should also be noted that the Longs were willing to help our cause by placing more acreage into the Williamson Act than we were taking out, but that was not accepted.
Grace & I and our congregation are strong supporters of the Williamson Act. We are friends of many ranchers and farmers. We are not the adversary. In fact, I stated in the public hearing that very thing. My plea was that the Williamson Act is in trouble and that it was not wise to kick God out. God wants that mountain top and it would be a good idea to give Him what He wants. Mariposa needs God’s help. His ways are always to bless and prosper his people anyway. We are confident that God knows what He is doing. He has not given up on us, and we have not given up on Him. As I will discuss in a forthcoming letter, we are still seeking ways to build a permanent church on the mountain, but are also open to finding a temporary home elsewhere. For the story behind that, you’ll have to tune in next time. Blessings!
To be continued.
You can read this article in its entirety in our web at: www.MariposaRevivalCenter.com
Blessings to all! Henry & Grace Falany
GOD’S MOUNTAIN TOP
Part two
This is the continuation of the article concerning the Mariposa Revival Center application to build the church on the Long Ranch just west of town. You can read the article in its entirety in our web at: www.MariposaRevivalCenter.com
We are all aware of the severe budget problems with the State of California right now. Because of these woes the Williamson Act is frequently brought to the table in Sacramento and is seriously scrutinized to get the axe of financial support from the state. It barely made it through the budget process this time.
For a little humorous but note-worthy history, there was another fella once, named Moses. Remember him? He was instructed to go to the government of the day (Pharaoh) and make a petition. Well, Moses ran into the same unreasonable spirit we did. He went back over and over too, and kept getting the same answer .. no! Well, when God says yes and Pharaoh says no guess what our job is .. stand with God and watch Him. If He has to, as the original God Father, He will eventually make them an offer they can’t refuse. God is love and mercy in action but He is also serious about “the promised land” when it comes to blessing His children.
Our position is that we really believe that God said “build the church on that mountain.” We also believe that the church being built on that mountain is good and it is right. Even if you don’t believe in God you have to agree that we are helping people.
It is also our opinion that a loving life-filled church is always a blessing to be helped and supported and not to be resisted. This county could have just as easily gotten behind us and given us all the help we need as we work and sweat to obey God and help His people. Instead, here we go again. It is a sad day when your own county is the one fighting you and holding you back from your purpose of being a blessing to the people.
Now, as for where do we go from here? It looks like we will have to “drop back and kick.” We can’t quit but we will have to wait to see what happens. Only time will tell on that issue. But now that the battle is going to go on for a while we are forced to look for a temporary place to hold services. We are looking for something up town where we could hold church services. If any readers know of a place, or if someone has a place they could donate to the cause please let us know. We desperately need a place to hold church services. We also ask all of the praying believers out there to keep us in your prayers as we endeavor to persevere and fulfill the Lord’s will for the church.
This October Mariposa Revival Center will be celebrating its 20 year anniversary of ministry in Mariposa since we founded it in 1989. We have a real heart for Mariposa and it is our entire purpose to see God move here in an uncommon way. We sincerely believe that Mariposa is picked by God to begin and initiate moves of His Spirit and blessings from heaven to the region and the entire state.
Let us pray, “Lord, we ask that you breathe on this community with a fresh breath from heaven and touch and bless every soul here, even those resisting us. Restore the broken hearted and heal the sick and hurting. Bring them all into a personal relationship with you. We speak blessing and well being over all the precious people of Mariposa, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!”
God bless you all! Henry & Grace Falany