When the Lord called my spiritual mentor Archer Torrey to build Jesus Abbey as a prayer community in South Korea, he often told me,
“If God the Father calls you to do something that you know is His will but is humanly impossible, then expect the Lord to work the miracles needed. But your role is to step out in faith, and your first work of obedience is prayer.”
Well, that is just where we are now!
In need of some miracles to accomplish the vision that God has given us!
Let me tell you the impossible situation we are in now to see the incredible opportunity we have to trust Jesus to work and show His glory!
Starting the Prayer House
In 2018 the Lord called us to launch the building of the Prayer House at the Community of the Cross to serve as a global hub for intercession.
After receiving some major financial gifts for what was projected to be the cost of the building the Prayer House, (for which full construction documents had already been prepared). We set out on this project in faith and obedience.
Surprises
But then we were shocked. A new Fire Marshal did not accept the approvals already obtained from the original Fire Marshal.
We restarted the costly work of shifting the building from its original location.
We had to redesign the building entirely and redo the site preparation.
We encountered unexpected natural springs and immovable boulders, making the foundation cost much more than planned.
The Prayer House Rises
The building is framed in, and a roof is going on it right now!
And it is amazing! The architects have aptly named it a “Cathedral in the Woods.”
The Prayer House is giving us the space to be obedient to Jesus Christ in doing the prayer, equipping and sending work of the Community of the Cross to advance the Kingdom of God worldwide.
More Surprises
Parallel to launching the building of the Prayer House, a fire destroyed half of the Log House at the Community of the Cross in August of 2018.
The fire at the Log House meant an overwhelming opportunity that stretched our faith. You gave generously through the past year to restore the Log House to ministry.
It required required major rebuilding as well as massive generosity to complete the restoration and expansion of the Log House.
We are now using the Log House once again and re-dedicated it in January of 2020.
As if that were not demanding and disruptive enough, the City of Asheville decided to put a 46-inch water pipeline right along the river edge of the Community of the Cross, directly through our front gates! (This provides an alternative route for the water supply form the reservoir. This reservoir supplies water for our entire valley and the City of Asheville, in case there is another flood as there was in 2005).
The heavy construction on the water pipe is completed.
With Surprise Blessings
The City ended up expanding our entryway to meet the Fire Marshal’s code, which would have cost us several hundred thousand more dollars.
Also, they are turning the riverfront into a lovely greenway, with walking paths, river access, and areas for recreation.
We have been blessed with many gifts to cover both buildings and our general operations. Praise God that we have gotten as far as we have!

These simultaneous building projects have left our team exhausted, and all the building projects have all been much more expensive than budgeted.
Guidance and Action
At our 2020 Winter Board Meeting and Dunamis Fellowship International Meeting, we received the following prophetic word.
“In 2020, the Lord is vastly expanding our tent pegs and expanding our audience for the Dunamis Equipping because being empowered by the Holy Spirit according to Acts 1:4-8 is essential for fulfilling the Great Commission.”

On January 25, 2020, over a hundred members of the Dunamis Fellowship International dedicated and gave thanks for the renovated Log House and, in faith, to dedicate the half-finished Prayer House.
Now here is the need for miracles!
The projected cost to complete the Prayer House is $1,300,000!
You need to know that not all that is the building itself.
It includes $100,000 for a maintenance endowment, plus another $200,000 for expanding the road (to meet the requirements of the Fire Marshal) and put in utilities, both of which will enable the future development of the Community of the Cross.
It includes money for the furnishings for the Prayer House as well the cost of administrating the entire project.
Some of this provision can be phased as the Lord sends the provision.

But here is the prayer challenge!
By the end of February 2020, we will deplete the remaining $300,000 in our building fund. We face the potential need to put a pause on the work.
The immediate prayer challenge is to pray in gifts needed, so we do not have to stop work.
Please join us in asking the Lord to supply the $225,000 needed in February to pay for the construction fees.
Please pray for the Lord to move lots of people to give, so that we can keep building!
Ask in His Name
As we look at this colossal challenge, which feels (not just feels but IS) humanly impossible without God’s miracles, I believe Jesus is speaking to us through John 14:11-14.
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:11-14 (NIV)
The vision for the Prayer House is that the building itself and (more importantly), the activities that will take place in that building will give glory to Jesus Christ and God the Father.
So right now, I urge all of you to join us in asking in the name of Jesus Christ for God the Father to continue to provide all the financial provision needed to complete the Prayer House on time to fulfill the vision of it being a hub for intercession advancing the Kingdom of God worldwide.
Thank you. And give God the glory!
Hear the Vision
To help you to focus your prayers, watch this a video clip from the January 25, 2020 Dedication of the Prayer House.
The PRMI Leadership Team – Cindy, Mary Ellen, Chris, Martin and I (Jeanne was in the Log House preparing refreshments) — shares the vision for the Prayer House.
While asking for the money is urgent, the prayer assignment is to pray that God will give all that is needed, including the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowering the people in the work of prayer – is just as important.
Would you like to be part of the specialized prayer these next few months?
A prayer cohort has been praying throughout the current construction of the Prayer House and the restoration of the Log House. This cohort will continue to pray for the Prayer House.
In addition, we have scheduled two open prayer times where anyone can join in praying for the Prayer House
Join us
- Friday, February 21 at 10:00 am Eastern time and/or
- Thursday, March 5 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time
You can join this Zoom call through the following link: https://zoom.us/j/378586693
To join in by phone, dial by your nearest location:
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
+44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom
+44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
Meeting ID: 378 586 693
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aHxhfyAx6

Learn More: Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International
I’ll be praying for provision.
Great to hear the Leadership Team cast the vision for the Prayer House. And as Mary Ellen said, this building is the middle, not the beginning or the end, and so I praise God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. What the Lord has started, He will complete and He will provide. I’ll be praying and praising.. .
Praise the Lord… We also have a prayer house…The NEWHOUSE OF PRAYER…NHOP! God is making things NEW… Praise the Lord…