From Faith to Substance (Thought, Word, Deed)
by Anonymous

On April 27, 1991 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky at our spring business meeting we took a bold step and with fear and trembling dared to state that ground would be broken by June 1, 1992 for construction to begin on the Zerubbabel Total Living Center. This would mean that God would provide 2.3 million dollars by April 15, 1992. These words of Norman Grubb sum up our feelings better than we ever could:

"I also thank God I got a shot of fresh Holy Ghost confirmation when I heard how you in Zerubbabel had come out with a word of faith for the millions needed for the Boone Center, and expecting some now. Dates and ways don’t matter. In God’s always suprising methods, what we said in faith means the money is already there and is enroute to us in His ways. With my love to you all, and waiting to see how the Spirit breaks through for this our Total Truth to become the Total Truth of all God’s people."

It was at the January 1992 annual business meeting in Jackson, MS that our specific ideas for the conference center began to change. Because of our exposure through reading and experience to the recovery movement in this country we became aware of the fact that rather simple and unsophisticated facilities are used for these recovery programs. People are attracted to where they can find help, not where they will stay or what they will eat.

It was through this discussion that the Lord began to reveal to us His mind on the subject. Because of the ideas we were constantly being exposed to, we began to consider the possibility of acquiring (either by renting or buying) a small privately owned motel type facility or an old large farmhouse that we could convert. We knew our beautiful North Carolina area, so we knew both these kinds of places could be found there.

As our discussion continued, excitement and enthusiasm began to grow. The next logical step seemed to be for us to make a trip to North Carolina to see if anything we had in mind was available. On February 4, ten days after our meeting and discussion, seven of us traveled to North Carolina to do a property search. We met with our dear friend and real estate broker, Baine Martin (we got to know Baine in 1982 when we bought our original conference center site). We explained to Baine our need and our ideas. He listened carefully, told us there was nothing he knew of on the market, but piled us in a van and took us around to show us numerous properties he thought might fit the bill. One of these was the Alpen Acres Motel. When we got to the driveway at the top of the hill and caught a glimpse of the facility and the surrounding property, everyone enthusiastically said "This is it!" Baine took note and agreed to seek out the owners at his earliest possible convenience to see if they would be interested in selling the motel.

We were thrilled to hear from Baine five days later that he had met with the owners of the Alpen Acres and they told him that they would be willing to sell. It seemed definite to us, as Baine came away from the meeting with a specific price.

The next step was to return to Boone to have a look at the inside of the motel we were so excited about on the outside. After this inspection it was unanimous-Yes! This was God’s place for us. It suited our needs and our budget. Halleluiah!

All but two of the folks who had made a declaration to relocate to Boone/Blowing Rock took this trip to look for employment and housing. Fowler and Sanda Cooper bought a house, Page and Tom Prewitt purchased a lot to build on, a very nice house on the motel property was made available to Pat and Ron Mace, Ron Mace found a job in his field, and Julie and Mark Warner found a home. By July all twenty-four who had said they would relocate had moved to Boone. Needless to say, only God could have worked out the details involved in each and every person’s move (housing acquired, jobs found, new businesses opened).

The most exciting part of all is the fact that just as was said in our original word of faith, June 1 was the big day-much bigger than any of us had ever dared to dream. We had hoped for a ground breaking and the beginning of a facility. What God brought into manifestation was us taking possession of a coveted existing facility on our word of faith day, June 1, 1992.

"He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.." (Ephesians 3:20).