As many of you know, our Church campus has undergone a recent renovation which has led to the opening of our new chapel space. It was a little over a year ago when our leadership began to talk about the possibility of transforming our previous sanctuary [which for many years had been used as classroom and office space] back into a chapel. While the energy and enthusiasm for the idea began to build at a fairly rapid pace, there was a big question left unanswered.
How will we pay for that?
We knew the renovation could be done relatively inexpensively in relationship to what it would cost to construct such a space form scratch. It was a no-brainer in terms of how much “bang for our buck” the renovation would yield in terms of the potential usage of the space, but we still needed the funds to make that happen.
During this same time frame last year, we were made aware of the fact that a trust established by the Green family was going to become available to the Church. It was apparent from the beginning that this development was not a coincidence.
Penny Voss, our Church Administrator, was recently asked to share a short testimony about the Green family. Penny has been a member of First UMC for a long time, and was excited to share about Olen and Alice and the gift that has made our chapel project possible. I’m delighted she agreed to share it here on the blog for each of you as well.
Here’s Penny’s account…
In 1978 Fred and I joined First United Methodist Church- Mansfield. We had just moved to Mansfield and found our way to the church then located on 1st St in downtown Mansfield. The church had already voted to relocate to Pleasant Ridge Dr. The architect had been selected and the capital funding campaign was about to begin. Church leadership had determined that bonds would be sold to assist in financing the project.
Almost immediately Fred and I were recruited to sell these bonds. Fred served as the chairman of the bond drive. We were new to the church, young and eager to serve. A list of names was given so that we could make home visits and explain the bond process. Two of the names on our list were Olen and Alice Green. Mr. Green served as an usher for the church. We had hit it off famously with him the first moment we entered the church building. He was a sweet grandfatherly figure. However, when we spoke to him about setting up a time to visit about church bonds, he quickly stopped the conversation. Mr. Green explained to us that he would not be buying any bonds but that one day he would take care of the church in another way. Fred and I didn’t question his response because he said it with love and conviction. Olen and Alice, his second wife became our friends. They were so pleased when Fred and I had our first child, Chip. They had their picture made with us when Chip was baptized.
Now thirty years later, I find myself remembering that conversation with Mr. Green and recognizing how blessed I was to have been witness to his preparing the church to receive such a marvelous gift. Though he did not participate in providing the initial funds for the church when it relocated from downtown, the trust that he put in place has now allowed us to remodel that very worship space and expand our ability to reach people for Christ. I know that Mr. Green is pleased that the church used his gift to honor God. Mr. Green was able to worship in the original sanctuary built here in 1981. Within the next year he fell ill during one of the worship services and died on July 20, 1982.
Even today when I walk into the chapel, I feel Mr. Green’s presence. I could never have imagined that a friendship that began 30 years ago would bring me to this place. That as the church administrator, I would receive the gift that I learned about so long ago still seems almost impossible. But as we all know, nothing is impossible with God. He blesses those who honor Him. Olen Green was a faithful servant to God and to his church. I give thanks for Olen and for his willingness to prepare the way so many years ago that would allow First United Methodist Church- Mansfield to make disciples of Jesus Christ today.
