The Story of God's Provision

October 1994

The infant church has $247,000 in its building fund.

During 1995

A second property committee seeks land for a church building, the first committee having given up in frustration.  After many months and much searching the best candidate is a tract of commercial property on Beltway 8 and Briar Forest.  Although the epicenter of the congregants is the intersection of 610 and 59, the committee feels this is an attractive future site because the city is moving that way, and it might be an affordable option. 

January 1996

The tract comes up for auction quicker than the church can organize a vote and raise funds to bid.  The FDIC auction requires cash and CEPC has only 5 days to raise the funds.  Ten men agree to sign a bank loan for the cash to buy the property and agree to hold it until the church can vote, knowing that the church is not obligated and if the vote did not pass, these men would hold the land as a personal asset. 

At the auction, while on the phone with prayer warriors, the bidding exceeds their limit.   Then two of the men in attendance agree to personally split the difference, raise the bid, and succeed in buying the tract of land for $1.6 million.

February 1996

The church votes to buy the land and assumes the bank loan. The church then raises the funds and pays off the loan.

August 1997

Only 18 months later, the real estate company that passed on purchasing that site for $1.6 million offers CEPC $10.3 million for the same tract of land.

Yes, in 18 months God multiplied $247,000 to $10.3 million, God's miraculous provision for CEPC.

January and April 1998

With $6.2 million, CEPC purchases in two separate transactions 33.23 acres on I-10; the northern 10 acres are to be sold for residential development and the southern 23 acres will be the church's building site.   

December 1999

Wal-Mart purchases the neighboring property, which is roughly the same size but heavily wooded with a natural creek as one border.

During 2000

The church approaches Wal-Mart about swapping properties, hoping that their cleared property would appeal to Wal-Mart since they plan to clear their property for development and the trees would add to the aesthetic setting for the church.  Wal-Mart has no interest.

In the plans to widen I-10, the Texas Department of Transportation has plans to condemn a much larger portion of the Wal-Mart property than CEPC's property, which negatively affects Wal-Mart's development plans.

June 2000

Wal-Mart and CEPC begin discussions. 

The swap is completed July 20, 2001; CEPC has a heavily wooded property, God's place on which to build His church.

October 26, 2001

Ground Breaking on the property at 8300 Katy Freeway

March 2002

The Lord has blessed CEPC with real estate in excess of $20 million and a proposed structure worth $11 million to reach Houston for Christ.

Construction begins

July 20, 2003

Cornerstone Ceremony

December 14, 2003

Our first Sunday in our new church home!