There are three main venues that our church currently rents. For our Wimbledon GVC, we use a Church of England primary school building. On Saturdays, we use it for worship team rehearsals, including rehearsals for the secondary school worship team in preparation for Sunday services. On Sundays, we rent classrooms for our first and second worship services, as well as for our various Sunday school groups—preschool, primary, and secondary school. Including the cost of storage, parking, use of the playground, and cleaning, we currently pay around £3,000 per month.

At our Central London GVC, we use a Welsh church building for our Wednesday evening service, Saturday worship team rehearsals, and for an extended period on Sundays, from preparation for worship through to cell group meetings. The monthly rental is £1,428. In addition, we separately rent the Clubhouse, a building belonging to All Souls Church, for our Sunday school groups and cell group meetings, at a cost of £150 per week. Taking the venue costs for both sites together, we currently spend around £60,000 a year.

However, ten days ago, we received an email from the Welsh church informing us that they would like to increase our current monthly rent of £1,400 to £1,200 per week, which would amount to £62,400 per year. They explained that the church leadership had made this decision in order to raise funds to employ an evangelism pastor. They would like to begin charging the increased rate from November and asked us to let them know in advance if this would be difficult for our church, in which case they would approach the property agents. If this increase goes ahead, our church would be spending more than £100,000 a year on venue rental across our two churches. When I first received the email, I had many mixed thoughts and emotions.

I initially felt disappointed that the Welsh church had decided to increase the rent so suddenly and by almost three times the current amount. At the same time, I began to wonder what God might be saying to us through this situation. We have been praying for a church building of our own, and I wondered whether God might be calling our congregation to come together and pray even more earnestly for a permanent place for our church. We quickly called a Trustee meeting, and we agreed that we should use this opportunity to explore other possible venues. If finding another suitable place proves difficult, we would also consider discussing the proposed increase with the Welsh church and asking whether there might be room to negotiate a lower rate.

At the same time, we do not want to lose our sense of gratitude for the way the Welsh church has supported our church with a missionary heart over the past 20 years. For the first three years, they allowed us to use the building free of charge. After that, they allowed us to use it at very affordable rates—first around £300 per month and later £500. They rejoiced with us as many young adults began gathering at our church. It may well be that the amount they are asking for now is actually a normal market rate for renting a venue in central London. Part of me thinks, “Perhaps we should simply pay the increased amount as a way of supporting the Welsh church.” Yet, at the same time, it is painful to feel that something which began with a missionary heart has now become more of a business relationship.

At the moment, we do not have any clear solution, but I am writing this because I wanted to share the current situation honestly with our church members and pray about it together. Please pray more for our church. Also, if there are times when you have forgotten to give your offering, or if you are able to receive tithing in faith as a confession that God is the owner of all material things, I hope that you will take this opportunity to give wholeheartedly.

When I look back, our church has faced various difficulties in the past. Yet, each time, God has turned those crises into opportunities and has provided a way forward. I believe that He will help us break through this situation once again. For that reason, I have more anticipation than anxiety about what God is going to do through this situation.