Stories of His Faithfulness
SROM Headquarters
Student Gear
First Campaigns
The Generous Family
New Ride
SROM Headquarters
Part 1: Genesis
It was winter of 1997. The Lord spoke to me that the vision he had given me 20 years prior was coming to pass. He said Solid Rock needed to leave the small garage and acquire its own property. He gave me a vision of land in northwest Laramie. I remember it clearly because it was across from the old Greyhound bus station. The land was somewhere near that station. So I went down there and looked around but there was no land or property for sale. In the fall of 1998, Mary and I went to Jackson where we attended a concert at a local church. During the intermission James Watt approached us about some land he had in Laramie. He had not been able to sell it and wanted to know if Solid Rock would be interested in having it. He told me to meet him at Snow King Lodge the following morning for breakfast. After our meal we went to visit Jim's attorney, who drew up a quit claim deed that he and Leilani signed together. And just like that we had raw land.
That winter my son Andrew told me that we had to go weekly and pray over the property. Once a week we would drive my car onto the land. The hard part was getting out of the vehicle because there was often a biting wind, a layer of snow, and Wyoming mud that stuck to your shoes.
It was very encouraging to be with Andrew because he was so fervent in prayer. It warmed my heart to see him earnestly pour out his heart to God. I always felt that I had been in God's presence after these times. We simply asked God to rise up something on that ground.
One day Mary came home and said that her boss had purchased a lot with an old Dairy Gold building on it. It measured 50 x 100 feet. He needed the lot for parking and had to get rid of the building. I went and told him that we would move the building for free if he would let us have it. Two weeks later he called to tell me the building was ours. And so early one August morning we drove this huge hunk of metal down Grand Avenue, across the interstate, and onto the property.
The site of the Dairy Gold building was across the street from the Greyhound bus station and on the land the Lord showed me in 1997.
Part 2: To Pitch a Tent
The old Dairy Gold building had been badly damaged during the move to Solid Rock’s land. Panels had come apart and separated. The south end was completely missing from being removed from a permanent structure. Due to hair pulling hassles with the city, our foundation was not poured before the building arrived. Our builder, Dan Smith, placed it on railroad ties in a lot to the north of us that Dr. James Hollon owned.
A home to many, here it groaned for six long months before Dan could move it again. Finally, I returned home in January to find it sitting on its foundation, where it had become home to a group of pigeons. These early arrivals recruited their friends within a tri-state region, and soon a thunderous cacophony of 1,000 wings greeted me upon arrival.
After one particularly melancholy trip, I arrived home and told my wife that I was simply crazy and I had missed God. She encouraged me, saying that I hadn't missed God and to focus on repairing the outside of the building one step at a time.
That spring Dave Rettinger and I drove to Fort Morgan, Colorado to retrieve 35 sheets of metal siding. A Christian businessman had donated them the ministry. A friend of Andrew’s, Russ Wilson, was looking for work and happened to be one of the best handyman I have ever seen. Russ cut, patched and sewed all of the different metal until we had a kaleidoscope of colors. Pat Swanson, a friend and former member of Harvest Church, was beginning a painting business in Cheyenne. Even though Pat was getting started, he believed in Solid Rock. He donated his labor and supplies to paint this LARGE building. We turned our attention indoors. A HUGE remodel awaited us. So did a most faithful God.
Part 3: A Most Faithful God
The building had been moved, patched, and painted. Indoors, an extensive remodel awaited us. After many fits and starts we were making agonizingly slow progress. Karen Schmit told me that a new pastor, who had been a contractor in Southern California, had come to town. Jim Sanderlin of New Horizon Christian Fellowship was indeed very gifted and talented. Jim became the General Contractor and guided us through many of the technical parts of interior construction.
By the beginning of summer 2003 Jim had other work and had to move on. Once again, we ground to a halt. More prayer and God sent Greg Stouffer. Greg has a vast reservoir of experience, talent and ability. But most of all he became a brother in the Lord before we finished. On September 30, 2003 a city inspector walked through the building and pronounced that we were now able to occupy!
It took five years to go from my vision of the Greyhound bus station to a beautiful building with a paved parking lot. When I look back I see the faces of countless people who made this possible. And when I look forward I see the faces of countless more that will come here to be blessed.
As I write these words, my physical strength is failing due to my battle with multiple sclerosis. Yet in the midst of this I can say that I have come to know God in an intimate and personal way. I've grown to love him more and looking back on the vision that he gave me in 1977 I can say, "The Dream Was from God."
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalms 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Psalms 127:1
Student Gear
Where did SROM get its first gear for its first students? Ask Joe (Drew’s brother) and Alison Arnold. The Arnolds provided gear to outfit 12 SROM students. Joe and Alison played an integral part in starting the ministry by providing the gear and instructing the first courses. Joe and Alison continue to support the ministry in every way. We will always be grateful for the gifts and talents the Arnolds have shared and continue to share with SROM.
First Campaigns
SROM’s first campaign was the Clean Campaign on February 27, 2004. The campaign was a tremendous success. SROM moved into a new 5,000 sq. ft. administration complex in October 2003. SROM also had to pay for four new sets of industrial washers and dryers. Bill Higgins, owner of Maytag Direct in Laramie, had offered to donate back the profit for the machines. This meant we were able to purchase them at cost. SROM previously spent about $2000 a year on laundry and dry-cleaning. Time, energy, and money were saved because of this gift. At the start of the Clean Campaign, the goal was $6,100. God's unending faithfulness provided not only the cost of the washer/dryers, but our total campaign raised over $12,000! Praise be to God!
The Generous Family
“To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine … to Him be glory!” Eph 3:20. Yes, who is able to imagine what the Lord has done? He delights in doing good for His children and has used the Gasser family to bless SROM. The summer of 2005 was a “lean” time for the ministry. In obedience to the Lord’s prompting, the Gasser Family Fund gifted SROM with a $30,000 donation. Praise be to God! With this gift, SROM was able to continue running operations in the building. The timing can only be explained through God’s good grace and faithfulness. Thank you again, Gassers, for your unending support. Grace and Peace be yours in abundance.
New Ride
New Ride In the winter of 2007, the staff was looking over logistics for the up and coming summer season. A few times in the summer there would be five courses out at once, creating a logistical challenge for SROM’s limited vehicle fleet. At the time, SROM only had three vans (one being out of commission and one on its way out) and one cargo trailer. SROM needed 3 vans, 1 truck, 1 car, and at least 2 cargo trailers to transport all the students, instructors, and gear. On February 8, 2007, a 12 passenger 2004 Chevrolet Express van pulled into the SROM parking lot. This white van was detailed with SROM logos on three sides plus pictures from SROM courses. This van, detailing, and trailer hitch came to a cost of: absolutely nothing! The van was donated by the Bell family from Colorado. Scott Bell bought the van, paid for the detailing and transport up to Laramie. SROM will forever praise the Lord for His goodness and His obedient servants: the Bell family.
