By Shenalyn PagePosted April 13, 2022
Amazing Facts International celebrated the opening of the W.O.R.D. Center on Sabbath, April 2, 2022, with more than 1,300 guests in attendance. At long last, twenty years of prayer, planning, and sacrifice culminated in the dedication of the new campus to the work of the gospel.
Pastor Doug Batchelor opened the event with a special message titled “When Glory Filled the House.” A dedication ceremony was then held in the afternoon. Attendees enjoyed music from the church choir and orchestra. Behind-the-scenes tours of the headquarters even included an opportunity to take a green-screen photo with Pastor Doug.
“The sense of God’s presence during this occasion was profound,” says Pastor Doug. “The best part was that because of the sacrifice, hard work, and dedication of our ministry friends, the building was dedicated debt-free. Truly a miracle! We praise God for what He has done.”
A Center for Media Evangelism
The W.O.R.D. Center campus houses the Amazing Facts headquarters and the Granite Bay Hilltop Church. W.O.R.D. stands for World Outreach, Revival, and Discipleship. “That’s what our vision is,” explains Pastor Doug. “We want to take the gospel to the world.”
To carry out the mission of evangelism, the entire campus was built around media ministry. Dedicated recording studios are located in the Amazing Facts building, while the church facility, which seats 1,400, is specially wired for recording and broadcasting seminars and church services. Amazing Facts and the church work together to host seminars designed to teach biblical truth to as many people as possible. Over the past year, these have included the series Revelation’s Final Warning, Amazing Sanctuary, Panorama of Prophecy, and the Undaunted Courage youth conference.
“The synergy between the church and Amazing Facts with its media and publishing ministries is wonderful,” shares Pastor Doug. “It works great having them together on one campus. We are so grateful to our ministry friends who have helped to make this dream a reality.”
Church Plant to Miracle Church
The Granite Bay Hilltop Church was planted by a group of just fifteen individuals in 2007. Shortly thereafter, by divine opportunity, Amazing Facts purchased 75 acres of prime land on which to build the church and its new headquarters. While Amazing Facts had to qualify for a $15 million loan before construction could start in June 2017, the loan was ultimately not needed.
Explains Pastor Doug, “We prayed, ‘Lord, if this project is of You, help us to dedicate it without ever touching the bank’s money.’ And that’s what happened. We never had to take money away from broadcasting or cancel a TV station to pay for construction.”
Amazing Facts began using its new building in 2019, and the church held its first services in the new church facility in October 2020. The opening celebration was delayed twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the same, the church has grown rapidly and now serves a congregation of 800.
“When Glory Filled the House”
Attendees at the opening celebration especially sensed God’s presence when learning how the Lord’s hand guided in the completion of the W.O.R.D. Center. “It was a high day of celebration,” says Dr. Warren Ashworth, a retired missionary and college professor. “It was an outpouring of heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty for helping the Amazing Facts team and countless supporters complete the center. It is thrilling that they are heralding the everlasting gospel at the heart of the three angels’ messages and helping people be prepared for Jesus’ soon return! I was deeply moved by what has been accomplished with much prayer, sacrifice, and vision, and by the many miracles God has wrought.”
“It was so moving sitting in the service and seeing the video clip of how they got the land and built the whole project and how it is completely debt-free,” shares Ilene Bonson. She and her husband, Jerry, have been long-time supporters of Amazing Facts. “Everybody we encountered had the warmest feeling of spiritual love for God. All the Amazing Facts employees we met on the tour were so loving.”
Jerry Bonson adds, “It really inspired me to see all the prayers and all they went through and how God worked. I’ve always wanted to do mission work. This reinspired that desire for me.”
Thank you for all you have done to complete the W.O.R.D. Center, which will be used for years to come to share the everlasting gospel!