(“The Value of One”)
March 24, 2026
“LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.” — Psalms 26:8, NKJV, Italics mine.
My wife Tiffany and I were recently at the church where we serve working on administrative responsibilities, projects, and duties from the past week. Tiffany is very thorough, detailed, competent, professional, executive administrator whose opinion I highly value and trust. We love our church, and we often share a great amount of time together discussing the mission and vision for the church and community. We pray daily for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction for every decision we make. There are so many needs and without God’s help and leading we surely will fail. Jesus declares and instructs us, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NKJV).
As we were walking through the sanctuary and adjacent buildings, Tiffany called my attention to the beauty of the sanctuary and to the felt presence of God within its walls. We walked through each building and some of its many rooms and offices as if we were inspectors about to give a real estate appraisal of the functionality and multipurpose use of the entire complex. For the past 65 years God has given and charged us, the members, congregants, friends, and partners with the care of his house. We have been truly blessed but unfortunately, we may sometimes forget the blessing God has given us.[i]
It hasn’t been easy. But I am sincerely thankful to the members, friends, partners, and well-wishers who stood with and by us over the years. Their support and prayers are invaluable. Neither can we forget the many saints, past and present who made this vision and ministry possible. Their work and labor have not been forgotten nor in vain. I simply don’t have the words to express my gratitude to the members of Memorial Tabernacle Church today for their service.
There were those occasions however when we didn’t know how we would pay our church mortgage and other expenses. As a pastor I am most certain that I am not alone in this feeling of wondering whether or not the church doors would remain open. Pastors everywhere can identify with this experience. I can’t even begin to tell you how many sleepless nights I’ve had over the years praying for the people of God and for those who come to worship here. But like the old saints would say, “God always makes a way,” and, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always on time!”
Pastor Rick Warren[ii], former pastor and founder of the Saddleback Church said, “Over the years, I’ve learned that—contrary to popular opinion—the bigger the vision, the easier it is to reach that vision, and, ultimately, the size of your vision should be determined by the size of God” (Warren). Our vision has always been to see the church through the lens of possibilities. Our success is His.
It is often said by the members and worshipers in our congregation that God placed us on that corner to be a light in and to our community.[iii] I truly believe this. But it is not the building in and of itself that the world and community see, it’s the people that worship here who share the message of love and salvation through Jesus Christ that make the difference.
As Tiffany and I continued our walk through the sanctuary, the multi-purpose fellowship hall, prayer and meeting rooms, and administrative office, she wondered aloud to me, “Do we know how blessed we are to have a place to worship?” We shared with one another about how many people have asked to use or rent our church for their worship services because they didn’t have a place to worship. Engaged couples ask to have their weddings in the church sanctuary. Others commented about how much they desired to have what God had given us. Community, political, and secular groups and organizations frequently request the use of our fellowship hall. Real estate agents and investment companies have made offers to buy our administrative office. If we were in this just for the money all our financial worries would be solved. Humbly I respond, “This is the house of God. His word declares, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). It is His house. It doesn’t belong to me.
In North Oakland where our church is located many Black families have sold their homes because they didn’t know or appreciate the value of the property (homes) left to them by their parents, grandparents, etc., as an inheritance. My father, the late Bishop Ulysses S. King, Sr., along with the church’s trustees and leaders purchased the church in 1960 after being forced to move from West Oakland because of the City’s eminent domain. At that time there were only a few black families that lived in North Oakland and surrounding area. Gentrification and other factors forced many families out of the community. Those who remained understood the value of living here.
There are two things that determine value: The one who owns something, and what someone else is willing to pay for it. Ownership determines value[iv].
Over the years the community has changed again. White families and other ethnic groups have come in and purchased many of those homes and the property value have increased due to a combination of high market demand, limited supply, and improvements made to the homes. Buyers realized homes are no longer being built like they were years ago. We too are in awe of the beauty of His house, the beauty of the stained-glass windows, the woodwork in the fellowship hall and floors, and so much more. They cannot be replaced.
Tiffany and I found it interesting that everyone who have either worshipped, visited, or even passed by our church seem to want what God has given us. We wondered together whether or not if people really knew and understood the value of having the house of God in the community. Not for money but to serve. I read an article recently that spoke to this very thing: “A church building is usually viewed as a safe place, a refuge for travelers for those in need. Regardless of denomination, most churches represent a link to God for those outside the faith—whether or not they believe in God or attend church—and are often a light for people in crisis.”
Each we during our Sunday worship service we recite our Missions Statement:
The Memorial Tabernacle Church has come together by the Holy Spirit for the specific purpose of preaching and teaching the word of God, (the Bible), and about Jesus Christ, God’s son, and to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the North Oakland Community and its environs; to bring healing to the brokenhearted and deliverance to the oppressed; to be a center of genuine concern for those in need, a sanctuary of community worship that is neither shallow nor restrained, a spiritual home where members find an expression of precious love for one another and a haven for the unsaved.
We believe that every person, gift, talent, and resource has value. Tiffany and I (and the members of Memorial) have accepted the challenge to share the Good News with people right where they are. This is where God has planted us, and our God is big enough to fill his house not only with his presence but with those who love and worship him. Future generations will worship here because of the foundation that has been laid. Again, Pastor Warren shared, “We’re not interested in building a mushroom. We’re interested in building an oak tree. A mushroom takes 12 hours to grow; an oak tree takes 60 years. But an oak tree is going to last.”
Yes, it is true, the church is not a building. We, the body of Christ are his church. From the tabernacle in the Old Testament to today’s churches, God desires a place where His presence dwells among His people. In Exodus 25:8, God commands the Israelites to build a sanctuary so He can dwell among them. This principle remains relevant today. In the wisdom parable of the talents Jesus taught in Matthew’s gospel that believers are entrusted with God’s resources and we are expected to invest them actively for the Kingdom of God, not hide them out of fear (Matthew 25:14-30). It warns that inaction will lead to judgment, while faithful stewardship is rewarded with greater responsibility and joy.[v]
That joy is felt each time the doors of the church are opened. They are opened to all those who’ve heard the voice of the Savior, and accepted His invitation to, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV), where lives are being transformed, saved, healed, and delivered at His word. Jesus said that “you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7). You are that one.
[i] For more historical information, see our website at: www.memorialtabernacle.org .
[ii] Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and best-known churches. In addition, Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for ministers.
[iii] The church is located on the corner of 58th Street and Telegraph Avenue in North Oakland.
[iv] Warren, Rick, “How Much Are You Worth?” (2026). Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope Newsletter, 3/21/2026. https://www.pastorrick.com/current-teaching/devotional/how-much-are-you-worth-2026?hemail=pastorusk%40aol.com&el=DHDevo-03%2F21%2F2026-EN
[v] Anderson, Paul N., “Matthew 25:14-30 Exegetical Perspective” (2013). Faculty Publications – George Fox
School of Theology. 329.