In the Beginning

Our walk with the Lord has been exciting these last few years. Actually, it all started in 1983 with very few funds available to purchase a 10-acre tract in Durham County near the Wake County line. It was through the inspiration of Derek Prince, in whose ministry we served at the time, that we were encouraged to purchase the property. We had no idea how centrally located this property would become as the region grew.

We waited for many years and prayed earnestly as to how this property should be used. In 2005 the time was right. We realized the location had become very important, as it was situated close to the Brier Creek shopping development, only a few minutes from Raleigh/Durham International Airport, and convenient to Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. In that same year a very clear word came to us as we stood on the property. The Lord said, "Build a building." At first I could not believe that word and questioned the Lord as to why. He said, "Build the building - I want to come and rest there." He further said that we would host His Presence and that along with others were to invite the hungry and thirsty to come and rest with Him. Friends whom we respected, some local and some from other states and nations, confirmed this word by the Spirit. One such confirmation came from a well-respected teacher and pastor from California, who asked us three questions: If not here, where? If not now, when? If not you, who? We could answer the first two questions but hesitated on the last. Certainly this mission should be accomplished by a younger, more qualified couple.

As we prayed into this, God said, "You," so we said, "Yes." The next amazing thing happened about one week later while I was in my office. The Lord instructed, "Take the paper. I am going to give you the plans and contents of the building." "In my mind, I pictured a fairly small building that could be constructed reasonably and quickly. To my surprise, He outlined the elevation of the outside and inside as well as the number, function and dimensions of the rooms that were to be in it. The end result was a 31,000 square-foot facility that would seat 1200 people.

Immediately I began to study 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 and 2 Chronicles 3 through 7, the building of the temple by Solomon. One of the first things I noticed was that the temple was to be built facing east toward Jerusalem, which is exactly how the Lord had shown us on the actual site layout. I was also struck by the words David used to describe his vision for the building of the temple: "I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it" (1 Chronicles 28:2). But it would be David’s son who would carry out this vision, as God instructed him, "Solomon your son is the one who will build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father" (1 Chronicles 28:6). So David heartened Solomon in this: "Be strong and encouraged and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord, my God is with you""(1 Chronicles 28:20). Like Solomon, we prayed for the wisdom to carry out this assignment, and we made preparations and gave instructions to build God a resting place. (2 Chronicles 2:1)

We spent 2006 planning the building. In 2007, when construction began, a song about Jesus as the Lamb of God was given to us while we were walking the property. We began to sing the song to Jesus, and as we sang, our hearts were deeply touched and we began to receive the vision for The Worship Center. Several of the key points that we felt in our hearts were central to the vision are found in 2 Chronicles 5. When the ark of the covenant, which represented the presence of God, was brought into the temple upon its completion, all leaders who entered the temple consecrated themselves without respect to their divisions, and all the worshippers came together in strong unity. The singers and musicians joined together in unison as one voice to give praise and thanks to the Lord, singing, "He is good and His love endures forever." As a result, "At that time the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God." (2 Chronicles 5:11-14)

This vision of The Worship Center is to have a place where the presence, glory and love of God is sought and welcomed through worship, teaching, prayer and intercession, changing the hearts of all peoples and bringing unity and healing to this region and beyond. Our key scripture for The Center is John 4:24 (NIV), "God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Since its opening in March of 2009, many people have been touched powerfully by God's presence and habitation. From the very beginning, He told us He would come and remain as long as we walked in His righteousness, purity and holiness. There is no question He has lived up to His word and is bringing us all into a new depth of brokenness and humility. In fact, just recently, we received a word from the Lord, saying, "A new birth of the spirit is beginning. Listen carefully and obey."

We believe that the coming harvest will begin as several dynamics take place in the body of Christ. When we come into relationship with one another, we begin to trust one another. This trust, in turn, promotes unity. When there is unity in the hearts of the people, revival will break out. Many will see His glory come upon the people, and this will begin a worldwide harvest. It is in the context of the dedication of the temple that God makes this promise: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

This year we hosted a worship team who later wrote these words to us:
"We had an amazing last night at The Worship Center in Raleigh. The meeting started at 7pm and ended around 12am. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so heavy. I started to understand this is how it's supposed to be! "I had visions of the years to come when Jesus, the man, will walk into worship centers everywhere and fill them with His glory. This is an incredible time to be alive on the earth. And it all begins and ends in the secret place of intimacy with Christ. When the glory of the Lord is in the room (in the temples of the people's hearts), it no longer matters who's who. Nobody is worried about some man's ministry or any name other than the name of Jesus. We had a breakout time of ministry that turned into a feast in the Spirit. Destinies were being birthed left and right, futures were shifting"and the Holy Spirit was equipping hearts for radical obedience. It was incredible! The Lord is ripening the earth for a great harvest. The Kingdom of God is expanding and the Bride is making herself ready."

The Center is now operating with a wonderful staff and volunteers that have truly been brought by the Lord to walk out the vision. Our thanks go out to the pioneers who helped us make this a reality. We have received prophetic words that many churches and nations will participate in this vision. Our doors are open for soaking prayer, intercession, healing, and live worship. Various ministries and outreaches are being birthed as the Lord directs the timing. We believe that the word of God, worship and prayer, and outreach are keys that open our hearts to receive wisdom, revelation, healing and provision so His glory can fall and many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Come! Enjoy His presence and worship the King of Kings!

Joe and Sara Call,

Founders