The Court of Appeal granted our emergency writ on Friday, August 7, ordering the City to stop demolition at the Ambassador. Brett recorded this update after we confirmed it with our legal team, and it starts where it should: thank you. Since our last video, the messages, calls, shares, and especially the prayers have been overwhelming.
How we found out
When Brett shared the first video, demolition activity had already begun. Our legal team had filed our appeal and an emergency writ asking the Court of Appeal to halt further demolition so our case could be heard. Through the weekend and into the next week, we believed the court was still considering that request.
On the evening of Tuesday, August 11, we found the Ambassador completely cordoned off with caution tape. Brett posted a short clip as he drove by, asking people to pray. We honestly thought that by morning we could be watching a wrecking ball come to the building.
There was a lot of wrestling over what to do. Go to the City Council meeting? Organize a last-minute prayer vigil? Come out early in the morning and peacefully protest? We didn’t have peace about any of those options. So we stopped, got on our knees, and prayed a simple prayer: God, show us what to do, and unless You tell us to do something, we’re going to stay still and wait for Your direction.
Moments later, a supporter forwarded us a statement the City had released. In it was something we didn’t know: the Court of Appeal had granted our emergency writ the previous Friday. We checked with our legal team and confirmed it. Our request was granted.
What it means
We asked you to pray for favor with the Court of Appeal. You prayed, and God answered. Glory to God.
Is everything resolved? No. Does this guarantee the Ambassador is saved? No. Does it guarantee the Court of Appeal will rule in our favor? No. It does mean the demolition has been halted for now, and that our appeal can actually be heard. We will have the chance to make our case that this historic building should be restored and repurposed as the Dream Center’s Discipleship Training Center.
Before the court’s order could take effect, essentially all of the roof tiles had been removed, leaving the building exposed to the elements. We are asking for prayer, and pursuing whatever relief is available, to see the roof protected and waterproofed quickly so this historic property doesn’t suffer unnecessary and irreversible damage.
How to pray now
Pray for the appeal. Pray for favor with the court, and that the judges would consider the full story and the case we’re making. Pray for wisdom for our legal team and for all of us as we work through what comes next.
Most of all, keep praying for our city. Pray for peace, for our city leaders, and for protection over the Dream Center, our people, and our properties. Pray that through all of this God’s purposes would prevail, His Church would be strengthened, and He would be glorified.
Last week was intense and heartbreaking, and it still is. This week we are also reminded that God is at work even when we can’t see what He’s doing. We thought we were waiting for the court to decide, and the decision had already been made. We just didn’t know it yet. So we’ll keep trusting, keep praying, and keep contending for this property, with humility, with honor, and with confidence that God is bigger than any circumstance we face. He heard our prayers, and He answered.
