Beginnings
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All-Nations Bible Translation was founded in 2010 to provide a platform for equipping and sending church-planting teams to unreached and Scriptureless people groups. Four years later, in 2014, All-Nations purchased property in State College, Pennsylvania. The following year saw the completion of two buildings that would serve some basic needs:
- The house with full finished basement provides housing for the caretaker’s family and lodging for All-Nations members during their final phase of training.
- The cabin provides additional lodging for All-Nations members during the final phase of training.
At that time, God’s people responded generously to make the purchase and construction possible. One family even purchased part of the 12-acre property, which brought All-Nations' actual cost into an affordable range.
Expansion
As All-Nations continues to grow into its function, the actual usage of the property, house, and cabin, has already expanded beyond what was originally envisioned. Many meetings and a variety of events have been held at the base, stretching capacity and at times encroaching on the living space of lodgers or attendees.
Some notable uses of the facilities include the following:
- Orientation (annual): A time of orientation and initiation for new members in training.
- Camp Week (annual): A gathering of all All-Nations directors, staff, members in training, available field members, and some sending church representatives for prayer, encouragement, fellowship, teaching, and strategizing.
- Team Launch (as needed): Before heading to the field, a team spends around two months at the base finalizing their training, developing team dynamics and strategy, praying, and wrestling with the issues ahead of them.
Meetings presently held at the base include the following:
- Quarterly Board meetings
- Occasional meetings with members’ church support teams and committees
- Getting-acquainted meetings with new or potential members-in-training
- Team Compatibility Assessments with potential team members and their church leaders.
Vision
As All-Nations' work increases, we will be needing an additional building. Besides the uses mentioned above, the proposed building would be available full-time to serve the following needs:
- Offices: Local staff are currently working from their homes. A small percentage of floor space in the building will be dedicated to offices.
- Kitchen: Preparing and serving food for meetings will be simplified with a kitchen. The kitchen will also be used for preparing and canning agricultural products grown on this property.
- Tractor and implement storage: The machinery used to care for this agriculturally-zoned property needs a home out of the weather.
- Produce farming and processing: Much of the acreage is being used for agricultural purposes such as raising vegetables and beef. This building will provide space for processing locally grown foods and also the opportunity for All-Nations members to be trained in agricultural projects as a way to serve their target people groups.
We are working on building plans that will address all these needs within local zoning requirements. A preliminary architectural drawing is shown here. See the preliminary floor plan here.
Provision
The cost of this project includes drafting, surveying, land development engineering, excavation, and building to meet commercial code requirements. This is in addition to purchasing back part of the land that was owned by another party since 2014. The new building will be located on this portion.
As a mission organization, we do not feel it would be wise to borrow money in order to proceed, and we prefer to use funds that are designated for this specific project. Therefore the timing of this project will largely depend on God’s direction through the provision of his people. If you are interested in contributing to this project, please choose one of the options below. If you prefer not to give at this time, we thank you for your interest and prayers.
Estimated cost of project: $650,000
You may contribute using the form below. Or send a check to All-Nations Bible Translation, 150 All-Nations Lane, State College, PA 16801, earmarked “Building fund.”
Donations for the project can be given anonymously through Anabaptist Foundation. Checks should be payable to Anabaptist Foundation and earmarked “All-Nations building fund.” Send to AF, 55 Whisper Creek Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837. (For more information, call 800-653-9817, Ext. 209)
Do you know others who may have interest in helping with this project? Feel free to pass on this information!
Questions? For more information, contact Joel Martin at 814-954-7298 or [email protected].
Donate to the Building Fund
All-Nations Bible Translation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible.
Note: To donate to a field project or where most needed, click here.