Friends and Family of PAC,
I wanted to reach out to everyone today in order to update you on the events that transpired yesterday morning, Sunday, January 10.

Shortly after the opening of our 10:30 worship service, the fire alarm sounded. The cause of the alarm was the bursting of a water pipe supplying the sprinkler system in the Promised Land. The room was vacant at the time so although the water damage was substantial to that room and less significant to the adjoining rooms, there were no injuries of any kind. The entire facility was evacuated and the rest of the 10:30 service was cancelled. However, as a result of the quick response of the Plainsboro Fire and Police Departments we were able to hold our noon service as scheduled.

We have already begun the clean up and repair necessary to the Promised Land and expect it to be fully operational within the week.

That is what happened. Let me express my gratitude as to how everyone responded. I was not in the sanctuary when the alarm went off. Before I was able to enter, our worship leader calmly suggested that we all exit. The order that was maintained during the time of exiting the building was exceptional. Our children’s leaders calmly gathered each group of children that they were teaching and led them from the building, keeping them together as a group. Lay leaders rushed down to shut off the water from the basement. Several other leaders including board, staff, greeters and ushers joined me in asking everyone to back up and clear the vehicle entrance and closest ring surrounding the building, allowing the emergency vehicles easy access to the facility. All of this both ensured the safety of everyone involved and allowed for the Police and Firemen to quickly rectify the situation.

I want to thank everyone for an incredible job well done.

Having described everything that occurred, let me also explain what is happening at a deeper level. Having worked in Thailand for 14 years and having followed missionaries who spent their entire lives in that country, I understand the significance of this weekend’s service. In the history of Christian mission in Thailand, no one has seen the response to the gospel and potential for a church planting movement to occur in the northeast of Thailand as have Jim and Kathy Sappia. I lived in the same city as they live; and I wasn’t the first missionary there. We have always counted the number of converts on one hand. But this couple, who spoke to us yesterday, is seeing dozens of people coming to Christ, both in the prisons and now in the villages where those prisoners reside. Do you really think that Satan wants one more church, a church of 1500 adults, to hear about this and throw our support behind Jim and Kathy? This is spiritual warfare. Jim and Kathy both got sick just before arriving and Jim practically lost his voice by the noon service. This is not a coincidence; and I refuse to accept it as such.

So what do we do about it?

First, here are some links to yesterday’s service that will be active tonight: subscribe to a podcast or watch online. If you missed it then you stand for God by clicking on the link and seeing the calling of God on Jim and Kathy and the message that they brought. Don’t wait. Watch it right away.

Second, be here this Sunday. This was the first in our Exponential series. If Satan will go to this length to interfere with the first message, imagine what God has for us in the whole series.

Third, stay tuned for another communiqué later this week. Our leadership team is praying through and working on an additional piece that we believe is an appropriate response to the events of the weekend.

Fourth, pray. Pray for God to have an open door in your life and throughout this series in the heart of our community of believers that we call Princeton Alliance Church. Don’t miss this opportunity to pray for Jim and Kathy as well. Find their list of prayer requests in last week’s bulletin.

“…and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matt 16:18

Boyd A. Hannold
Senior Pastor
Princeton Alliance Church