Two Minneapolis television stations are reporting on the West Broadway Prayer Center (821 West Broadway) and how its operator, Jariland Spence, faces eviction for lack of money as a "serious buyer" waits in the wings to buy the building.
Click here for KARE story. And click here for Fox 9.
The KARE story mentions the landlord by name, one "Jack Reider." In contrast, Fox 9 practices an odd sort of censorship, and just mentions "the landlord" without naming him.
Turns out even KARE doesn't have the name exactly right, or more accurately the names (plural) of the landlords (plural). This blog will see to it there is a fully-informed public discussion regarding who owns that building...
The building at 821 West Broadway is owned by John L. Reider and Helen F. Reider. (John apparently goes by "Jack.") Their address is listed as 4150 Lake Rd., Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
Though it is often the role of this blog to dig up and expose information and engage in pointed criticism, this blog post about the Prayer Center should not be seen as a criticism of the Reiders. In fact, development of that part of West Broadway would be the answer to many prayers...the prayers of nearby residents who want to see that area turned around, and a prayer center operated on a frayed shoestring budget isn't the kind of development we have in mind.
There has, in fact, been a lot of talk...a lot of dreaming...about seeing high end restaurants opened on that block.
It is one thing for Spence's supporters to come up with enough money to pay back rent, as they apparently did before. But $142,000 is a very significant amount. Unless some reformed gang member who turned his life over to Jesus hears the Voice Of God and realizes God wants him to go dig up his major stash of ill-gotten money, and turn it over to Spence...
Then saving the Prayer Center with an influx of donations (again) is simply not going to happen.
The efforts of Spence supporters would be more productive if their goal would be finding Spence another space for the Prayer Center, hopefully not far from her current location so her clientele can find her easily.
Spence's public vow to be "carried" from the prayer center in an act of civil disobedience (compare and contrast with Romans 13:1) should be prayerfully reconsidered. Spence should ask herself what God wants and if she is following the Voice of God, or her own feelings and preferences.
