Greetings Acts 29 Network, we are happy to share with you the final report from your church plant, Igreja Batista Independente Betel in Patos, Paraiba, Brazil. Thanks in part to the completion of the new building, the church has made a strong impact on children and their families in the community. Now families can join together in a safe place to learn about God. Thank you for your support and prayers throughout this process, and may God continue to move in Brazil!
Total Number of Impacted Beneficiaries
Two hundred children are currently impacted through this church plant.
Final Church Construction Timeline and Update
The Igreja Batista Idependente Betel church plant has completed the following activities:
- August 2018, church leadership met to organize the budget.
- September 2018, the building plans were approved by the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy (CREA) and Patos City Hall.
- Church leadership hired construction professionals from nearby cities and construction began in September. Volunteers from the church also helped with construction on the weekends.
- Construction was completed in October 2019.
- October 2019, the church plant held an inaugural service in the new building. Church members, beneficiaries, and caregivers were given a tour of the facility and church leadership met with caregivers to discuss how their children will benefit from the Compassion program.
The original schedule for construction was from September 2018 to June 2019, however the church had difficulty purchasing building materials locally. The solution was to purchase all the materials in a neighboring city. This was significantly more expensive requiring church leadership, the project director, engineer, purchasing and sales technician, and Compassion staff to amend the budget to account for the additional costs. The project timeline was extended by four months to finalize the process. The increased budget and change in schedule was challenging for the church, but also provided an opportunity to see God’s power at work. Many volunteers from the church plant, the local community, and other churches, especially the Baptist Church Betel of Campina Grande came to help with construction.
The finished church building consists of a kitchen and cafeteria, three classrooms, one bathroom for boys and one bathroom for girls, a warehouse, two offices, and a multifunction room which is where weekly church services are held.
Q & A With Pastor Costa
Compassion interviewed the pastor of the church plant, Laviosier Marinho Costa about the impact the church is having in the community of Patos.
Q: How have the lives of the affected beneficiaries been changed since the building’s completion?
The completion of the building has had a major impact on the community. The neighborhood where the project is located has a lot of human suffering. We believe this church is already changing some people’s lives. The church offers a better quality of life for the many children in the community who are registered with the Compassion program. Additionally, their families will also benefit indirectly from the program. The church seeks to serve all people in our community in any way we are able, but most importantly, by presenting the full Gospel to the families who need God so much.
Q: How has the new building benefitted the church and the community?
For our church, the new building has helped us more effectively reach people for Christ by solidifying our identity and presence within our community. For the Compassion project, in addition to improving the quality of our service to our beneficiaries, we are able to expand our service to more families than we could before. The community sees the church building as a safe haven for their children and as a blessing from God to the neighborhood. We feel accepted and appreciated by the community.
Q: How has the new building affected your ability to minister to the beneficiaries?
The design of the building with classrooms and a large multipurpose room allows us to better facilitate how we deliver holistic child development.
Q: What would you like to say to those who provided financial support for this project?
First of all, I would like to thank them very much for such a generous gift. Through this project they have helped bring life to an entire church that will spread love and hope throughout the community. I would like to encourage them to fully serve God and trust that He is powerful to work in their midst and bring them comfort in difficult times. Thank you!
Q & A With Beneficiary, Ana
Compassion interviewed Ana, a beneficiary with the Compassion project at the church plant, Igreja Batista Independente Betel on how the church and the new building has impacted her life.
Q: What was your life like before the church was built?
I always enjoyed coming to the Compassion program, but it was very different. There was no building and the program met in a location that was small and hot.
Q: How has your life changed now that the church building is complete?
It is very cool. I am learning more, I am happier, and I have many new friends from both church and the program.
Q: What will this change mean for your future and the future of your family?
It will bring special opportunities for me and other children in the community.
Q: What lessons have you learned through the Compassion program?
I have learned about love, how to have more compassion, what repentance means, and how to love my neighbors.
Q: What would you like to say to those who provided the financial support for this program?
I would like to say thank you for so much for doing something so special for me.
Impact of the Church Plant
Throughout the church planting process, God has been moving in the community. Church attendance has increased with many children and their families attending. Many attendees have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The church provides home visits, evangelism, and weekly worship services for the community. Children in the Compassion program have access to healthy meals, hygiene education and other benefits as part of holistic child development.
Testimony
There are many testimonies of what happened throughout the construction process, however the one that was most impactful to me was how the Lord provided in the midst of challenges. With the rising price of building materials, we were unsure how we would make up the deficit in our budget. We cried out to God to help us, and He helped through our brethren churches. Our community has very few skilled laborers, but the Lord helped us through other churches and people in our community providing the labor force we needed to finish the work. We are grateful to Acts 29 for helping to plant this church. Your investment is blessing many lives. Thank you for your prayers. Through you, God has answered our prayers and we praise Him for that.
Dalva Costa, Curaê Project Director
Thank you, Acts 29 Network for your ongoing support of this church plant. As you can see, the church is making a great impact on the children and their families in this community. Please continue to pray for the church and the families served at Igreja Batista Independente Betel in Patos, Paraiba, Brazil.