Greetings, Awaken City Church! We are excited to share this field report from your church plant in San Mateo Zapotal, Mexico. Since the last report, the church has made significant progress, and we are eager to share construction details and photos. Currently, 13 adults and 18 children attend the church. Thank you for your generous gift and for partnering with Compassion in releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name!
Construction Progress
The halls and bathrooms now have doors and windows. Additionally, construction workers laid cement for the sanctuary and hall floors. The church team purchased electrical wiring to be installed, and walls are finished in the kitchen and dining areas.
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- Construction workers mix cement for floors throughout the new building
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- The new cement floors in the sanctuary
Challenges and Learning Opportunities
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the church team is seeing higher prices for construction materials because of shortages in supplies. One other challenge is the distance between the mother church and the new church building. Mother church staff have long days of travel to assist in construction and supervision. However, families from the new church plant recently stepped forward to offer their homes to mother church staff so they don’t have to travel as far in a day.
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- Community members
Next Steps
The remaining tasks to be accomplished include:
- Installing electrical and plumbing work
- Installing windows and doors in the sanctuary
- Finishing the dining room and kitchen
- Painting the interior and exterior of the building
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- The construction site
Church Activities
Similar to the last update, the quarantine is preventing the church pastor from being able to visit families in person. However, when the quarantine is lifted, the pastor and church leaders will conduct socially-distanced home visits, and evangelize the community.
Testimony of Impact From a Church Member
I can see that the Lord is working in everyone’s hearts with the progress that has been made so far. Everyone from the community has contributed to this church building, some of us working in the kitchen, some as bricklayers, some as blacksmiths, and some community members are loaning their cars to help. The work committee and the pastor have been essential for progress in construction work.
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- Construction materials in the sanctuary
Praises and Prayer Requests
The church asks that you pray for the families who do not know Jesus, and those living in extreme poverty. The leadership team is very hopeful that the new church building will help them reach families and their children. They also ask you to pray the church would not just be a building for the community, but a space that transforms the lives of families.