Calvary Chapel Cheyenne, thank you so much for your gift to help build Roca de la Fe church and child development center in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Despite weather-related challenges, the church has continued to make progress on the church construction. The child development team has registered 378 children in the Compassion-assisted program and is beginning to conduct activities on the grounds of the new church. Focused and passionate about sharing the redemptive love of God, Roca de la Fe church members regularly share the gospel with the local community.
Pictured above: Pastor Nicomedes leads prayer at a special Children’s Day event in the new church.
Construction Progress
In the past few months, construction workers, with the help of church members and parents, have completed the roof, exterior walls and classrooms. Classroom floors were tiled, walls plastered and electrical work completed. While doors, windows, painting and other finishing work remain to be done, the structural aspects are complete on five classrooms, the church sanctuary and the administration office.
Progress was hindered by several challenges during the region’s annual rainy season. Heavy rains caused mudflows and landslides, making roads impassable. Getting electricity to the area was difficult, and roadblocks complicated the transport of roofing materials. Despite these challenges, the work is 70% complete, with just the construction of the men’s and women’s bathrooms yet to be started.
Moving forward, the church plans to focus on installing doors and windows, painting the interior and completing other finishing work. The church will also begin constructing the two bathrooms.
Construction workers build the pulpit, where God’s Word will be proclaimed.
Welders assemble the metal trusses that will support the roof.
Roofers place the metal roofing plates on the installed trusses.
Tethered to safety lines, roofers install corrugated plate on the church roof.
Workers plaster exterior walls using cement for greater durability.
Building Relationships
Church leaders and child development program staff take every opportunity to share the gospel with children and adults in the community. Church members have conducted four evangelism activities for community children and parents and have more planned.
Registered children enjoyed a hot chocolate party recently, where staff shared God’s Word and held various fun activities for them. The church also conducted a special event on Children’s Day for the community’s children. Parents were invited to this event, which included sharing the gospel and providing a small snack.
Parents of the 378 registered children are grateful. “The help I receive from the church is a great blessing because my daughter Betzabé is learning about the Bible and God,” said Adela, whose daughter is in the child development program. “I don’t attend church at the moment, but I am motivated to attend in the future with my children. I want the best for them, so I do everything possible for their welfare. My children are learning several things that I can’t teach them, so I am very grateful to the church and the staff at the center.”
Recently, Roca de la Fe held its first baptism on the new church grounds. A married couple who are parents of a child development program participant gave their lives to the Lord, participated in discipleship lessons, and were then baptized by Pastor Nicomedes in an improvised baptismal pool. This first-ever baptism on the site of the new church was cause for great celebration!
In February, the church organized cleaning to make space to start children’s activities.
Josué, a participant in the child development program, helps with classroom construction.
Roca de la Fe celebrates its first two baptisms.
With Deep Appreciation
Calvary Chapel Cheyenne, thank you so much for your generous gift to help launch a church in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It’s a delight to see how active the new church members are in sharing the gospel and caring for their community. Please continue to pray for construction to go well and for the church to continue to reach the community and serve children with God’s love and his Word.
