Fellowship of Evangelical Churches — we are filled with gratitude for this opportunity to present you with the final field report from your church plant, Emanuel Church Turbito in Turbot, Montero, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. In this update, you will see that the construction is complete! The church and child development center are growing rapidly in a community that has been eagerly waiting for the church construction to be finished – which has surely happened through your generosity. May God bless you!
Construction Progress
The construction of this church has been completed.
After the inauguration of the new facilities on Dec. 16, the work with children started.
The classrooms for children were equipped and the church activities continued.
Church Activities
Since the previous report, the number of adults attending the church regularly has grown from 50 to 60, and the number of children attending increased from 80 to 120. In the past two months, three parents made first-time professions of faith in Christ, and while there have been no baptisms in that time, we have several scheduled for Easter.
Along with regular weekly activities, the church celebrated Fathers’ Day on March 21 – the day that is celebrated in Bolivia. We also conducted a night outreach service at the church. The leadership members of the church are making regular visits to the houses of the church members. Additionally, the church staff members have continued with their regular visits to the children.
Pastor’s Testimony
For me, the work has just started. This building will be the light of the community, and the people will be reached for the glory of God. Some of our church members are already mentioning that we can reach more children in further communities. I tell them that The Lord knows because He touches His children’s hearts and opens the way for them.
– Pastor Roberto Torrez
Challenges Encountered
We have not faced new challenges. Instead, the church membership took a rest after construction was completed and before starting the new ministry work.
Next Steps
Compassion’s programmatic activities have started and will continue.
Testimony of Impact
I have been working with children in our community for many years. I remember how this ministry started here in our community; we did not have a place where we could help children to develop their skills or other abilities. We only had times of Vacation Bible School, played some games and had a lesson once a week. Then, after some months, we moved to the local school.
We asked to please use their facilities, so our children would be protected from rains and the “surazo” (surazo is a cold wind flow that comes from the south of the continent with very low temperatures).
After some time, a blessing was confirmed, and we learned that funds were provided and that we would have a church in the near future. I could not believe it. It was just the blessing I was praying for.
Soon, men started with the construction, and after so much hard work, now I see the classrooms, the church sanctuary, the office and the kitchen! And even the restrooms! For us – I mean the children and me – the most joyful time was when we moved to the new church. Now, after some months, we have some furniture in our classrooms, we started decorating the classrooms, and we will surely take care of all of it. Children have been faithfully coming to the center, and I thank you with all my heart for providing and listening to God.
I know that God will keep you. Know, too, that we pray for you!
– Betty Torrez
Praises and Prayer Requests
This prayer request was also shared by Mrs. Torrez:
Please pray for the families of the children. As I have been working with them, most of them come from broken families. There are cases in which children are living only with their grandparents. Please pray for children as they grow up. The days that they do not come to the center, they sometimes stay home alone. So, the ministry here in our community is necessary. Pray also for our staff, pastor and leadership.
When we see the church in the community, we remember how blessed we are and how hard this journey has been. As this will be the last construction update we will be sending, please know that we thank you so much for being the blessing for us. On behalf of our church and for everyone who contributed and prayed, please know that we are so thankful for all your hard work, prayers and support. We love you so much!