Construction workers are finishing the foundations of your church plant, Nazarene Church of Dame, which is about 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Mare Rouge. We are excited to share with you this initial progress report from the field, which includes a preview of what’s coming next and an inspiring report of gratitude that has filled the congregations of both the mother church and the new daughter church.
Construction Progress
The 6,500-square-meter (21,325-square-feet) parcel of land was purchased by the denomination.
Much work has already been done in the construction process:
- The foundations of the cafeteria and the school are finished.
- The crew is working hard to finish with the foundations of the church and to start with the walls of the buildings.
Church Activities
Currently, 110 adults and 95 children attend the church.
In the last 60 days, three people have made first-time professions of faith in Christ.
The church leaders are involved in the work by providing water, rock (four truckloads so far) and volunteer laborers.
They take care of the construction firm’s workers by providing food for them twice a day. They do all that’s possible to create a secure and safe environment for the construction workers.
Challenges Encountered
The church leaders have faced two major challenges so far:
- The first was a misunderstanding with the construction firm early in the building process. A Compassion International staff member intervened to solve the issue. Now, as a result of this dialog, everything is going well, and the work has been restarted.
- The second is the bad conditions of the road leading to the site. It is difficult to transport construction materials to the building site. For example, when a truck breaks down, the workers must contact the truck owner to provide another one to avoid a stoppage in the work process.
Next Steps
The walls and the roof of each building will be built next, followed by finishing the interiors and exteriors.
Testimony of Impact
The church plant project is a wonder, a miracle. It’s something the community has been seeking for a long time, and God finally send it to them. This project can allow the people of that community to have another perception and understanding of the Gospel as it is shared from home to home.
It’s not easy to build a church, a cafeteria, a school, bathrooms and a playground all at once and in a short time. Upon learning about the construction project at a meeting, local residents were so happy and grateful to Compassion International for this initiative. To express their joy and happiness, the community members have decided to create teams of 10 people to be present every day at the construction site to contribute in the work. They are available to participate in transporting water, materials and portable equipment.
Ambeau Jean Sivra,
pastor of the mother church
Praises and Prayer Requests
The church leaders are so thankful and grateful to God for his answer to their prayers.
They thank God for the donors who gave their financial support for this project in a community the donors don’t even know.
Moved by gratitude for the donors, the members of the mother church and the daughter church have created special times to pray for them: Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 4 a.m. and every Sunday at 10 a.m. in the morning service. They pray that God continues to give them life, health and prosperity.
Please pray for continued faithfulness in service to the Lord, for the completion of the project and a collaborative spirit among everyone involved.
