Pictured above: Pastor Luis showcases the new sound equipment purchased for worship services at the church.
New Building Facilities
Background
Lenexa Baptist Church, thank you for your gift to improve building facilities at the Baptist Church of Maranatha – Palmeras. The church did not have electricity or adequate classroom space for children on program days. Additionally, the church did not have seating for the congregation on Sundays, resulting in individuals sitting on the floor, standing or carrying chairs from their homes. Your generosity allows the Baptist Church of Maranatha – Palmeras to better serve children and families with safe facilities that will foster growth and development. And while we know the church is more than just a building, providing a safe environment for Jesus’ followers to gather can open doors for ministry.
Implementation Timeline
This intervention had a revised schedule, scope and budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally planned to be completed in February 2020, the church modified the construction schedule to be completed in May 2020. This was a result of a shortage of construction materials and social distancing guidelines recommended by the Peruvian government.
- The church organized a construction committee and designed blueprints for the new facilities in October 2019.
- Construction workers and volunteers cleared the land and leveled the ground for classroom construction in December 2019.
- The church purchased electricity materials, sound equipment and chairs in January 2020.
- Classroom construction began in January 2020 and took approximately three weeks to complete. Contractors and volunteers laid brick walls, plastered the walls, polished the concrete floors, installed the roof, windows and door, and painted the interior. Construction of the classroom was completed in February 2020.
- The church experienced delays in finding a contractor for electricity installation, resulting in a revised completion date for this intervention. The committee found an available contractor and they installed electricity to the church building in May 2020.
Objectives Achieved Through Your Support
The general objective of this intervention was to provide adequate infrastructure for the Baptist Church of Maranatha – Palmeras to provide holistic development for 220 children and their families. Specific objectives were to:
- Build one classroom for children
- Install electricity to the entire church building
- Improve cognitive and socio-emotional development of children and their parents with activities made possible through the new facilities
All objectives were achieved through the hard work of the church staff, planning committee, community volunteers and construction contractors.
A Testimony From Deysi, Mother of a Child Attending Program Activities
“We are very grateful to God for the church and all its achievements that benefit us. The children are very happy about the new classroom, including my son who is excited and wants to help decorate the inside. As a parent, I am grateful for the progress that the church has seen in the last few months. For example, now the sanctuary has chairs. Before it was uncomfortable and many people had to stand during the pastor’s talks. But now, everything is different. Every time we attend church services my son listens to the music through the new sound system and he gets excited to attend program activities. I can see now that the church is more equipped to work with children with the improved facilities.”
Photos of Construction
Q & A With the Church Pastor
How have the lives of beneficiaries changed since the intervention’s completion?
Everything has changed in many ways. Before the quarantine was implemented in Peru and families were able to attend church services, we were able to see people in the new chairs that were purchased. Meetings, events and preaching are more comprehensible due to the new sophisticated sound equipment. Children attending program activities are now happy and eager to decorate their new classroom.
How has this intervention benefited the area and your ability to minister to children?
This intervention has brought new resources that are undoubtedly being used for the benefit of children. The new chairs are helping the church better serve parents. There is more order and space for children during child development center activities. We have seen more participation from the community in the children’s ministry, and they can see how electricity is helping the development of children. The new building facilities allow us to better handle different groups of people. Each group that enters our space now has a proper environment and new opportunities for learning. We are able to better share our faith, and children feel important because they have a proper classroom space.
What would you like to say to those who provided the financial support for this intervention?
We are grateful to God for the way he is using the church to show love to our children. I would ask that you please continue supporting us through your prayers. You have already impacted this community by making Christ’s name known. I feel deeply loved and supported by your prayers and support for the ministry of this church. Your gift has truly impacted the lives of children and families.
Your Gift for a New Playground
Poverty for children means far more than lacking material goods. Poverty deprives them of education, opportunity, relationships, self-esteem — and possibly greatest of all, hope. Among the many symptoms of poverty is the lack of development opportunities through play. Play is an essential element of childhood, and it can be a highly effective way of helping children overcome trauma. Playgrounds are specifically designed to be endless sources of fun, but they provide so much more. They support children’s physical development, including their motor skills, coordination, balance and strength. They encourage social development through teamwork, sharing, cooperation and conflict resolution. They even promote good mental health, simply by putting a smile on children’s faces and providing them with an environment where they feel free to take risks, push themselves and discover their limits. But in the remote city of Las Palmeras, Peru where the Baptist Church of Maranatha – Palmeras is located, there are no playgrounds available to children. Lenexa Baptist Church, this is where you stepped forward to help. Your gift allows children to experience the world around them and fully develop into their God-given potential.
Implementation Timeline
Launched in October 2019, this intervention was completed in February 2020. A timeline of construction is included below:
- The project committee surveyed the church’s land and identified an appropriate place for the new playground in October 2019.
- Parents and church members volunteered to level the land, build a fence and roof over the play area at the end of October 2019.
- The project committee gathered three different quotes from playground equipment suppliers, and settled on a company in Lima, Peru. Committee members made purchases in November 2019.
- The church received the shipment of play equipment in December 2019.
- Technicians completed installation of play equipment in February 2020.
- Church members, center volunteers and children attended an inauguration ceremony in February 2020.
Photos of Construction
COVID-19 Update
Center activities are currently paused at the Baptist Church of Maranatha – Palmeras. COVID-19 cases are rapidly rising in Peru. The country is under a national state of emergency, and stay-at-home orders. Peru’s economy has shrunk by 30% as a result of the pandemic, and nearly 7 million individuals have lost their jobs. Additionally, borders are closed to travel, and there is a curfew from 10 A.M. to 4 A.M. Compassion’s Frontline Church Partners (FCPs) have provided nearly 286,000 food packs and over 109,000 hygiene kits to Compassion-assisted families. They have also helped over 8,500 individuals access medical support during the pandemic. Staff at the Baptist Church of Maranatha – Palmeras report that they are continuing to monitor children’s development remotely to protect everyone’s health and safety.
Words of Thanks From the Project Director
“In our community, it is very rare to see playgrounds or recreational areas. Las Palmeras is a place of extreme poverty, and the children had never seen a playground around here and they had no safe places to play recreationally. Now, the children enjoy this space and the parents are very happy to see them play.
I want to thank you for all the love you have shown to our church. You have shown us that you have a missionary heart and a heart full of love for children. Thank you for the effort you make to invest in the Kingdom of God. Your acts of kindness demonstrate the love of God and are a witness to us and to the community.”
Thank you for joining Compassion International in releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. May the Lord richly bless you!