Thank you, Mission Hills Church! Your gift to plant Centro Cristiano in Ecuador is making it possible for the church to share the gospel with children, their families and their communities in some of the most remote regions of the country. Families are experiencing God’s love as they are served by church staff. Thank you for supporting such a life-changing mission!
In the photo above, construction on the church sanctuary is nearly finished.
Implementation Progress
The church has completed the following steps in the implementation process:
- Volunteers cleared the land in February 2021.
- The ground was leveled in March 2021.
- A concrete foundation was laid in April 2021.
- Construction materials, including high-quality wood, were purchased in April 2021.
- The materials were transported to the construction site.
- Wooden walls were built in May 2021.
- The roofs were added in May 2022.
- Doors and windows were installed in August 2022.
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- The church sanctuary framing was successfully placed.
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- Classrooms are complete and ready for use.
Challenges and Learning Opportunities
Church members are learning to be patient as the construction process continues. A construction worker fell and needed to be transported to the hospital. Church staff worked as a team to get him the care he needed.
Impact of the Intervention
Church objectives are being met and exceeded, even given delays due to the pandemic. Construction is approximately 95% complete. Workers are now beginning the final stages of construction on the church sanctuary. With a new sanctuary, classrooms, kitchen, dining room and bathrooms, the church believes they will be better equipped to impact the lives of children.
These facilities will serve as a place where children can receive physical, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social care. The church shares that the construction of a church building is like a seed that will grow to help an entire community. Currently, 150 children participate in the child development center and 75 of them regularly attend church activities. The church hopes to grow this number. Because of the church, children know they have a safe place to go where they are welcomed with open arms. Children are filled with joy and regularly have smiles on their faces when they go to the church.
Church leaders estimate that only 10% of the community has received the gospel so they aim to share the gospel with more people. Community members are beginning to trust church leaders, not because of what they teach but because of the way church leaders have been involved in serving the community. Through this process, the church has also set an example of hard work.
The church says that your support is a gift from God that encourages them to not simply walk but run toward advancing God’s kingdom.
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- The kitchen is equipped for staff to prepare and serve nutritious meals.
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- Children will eat their food in a sheltered environment.
A Testimony From Pastor Diego
“God is good and has surprised us during the pandemic with a dream come true. The church we are building will enable us to transform many lives in the depths of the jungle. We are working hard, and the community is being impacted. The construction is well planned and we are advancing at a good pace.”
Thank You for Your Support
The church you are supporting is creating a path of greater freedom, growth and independence for children. Thank you for partnering with Compassion International to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. May God bless you!
