Greetings, Redeemer Church! Thank you for partnering with Compassion to plant a new church, Filadelfia II, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Currently, 10-17 adults attend Sunday services and 40-80 children participate in a Bible club. In the photo above, a little girl prays at a Bible club meeting. Despite pandemic challenges, the church is making construction progress and ministering in the community.
Construction Progress
In February, the church met with the architect and the engineer to finalize construction details. The church purchased materials including bricks, cement, sand, and gravel. Construction activities underway include:
- Excavation and emptying of the footings.
- Assembling the irons to support the columns.
- Boxing of the columns to pour the cement.
- Emptying cement into the column boxes.
- Chaining the irons for the slab of the ground floor.
- Emptying of the chain for the slab.
Church staff report that they are doing everything possible so that the construction continues according to the execution plan. They ask for your patience as they experienced pandemic-related delays. They trust that with God’s help they will make progress.
Recent Church Activities
During the last 60 days, the church performed house-to-house evangelism and Bible teaching for children, adolescents, young people and parents. Two adolescents accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but haven’t been baptized yet due to pandemic restrictions.
Challenges and Learning Opportunities
The church’s greatest challenge was the pandemic. Many members in the mother church lost their jobs which caused a decrease in tithes and offerings. The result was there was less money available for the mother church’s contribution to the church plant. The church is holding food sales and other fundraising activities.
Next Steps
In the next 60 days, the church plans to finish pouring concrete for the 23 columns on the first floor, complete the chaining of the second floor and finish casting the slab on the first floor.
Testimony From Pastor Manuel
I am a pastor and evangelist for the Filadelphia II Church. God has placed in our hearts the desire to bring the gospel to many families through this ministry. We plan to reach children and families through the church and its partnership with Compassion. We are carrying out evangelism and discipleship for children, adolescents, youth and parents of this neighborhood. Each day we can see the mercy of God that makes this work possible and for this we give glory and honor to God.
Testimony From Felipe, a Community Member
I am the treasurer of the neighborhood council in the church’s location. Our community has a growing crime rate and the Filadelfia II Church is very good for us. The church is working to reach children, youth and families of our neighborhoods, imparting biblical principles and values. We trust that God will bless our community by changing the way that people think and they will live for Christ.
Prayer Requests
The church asks you to join them in prayer for the following:
- For God to give them strength through the construction process.
- That God provides job opportunities to church members and that fundraising for the local contribution is successful.
- That God gives good health to the members of the mother and daughter churches.
Church leaders express their gratitude for your support in making this church plant possible and giving them the facilities to better serve neighborhood children.