Update on Your Support of Church Planting in Ecuador

Greetings, Truenorth Church! Thank you for your faithful support of church planting in Ecuador. The church you planted, Iglesia Del Nazareno, is now fully built and ready for use! Currently, over 276 children and 160 adults are coming to know the love of Christ because of your generous gift. In the photo above, construction workers cast a slab of concrete on the second level of the church.

This report includes updates on the implementation and impact of the intervention, testimonies from the church pastor, a church leader and a registered child and photos of the implementation process.

Implementation Progress

Throughout the implementation process, the following steps were completed:

• A construction plan was prepared and approved.
• Volunteers and church staff prepared the land where construction was to take place. They removed weeds and fallen trees.
• A backhoe was used to level the ground on the construction site.
• Construction workers and volunteers laid the foundation and built support columns.
• Brick walls were built.
• Cement floors were added.
• Construction workers completed the construction of three bathrooms.
• Electricity was installed.
• Windows and metal doors were placed.
• All major construction was completed in October 2021.
• Finishing touches commenced. Signage was added, and the church facilities were cleaned.

Church staff and construction workers faced some challenges during the implementation process. Due to a lack of rain, construction workers had to make multiple trips to a nearby river to fill buckets with water for making cement. In addition, construction materials were expensive and in short supply. Thankfully, the church received donations of stone material from the government of a city located seven hours away. Church staff learned the importance of working together as a team to achieve their goals. They also made a special effort to take excellent care of the construction workers. Church staff provided the workers with food, helped with construction and showed their gratitude by hosting a farewell meal.

Early Construction Photos

Impact of the Intervention

This intervention has provided children, families and community members with a safe space to gather and learn about God. The church facilities include a sanctuary, a kitchen, two classrooms, three bathrooms and an administrative office. Church activities include worship services, Bible studies, seminars, Sunday school and vocational workshops. 276 children are currently receiving holistic care that will help them develop physically, cognitively, spiritually and socially. They understand that the church is a place they will always be welcome, known, cared for, loved and protected. The church is also impacting the community through service projects, evangelism efforts, discipleship and recreational activities.

A Testimony From the Church Pastor

“We thank God that we have a physical place to congregate as a church. It is a dream come true to see how everything has come from our choice to obey God’s call in the present moment. After two years, it is a great blessing to see the church building, to see more people congregating each day and to see new leaders assuming the responsibility of serving God and the children.”

A Testimony From Johanna, a Church Leader

“This is a dream come true for our community. Parents were motivated to volunteer with church construction from the beginning. Their children now have a comfortable place to go where they can engage in many valuable activities. It makes me very happy to know we will be able to serve them in the best way possible! We want to thank you for this blessing. We believe God has a purpose for our church and that he will use us to reach many people who don’t yet know God. Thinking about this makes me very happy.”

A Testimony From Paola, a Registered Child

“I like going to the church to do activities like crafts, painting and reading the Bible. I am glad we now have a nicer, bigger place to gather. I want to go there to listen to the Word of God because it changed my life! The church will also be an open place where pregnant women and the elderly can go. This intervention has taught me how to work as a team. I helped with washing dishes when our church was being constructed. I am sending hugs of gratitude to those who made this possible. The church is the most beautiful building in town.”

Thank You for Your Support

Thank you for partnering with Compassion International to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. The support you have provided will impact children for years to come. May God bless you abundantly!