Church Plant Completion Report

TrueNorth Church, construction is completed at the church plant you funded in remote Ecuador! Currently, 50 adults and 160 children are participating in church activities. In the last 60 days, 25 people have made professions of faith and there have been two baptisms.

Your gift to plant the new church and child development center is making an impact in the jungle community where the church is located. People in the community are hearing the gospel and experiencing the practical demonstration of God’s love as the church ministers in the community.

In the photo above, Pastor Isaac baptizes new church members.

Progress Update

The church is celebrating two years in the jungle and 50 adults and 160 children attend church activities.  Church leaders report that the gospel has changed many lives in the community, people have been baptized, and have received Jesus. Several homes that struggled with family problems are trying to heal. New leaders are developing and volunteers are serving the church and the children.

Construction is completed on the first floor of the church, including a large worship room, two classrooms for children, a kitchen, an office and bathrooms for men and women. Parents participated in loading bricks and building the kitchen. The first floor was completed thanks to God and the community’s participation.

In the video below, Pastor Isaac shares a message of thanks during a community work day at the church.

Translation:

“My name is Isaac and I am a pastor at the Taisha Church of the Nazarene. We want to extend a big thank you to the donors who helped us to build the work that you can see here. Today we are doing a minga (work day) with parents of the program and brothers from the church preparing for the grand opening and dedication of the church. We are also celebrating the church’s second anniversary. This could not have happened without your support financially and also in prayer. We bless you greatly and send you a big hug from Ecuador. God bless you!”

Challenges and Learning Opportunities

In September, there was no rain, and the church had to collect water from a river to use in construction. Parents who lived far from the community were unable to help, and the price of materials increased.

The church team reports that they have learned to be able to overcome problems that were in the way.  The community was always supportive in achieving a common goal. The church learned to work together with volunteers, parents and the community.

Photos of Progress

Next Steps

The team plans to add a second floor, install a roof and clean the church with the support of church members and parents. They also plan to build a septic tank with the support of the local government.

Church Activities

The church has been active in the community through food deliveries and educational workshops on child protection and preventing domestic violence. Other outreach activities include:

• Weekly home visits with children who attend the child development center.
• Supporting families with school supplies.
• Discipleship and worship groups.
• Christian movies on Saturdays.
• Medicines and medical checkups for children.
• Providing volunteer tutors with food and materials.

Testimony of Impact

“Camilo is a sponsored child, who is 11 years old. He was bitten by a snake during a church activity.  He was in critical condition and taken to the closest hospital, which is two hours away. Doctors said that the child was not improving. When church leaders arrived at the hospital, Camilo’s father was reading the bible and singing praises. He told church staff that he prayed to God for the health of his son and that it gave him peace. The father did not eat or rest because he had no money.

The church staff reached out to local government and shared that Camilo was in critical condition. Thankfully, with God’s help and help from the local government, Camilo was transferred to a larger hospital in Quito. The church helped provide Camilo’s parents with food and tickets to Quito. The church used Compassion’s medical fund to arrange Camilo’s transport by ambulance to Quito. Thanks to God and the doctors, Camilo improved within four days and is home with his parents, who were very grateful and with their faith intact because their child survived.

Photos of the Community

Praises and Prayer Requests

The church is grateful for your financial and prayer support. Thanks to you, the new church and child development center is ministering to children and providing security for them, while impacting the entire community.

The church asks you to join them in prayer for the following:

• Pray for the growth of the gospel in the entire canton, for God to raise up disciples, leaders who preach the gospel and raise up more churches within the jungle.
• Pray for the development and growth of sponsored and non-sponsored children so that they are not part of any kind of mistreatment and abuse.
• Pray for children them to grow up as good Christians and responsible citizens.
• Pray for the health of the pastoral family and the growth of their little daughter.

With Gratitude

TrueNorth Church, thank you for your patience and faithful support as the church experienced numerous delays during construction. We hope that you are filled with joy as you see the fruit of your gift in the lives that have been changed through this new church! Thank you for partnering with Compassion International.