Greetings, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church! We’re pleased to bring you an update from Iglesia Amor Viviente, the church plant you support in Danli, Honduras.
The construction team is hard at work and the church is active in ministry outreach. 80 adults and 40 children are attending the church. Since our last report, 14 people have made professions of faith and six people have been baptized.
Construction Status and Next Steps
Construction is underway and the project is divided into stages:
- Stage 1: classrooms and office.
- Stage 2: church.
- Stage 3: bathrooms and kitchen.
- Stage 4: electrical work and plumbing.
The team reports that due to the hard work of volunteers, they made great gains in only six weeks. The classrooms and office are nearly complete and work has begun on the church/auditorium. Over the next 60 days, the schedule includes:
- Roofing.
- Designing columns.
- Starting Stage 3 and 4 (installing electricity and initial plumbing).
- Securing the foundation.
The photos below show the current status of the construction.
Challenges and Learning Opportunities
The team has faced several challenges including rising material costs, adverse weather and the lack of water at the construction site. Volunteers from the church have contributed labor and helped the church to advance in the construction. A learning opportunity for the team has been developing persistence and working together despite the challenges. Church leaders are a great support and encouragement.
Recent Church Activities
Staff from the child development center surveyed the community to find children who are eligible for the Compassion program. The team reports that the atmosphere in the community is changing as families learn about the mission of the church and Compassion center. Families express gratitude to God and have hope for their children’s futures.
A staff member shared, “Members of the church feel blessed and honored because the objective of this project is to help the neediest children, since this is part of what God commands us to do. Many thanks to the sponsors who make this change possible, it is already noticeable in the community.”
The pastor, church and the community are working together in activities, including:
- Fundraising through various food sales (donuts, pozole, beverages, and tacos).
- Supervising the construction.
- Volunteering with construction in the evenings.
- Guarding the site and materials at night.
- Preparing food for the work crew.
The church is growing in unity, commitment and trust as members see God’s blessing on their community. People have never seen anything like this locally. A member of the team said, “The construction project has produced thanksgiving to the Lord in the church and in the community. Christian and non-Christian people are generous in volunteering labor and gifts.”
An Overview of Progress
Prayer and Thanksgiving
Church staff share their gratitude for your support and all that God is doing through this new church. They are thankful for the local resources and volunteers. They ask you to join them in prayer for:
- God’s provision for every detail through completion of construction.
- That every child in the community has a loving home.
- Strength and wisdom for everyone involved in the church plant.
Thank you for partnering with Compassion International to plant a new church in Honduras. May the Lord bless you abundantly!
