(View our project video here:   https://youtu.be/AWQtvzAOzzk )

Five years ago we bought a beautiful property here in Colonia to be used as a church and seminary building. Your generous donations along with the sacrificial giving of our own people made this acquisition possible. Though the pandemic was long  and challenging for us, the church in El Real es meeting again and is growing. 120 people pressed into the auditorium on their anniversary Sunday, though only eighty to ninety people can enter it comfortably. The average attendance is hovering around ninety. Seminary attendance has been stable with most of our young men coming from the congregations in El Real and El General. There has been an increasing interest in our seminary from young people outside of Colonia, and I suspect we will have more students in the future.

The Extension Project

The “El Real Extension Project” represents a need and an opportunity. The need right now is to extend the size of the auditorium. This is a project that will cost between $5,000 and $10,000. The opportunity is to buy property adjacent to the building that will solve some of our space issues and poise us for future growth. As you can see in the video, both properties are located in a desirable and growing part of Colonia. The owner said she would sell for $120,000 but that she is open to offers. Should the Lord allow us to raise the funds, we would begin negotiating by offering her $80,000. Should we be able to buy, our ministry would obtain the following benefits:

• Easier coordination between church and seminary;
• Office space;
• More space for Sunday School;
• More space for hospitality;
• Possible dormitory space for students;
• Space for a Christian school (we are still trying to open one!).

$120,000 is a very good price for this corner lot. For now there is no signage, but we do not know how long it will be this way and for how long it will be available.   

Rationale and Methodology

Five years ago we encouraged the people here in Colonia to give sacrificially before hoping that other believers would help us buy a church and seminary building. Many did give, sometimes after working in creative ways to raise funds. We are encouraging our people the same way for this project. After five years, the church in El Real has assumed leadership, is maintaining the building, and has a vision for the future. On behalf of Pastor Gabriel Chauvie and the congregation of El Real, Missionary Archie Perez and the congregation of El General, and on behalf of the seminary that represents both, we are asking you to pray about the possibility of contributing to this project. We need $10,000 to ensure a full auditorium extension, and up to $120,000 to extend our ministries to the corner of the street. Our goal is to raise $130,000 by March 31, 2022. Should the property owner accept $80,000, we will use any extra on renovations.

We have already received so much from so many of you. We are so grateful and feel entitled to nothing. If the Lord closes all doors to this project, we will accept his answer with thanksgiving. Even so, please know we appreciate your prayerful consideration of giving to this project. Please write me or our mission board with any questions or concerns you may have.