Our current leadership team...and then there were ten!!!
Dave and Jose Miguel, our "man of peace" in Lajas
Four years ago God placed us in a small mountain community twenty miles outside of Santiago, Lajas. Though initially most of our time and energy was spent in discipling in various churches and the prison in Santiago, we started to get to know our neighbors and the community, and individual discipleship developed and then turned into small groups. With no evangelical church in our community, we were driving down to Santiago with 20-25 people in our two vehicles to attend church every Sunday. Over a year ago when we couldn’t fit more people in the trucks, we began thinking and praying "Does God want us to start a church in Lajas?". A small group of young adults were emerging as leaders and decided to begin holding Sunday services on our gazebo. Now there are 50-60 people coming being led by Pastor Jose Miguel and nine others in leadership. As we would walk our community praying we would see in the middle of town a large field with a large concrete building whose roof had caved in. It was a coffee processing and storage facility that had been closed for 18 years. After six months of prayer with the leadership and negotiating prices, we believe God is moving us to take a step of faith in buying this property and "redeeming it" for Him---with the vision of community transformation through not only a church, but also using the land and property for economic development (farming), job training, and a community center for recreation such as a baseball field.
Please pray and consider joining
us in this effort!
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Additional Facts:
Our vision for this property is not only the salvation of souls in this community; but the restoration of jobs and a chance to help some of the many unemployed residents earn an income. To help accomplish this goal, we're looking to the local residents of the Lajas area to provide the labor for all work with the exception of the roof system.
The hope of our church leadership team is that the property and building can be used as a church, but also the following possibilities:
A community center for events such as dramas, movies, concerts, recreation. (one end is open and could be used as a vehicle repair shop)
Additional building space includes four office spaces and bathroom that could be used for small shops or an internet cafe or classrooms.
The surrounding land has a number of possibilities from making a baseball field to growing peppers or cocoa or other green-house vegetables
The back of the property has a fresh water stream, a small pond could be excavated and possibly a fish farm could be created
Will you please join us in prayer that we clearly hear God's voice and boldly follow His lead and if you feel led to support this effort financially, please see the right-hand panel for information on donations.
As always we are grateful for your love and support---we certainly felt the "firehose of love" for us on our visit to the states in June. What a blessing that trip was.
Please see the right-hand panel for our latest prayer requests and some words to encourage you along the way.
BY GOD'S GRACE AND FOR HIS GLORY,
THE DAVE SCHWULST FAMILY