A New Thriving Church in Peru
Pictured above: An aerial view of the completed church building and child development center.
Grace Community Church,
Thank you for your generous gift to build Iglesia Evangelica de los Peregrinos in Utcubamba, Peru! We’re pleased to report that construction is complete and the church continues to make an eternal impact in its community.
At least 50 adults and 60 children attend church services, and 150 children participate in Compassion’s holistic child development activities. Throughout the construction, a total of eight people committed their lives to follow Jesus! All of this is made possible because of your gift. Thank you!
Construction Recap
The new church is located about 10 minutes outside of Bagua Grande, Peru. The land was donated to the church by a generous family who desired to see God transform this community through a local church.
In June 2023, church leadership was notified of funding to build a new meeting place and child development center. Pastors Eduardo and Josè formed a construction committee and held a preliminary meeting to discuss the project’s scope, budget and timeline. A civil engineer was hired to draw a blueprint that was approved in August 2023. Beginning in October, the team purchased the materials and started construction.
Church members, parents, local leaders and community volunteers worked together to build this church. Shoulder to shoulder, day after day, each person labored for children to enjoy a safe, comfortable and fun place to learn about God and grow up well.
Construction concluded in April 2024 and it includes five classrooms, one multipurpose room, a kitchen, a child development center office and male and female bathrooms. Pictured below are progress photos from beginning to end. This project would not have been possible without your support!
Workers travel to the city to collect and transport building materials.
Heavy machinery helps create holes for the concrete footings.
Concrete is poured and cast to footings.
Foundations are formed and metal column structures are welded.
Masons begin to build the walls brick by brick.
The roofing is placed over half of the classrooms.
Workers install metal roofing over the multipurpose room.
These two rooms are ready for doors and windows.
The roof is almost installed on the multipurpose room.
The doors and windows have been added, and the building is complete.
Classrooms are ready to host Compassion child development activities!
“This project began as a dream many years ago when the Cueva family desired to see a new church in our town. Thanks to their land donation and your generosity, we now see our dreams realized. Our entire community is very happy to see the finished building, and we know that it will help so many children and their families know and commune with God.”
— Elmer, center director
An Active Church Body
The new church has made a great impact on these families in this small Peruvian community. Thanks to the new construction, parents participate in parenting workshops, learn about child protection, build healthy habits for themselves and their families and study the Bible together.
Children have a safe place to do fun activities that contribute to their cognitive, physical and spiritual health.
Pastor José gives a sermon during a church service.
Pictured here is a class of participants after they finished a curriculum lesson.
An older class works together on a coloring activity.
The church hosts a worship night for the community.
Children recite a Bible verse during a church service.
Pictured here is a family that benefits from this new church’s presence.
These mothers and their children live nearby and participate in church activities.
Hope for Oscar
Oscar is the father to a Compassion participant at this center. He shares,
“My life before I joind the church was messy and I was not following God. After some church members visited me in my home and asked if my children wanted to participate in the child development program, we were excited. Since joining the program and attending the church services and classes, our lives have changed dramatically. I am more united with my wife, know how to care well for her and my children and study God’s Word. The church has provided for us in many meaningful ways and I am so thankful to God for bringing it to us.”
The Inauguration Celebration
In April, the church held a grand opening to celebrate the new church and child development center. The event was filled with inspirational testimonies from church members, participants, caregivers and community members. Pastor Eduardo from the mother church and other church and Compassion Peru staff helped cut the ribbon. Children completed some crafts, played together and enjoyed celebrating with their families. Pictured below are some photos from the event.
Pastor Eduardo from the mother church cuts the ribbon.
Ceremony attendees gather to celebrate the building’s grand opening.
Grace Community Church, I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you all for supporting this construction. Since we started this project, the children in the community were eager to benefit from it. Now, we see noticeable differences in the lives of the children and his or her families. Members and children attend services and programming more consistently and are learning more about Jesus. God’s kingdom is coming to our community and you helped make it possible. Thank you!
Pastor José
Iglesia Evangelica de los Peregrinos
A Place of Eternal Hope
Grace Community Church, the leaders, members and children from Iglesia Evangelica de los Peregrinos are infinitely grateful for making their dreams come true. It would not have been possible without your support. Now, they have a beautiful facility that will help care for vulnerable families, share the good news of Jesus and provide eternal hope for a community in desperate need of God. Thank you for your generosity and love toward Peruvian children who benefit the most from your gift. May God bless you!
Compassion participants stand outside of their new classrooms!