Hello everyone,
I hope you are having a blessed summer! I wanted to send out an update about our trip to Chihuahua, while it's still fresh in my mind. :) If you missed our last update about what God has been doing with CC Roca Norte, the land, the construction and His provision for all of it, you can find it HERE.
First of all, thank you for praying for all that God is doing in Chihuahua and for our trip! God answered our prayers and has been doing some pretty cool things. For the trip, our main goal was to make sure the foundation was poured for the new church building. We also helped the CC Roca Norte with various church services/studies throughout the week. Three of us went from Colorado and two more went from California/Tijuana. The Lord provided in amazing ways for all five of us to be able to go. A few other people also donated for the trip/building project in the days before we left. Little did we know how much that donated money would be needed once we arrived! Pastor Jose and the leaders had previously been told the land was good and ready for the foundation. However, the day before we got there, an architect in the church reviewed the worksite and said that it needed a lot more dirt (and better dirt) to level it out and make it ready for a solid foundation. So, the plans changed and we spent the first few days bringing in dirt, spreading it out, compacting it and leveling it. We had money to help pay for all of that because of those extra donations that had been received! After preparing the site, we spent multiple days digging the footers and preparing the metal/rebar reinforcements. It was hard work and most days were well over 100* F with no shade! But, praise the Lord, we got the foundation poured on the last day!
I'll share a few quick stories of some things the Lord did during the week. Our second day, we hired someone to come with a backhoe to help dig the footers. A few people from the group were able to share the Gospel with him and he gave his life to Jesus! We were also able to share the Gospel with multiple others in the community that we came across during the week. They were all receptive and many said they wanted to start attending the church! Praise the Lord! Another impactful moment for me was when Pastor Jose brought a watering trough to the land to water the dirt while we were compacting it. I immediately recognized it as the trough we used for baptisms when I was the pastor. Tears started to flow as I remembered those I had baptized in that trough--two of which were my oldest children, Josiah and Hannah! One other moment that will always stick with me happened as the foundation was being poured. Pastor Jose and I, along with a few others from our group, chose Bible passages to place in the foundation along with an entire Bible. Then we prayed together for the church as the concrete was being poured over those passages and the Bible. It was a powerful moment! I could share more stories about the trip but I'll leave it at those for now. If you'd like to talk more about it, contact me and I'd love to share! If you'd like to watch a quick video update, you can see that HERE (2:26). Below, you'll also see pictures from the trip!
Please continue praying for the building project and for God's provision. Jose and the team are focused on putting up the walls this week. Then they're hoping the roof will go up in the next few weeks. After that, they will work on finishing things up and getting the inside all set up for service with the goal of having an inauguration service sometime in August! I'm hoping to be able to go back with my family for that service! We also need to continue praying for financial provision for the remaining construction as well as for the monthly costs over the next few months. During that time, the church must pay the mortgage for the land AND rent for the current building until they're able to make the move (along with support for Jose & family and other monthly costs). As many have said before, "Where the Lord guides, the Lord provides." We believe the Lord is guiding, so we are confident He will provide. If you'd like to be part of that provision, you can click on the website link below and look for the give section. Thanks again for your encouragement, prayer and support!
-Tim
Eph. 3:20-21
Praise Reports
- The Lord has been opening doors for the land/construction project so that CC Roca Norte can have a long-term home in Chihuahua! God has provided over $38,000 for the land and construction to this point!
- Our mission trip in the beginning of June went well! We were able to help get the foundation laid, share the Gospel with multiple people in the area (with one man getting saved!) and help the church with services during the week!
- God has been getting more people in the church excited about the building project and joining in with the work.
- CC Roca Norte Church Planting School finished its first year and there is a graduating couple praying about planting a church in the southern part of Chihuahua!
- The church is going well and continues to grow as new families come and get connected.
Prayer Requests
- For wisdom, guidance and unity for the construction project so that CC Roca Norte can finally have a long-term church building. God has been blessing with His provision but there's still lots of construction left and lots of logistics to finalize before it's all finished.
- For peace, rest and wisdom for Pastor Jose as he leads the church during this time of transition and this step of faith.
- For God's financial provision over these next several months as other construction costs arise and the church continues paying rent at the old building while also making payments for the new land.
- For an opportunity that Pastor Jose and his family potentially have to move to another house that will be closer to the new building. It would be a huge blessing for them, especially because the rent would be much less since it’s owned by a missionary family and he would be helping them take care of the land/property.
- For the finalization of the Mexican AC process for the church (Mexican version of a 501c3). They are in the final steps signing and finalizing everything.
- For the second generation of the CC Roca Norte Church Planting school, that God would train and prepare the students and that church planters would be raised up and sent throughout Mexico.
- For the couple mentioned before that graduated from the 2025 church planting school and is praying about launching a church plant in the southern portion of the city. That God would guide them, show them His perfect timing and confirm the details of their calling.
- That God would continue to guide and provide so that CCRN can continue helping the ministry in Creel with the construction of their church building.
- For the different services and studies throughout the week at CC Roca Norte including home groups, men’s and women’s meetings and more. That God would use each one for His glory.
