Missions Moments, Dec 24, 2023-Allred Family
Joshua and Amanda Allred
Missionaries to Merida, Mexico
September-October 2023
In our last newsletter, I promised to give you an update on the new building for North Mérida Baptist Church. The Lord has been moving in exciting ways to direct us in this building project and has challenged us to do something far bigger than we ever expected or imagined would be possible!
The North Mérida Baptist Church celebrated its 22nd anniversary this year. The church is averaging around 450 people in attendance every week. Our auditorium holds 180! For the past several years, we have been holding three worship services every Sunday to accommodate everyone. In addition to that, the building is being used throughout the week for church events, our new Christian school, and the seminary. We currently have no more room to grow and no more time slots for more services!
Several months ago, we started looking for another locale to rent so we could all meet together for Sunday services. We did not even consider purchasing a larger building because we simply didn’t have the funds to do so. Mérida is growing rapidly right now and the cost of land, construction materials, and labor are very high. We didn’t have the money to purchase land, much less build something on it big enough to meet our needs. However, we had no success finding a place to rent. We began to pray as a church for the Lord to show us what to do next.
This is where the Lord began to open unexpected doors. One of our church members offered to donate a large tract of land for the church to build on. He had purchased the land many years ago. Today, it is prime real estate and would be far outside our price range. We agreed to accept the property if we could get permits to build a church building on it. That was a big stipulation because it is very difficult to get permits approved by the government to build a Christian church. Miraculously, the Lord has allowed us to get permission to build a church on the property. We have drawn up blueprints and are in the process of getting those approved by the city. Once the blueprints are approved, we can start breaking ground!
The Lord has led us and provided every step of the way. We are planning to move forward with the project and start building once the blueprints are approved. Our church people have been giving sacrificially, but we still don’t have all the money we need to complete the building. Our permits are good for two years, so we need to finish fund raising and building as quickly as possible! We would like to make a special request: Would you consider contributing to this project? This new building will be a great resource for the furtherance of the Gospel here in Mérida. We are asking for your help because we believe we have the best supporters a missionary could ask for! We are already thankful for your faithful support over the years and anything you choose to give towards this special project will also be greatly appreciated! Some of you have already given towards this project and we are deeply grateful! We have made a video presenting this project with pictures of the property, blueprints, and a 3D rendering of the auditorium. We hope you’ll take a moment to watch the video and share it with your church. It can be accessed by clicking on the button below or by searching for “North Mérida Baptist Church Building Project 2024” on YouTube. Thank you for the important part you play in our ministry. May the Lord bless you!
Yours in Christ,
Joshua, Amanda, & the kids