On the first Sunday of March, the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa, Carazo, in the Nicaragua South District, joined the church in El Ojochola to lend a hand to construct their new church building.

Two important ministries of the Carazo church were actively involved in supporting the construction: Todo Terreno (All Terrain) and Motores en Acción y Servicio (MAS) (Motors in Action and Service).

Todo Terreno is an active ministry that serves congregations and communities in challenging circumstances. They frequently deliver packages with food, toys, clothes, and other items, depending on the need.

MAS is a ministry led by motorcyclists in the church who use their bikes to connect with other motorcyclists and invite them to join in a time of prayer and reflection and then engage in community service activities.

The Ojochal church is in a rural community with few financial resources and a small congregation.  Pastor Dimas Acuña of the Carazo Church of the Nazarene shared how the Ojachal church has been through some difficult times, including the death of their pastor approximately 2 months ago. “The church is being reborn,” said Pastor Acuña, so the church in Carazo decided to support this project through both finances and manpower.

Kenelma de Acosta, widow of the former pastor of the church, Francisco Acosta, is serving as the pastor in Ojochola. She is working to continue the construction of the new church building her husband started.

“We recently completed 2 years of pastoring the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa, Carazo, and in this time, God has made great changes in my life, my family and the congregation,” said Pastor Acuña.  “We have traded religiosity for service and compassion. We have understood that it is not about us, but about our neighbor. We have seen the hand of God in every visit we make to different places, and more than coming to bless, we are the ones who are blessed.”

Pastor Acuña also noted that even with the help they have given to their sister church, their own construction projects have not stopped, and that they can see God’s faithfulness there. The church is currently building 4 classrooms and an auditorium.

“We thank God for the opportunity He gives us to serve, the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa, Carazo, and the MAS groups in Managua and Carazo,” Pastor Acuña said.

Source: Dimas Acuña Molina, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Santa Teresa, Carazo, Nicaragua South District.