Seventh-day Adventist pastors from the southeastern part of the Dominican Republic recently left their local congregations for a week to take part in a special mission trip in the Pilancón municipality in Bayaguana, in the Monte Plata province, last month. The goal was to build a church under the guidance of Maranatha Volunteers International (MVI).

Gabriel Paulino, president of the Southeast Dominican Conference, said it was a great work opportunity to gather 35 local church pastors, which represented half of the pastoral team in the conference, to erect the walls of the much-needed place of worship.

“This is a first-of-its-kind initiative involving our pastors, and we thank Maranatha leaders for all the support they have given us in the construction of churches here in our region,” said Paulino.  “Our interest was for our pastors to have the experience of working as a team, as Maranatha volunteers, so they experience the joy and satisfaction of building with their own hands a house of worship to God,” said Paulino. “It was about involving our pastors to learn to value the faithfulness of our members as they return their tithes and offerings so the work of God can prosper and we as ministers can afford to support our families,” he explained.

Involving all Local Pastors

The initiative involves all 71 local pastors in the Southeast Dominican Conference to participate in a mission trip to build. The rest of the 36 church pastors will take part in the building of a new church in El Guanito community during one week in August.

The new church measures 22 by 50 feet long and includes space for 100 worshipers, a baptistry, a lobby, two bathrooms, a children’s room, and a pastor’s office, he said. Maranatha ensures that the church is built with concrete with cement walls, an aluminum roof with solar and sound insulation, windows, shutters, doors, and fans, and a water well that will be used to benefit the community.

“Maranatha International has done so much for our country and the world as well as the financial support from the Inter-American Division and the Dominican Union with numerous projects not only here but throughout the island,” said Paulino.

Setting an Example

Kenneth Weiss, Maranatha’s executive vice president, said that it was the first time that a conference involved its pastors as volunteers for MVI in two construction projects in the same year. “That is something that we celebrate and it also motivates other fields around the world to follow the same example. “The Dominican Republic is a very special place for us [in Maranatha} for the beautiful memories of the past, and the great growth of the Adventist Church has seen on the island,” said Weiss.

Kyle Fiess, vice president for volunteer services for MVI, said that “this new stage with the return of Maranatha Volunteers International in the Dominican Republic since the middle of 2022, collaboration between the international organization and the Southeast Dominican Conference has been a source of inspiration,” he said. MVI is currently leading a project with the conference to build 40 churches and a large primary and secondary school since 2022 in the region and plans to complete it by 2025.

Hundreds of volunteers from around the world have collaborated in many communities across the conference, not only bringing materials and tools but also hearts full of love and dedication, explained Fiess. “Many of these volunteers also get involved in community impact, such as free medical services, vacation Bible school for children, food distribution, public evangelism campaigns, and more.

An Extraordinary Experience

For an entire week, June 8-15, 2024, pastors slept on inflatable mattresses at members’ homes nearby, took turns cooking for the group, and worked on the construction project. They also worshipped together.

“This has been an extraordinary experience working together with fellow pastors,” said Emmanuel Alberti, who leads several congregations in the southeast conference. “We’ve enjoyed building, eating, worshipping, dipping in the river at the end of the day, and sharing our experience every night,” said Alberti. “This has really changed my life,” he added.

William Morillo, who leads five congregations, said he felt excited to build a new church. “I have never laid cement blocks before, and I feel very happy and excited to take part in this wonderful work that will be a great blessing for the community,” he said.

It’s not only been about working in the construction work together, said Pastor Juan Blanco, but praying together, spending devotional time together, praying for the community visiting the community and delivering goods, too.

“As pastors we are used to being behind the pulpit, doing home visitations, hospital visits, and other responsibilities, but here we have been seating, dealing with weather, the mosquitos, but it’s been so joyous to mix cement, to work together that we may only learn of the results in heaving,” said Pastor Gregorio Morillo. “I am so happy to have been able to work with my hands, with my heart so people can find refuge in this new church,” he emphasized.

Pastors distributed baskets of food through the local Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office during the week, gifted The Great Controversy Book written by Ellen G. White, and invited them to visit the newly built church the next day.

At the end of the week, the group of pastors celebrated during Sabbath worship service on June 15, with the 15 new members and visitors who will continue to impact the community with the gospel.

Leaders said the new church will be a blessing in the Pilancón community, which has approximately 1,500 inhabitants.

Teófilo Silvestre, Dominican Union president, congratulated leaders of the Southeast Dominican Mission and leaders of MVI for their constant support throughout the years, which has contributed to the growth of the church in the Dominican Republic.

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division website.