Organizing a MOVE project requires a lot of planning. We will start preparing a project 18 months in advance. As the world is constantly changing, there have been some occasions when we have had to move from one place to another. It's an added stress on us to find a project that costs relatively the same for our team and meets the criteria for us to build.

In 2019 we faced these circumstances and God provided for us to build a church in Upala, Costa Rica. When we went on our scout trip, it became clear that God was not only providing for us to have a project, but He was providing a miracle for Pastor Gustavo Álvarez. They had been praying for a church building for six years. Each Sunday, they set up an area in their home for the church to meet. One day on his work route, God stopped Pastor Gustavo at the corner of a vacant lot and gave him a vision of his church located on that corner. That same lot was for sale and was purchased by the church in 2019 when it came time to build. God knew what He was doing all along.

We had expectations for our project next year and that all quickly changed in June. Around this time, Dave Bethany and I were in Cuba for a pastors' conference. Pastors Marcelo and Bernarda Rodríguez are two of the members of our speaking team in Cuba. They pastor one of the Open Bible Churches in Costa Rica and have a tremendous ministry. While in Cuba they told us about a church that they were preparing to build. Pastor Gisela was sent from her church to pastor in the Guapíles community, and they were purchasing property for a new church building.

We quickly became excited. The people, culture and biodiversity of Costa Rica make it a unique place to build and partner on a project. After approval from Director of Global Missions Vince McCarty and contacting the Field Director of Open Bible Churches of Costa Rica, Pastor Carlos Mora, we knew we had a project for the winter of 2025. God has provided an opportunity to build in Costa Rich once again.

David Bethany, Steve Kline and I just returned from our scouting trip there. God has a way of reminding us of the rewards of hard work. We rarely get to be part of the services years later in the churches we build. However, Pastor Carlos Mora asked me to speak at his church, a building MOVE built in 2007. What a blessing to see the Spirit of God moving. Everywhere we looked there were vibrant people praising the Lord. People who were part of that project in 2007 were there and we heard stories of some the members who have died since then. As we looked around us and saw the improvements and changes, we walked away full of pride, knowing that the work was not in vain.

Going to the City of Guapíles is a different environment than San José. Guapiles is at a lower altitude, hotter, and desperately needs churches. The main problem in the area is drugs. Pastor Gisela and her husband, Noe, are focused on doing the good work of shining the light of Jesus Christ in that community. Psalm 37:3-6 says, “Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.” God has provided us to partner again in ministry with a familiar place and people we love, and He has also provided them with a new church.

Our Global Harvest offering for 2024, is to help Acropolis Medical Centre in Trinidad. Please partner with us to help purchase special medical equipment. This will help save lives physically and spiritually. To find out more and learn how you can participate in this special offering, please click here.