The Barranca Church Miracle

The First Sunday Meeting in the Barranca Church

It's a story about doors closing in one area and doors opening in another.  It's a story of ministers trusting with confidence in God's sovereign care.  It's a story of God working behind the scenes to pull various elements together to care for His children.

Two years ago church workers were withdrawn from a church plant in the town of Barranca. Circumstances were such that the work could not be continued.  Much energy and resources were expended in an effort to reach this community.  However it resulted in an almost new church building being left empty.  The mission began to make an effort to sell the property so the funds could go elsewhere to support other projects.  They were asking $850,000.00 DR ( $18,750.00 US), for a property possibly worth twice as much.  This sanctuary could hold 100-130 people.

Unknown to them 6 months ago Pastor Francisco Romero had begun to look around for a place where his people could meet in Barranca.  Most of his congregation commuted from Barranca to his church in Las Yayas. The church building in Las Yayas had been lent to him and his Haitian congregation for 8 years.

Someone alerted him about the abandoned church building three months ago.  He told me about it and insisted I look at the facility.  The building looked solid and certainly worth more than what was

Debbie and Pastor Francisco inside the new building

being asked.  Later, I talked to the missionary  representing this property.  I had very few personal funds for this.  I really wasn't sure if this purchase could be made.  I told the owner that I would talk to him by the end of the next week to tell him how the finances were going, if he would hold it for Pastor Francisco.   The sellers were excited that another church might be purchasing it.  As a missionary, I know how important it is to the donors that their gifts be used for their designated purpose.  Some one had helped with the funds for this building, it would be hard to tell them the building was no longer being used as a church.

That very same week the representative from the other church building in Las Yayas met with me. He felt that their news would be presented better to Pastor Francisco if I should tell him.   He felt Pastor Francisco had a high respect for me.  He asked me to speak to Pastor Francisco to let him know that they were requiring him to turn in the keys to the Las Yayas church by this June.  They had