Mid-Valley Update

 

A Quick Ministry Update from Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene

and David and Shelley Webb

 

Church growth:  God continues to bring new people to the church.  The congregation was hit once again with Covid but thankfully everyone is ok. School just started (August 22^nd) and a routine will be good for our kids. We had 13 kids (little ones through middle school) in our Sunday classes recently.  Yah!

 

Building Construction Update:  We haven´t had much rain, but the little we have had has entered our building!  Proof: One of our rooms with trash cans to collect the water.

 

We can´t wait for a new kitchen!

We are moving forward each day with plans for a new building. We have a great architect who is working on the basic plans to petition the city for 8 additional feet beyond what is normally allowed. This meeting should happen in mid-September. The new building would be 100 x 34 feet with a small extension on the front of 30 x 15 feet for an office/foyer.  We have formed a building committee of four gentlemen who have a background in construction to help make all the decisions that must be made. 

 

Our new friends, Steve (architect) and Lilly

 

A white board drawing of the plans. Architectural plans coming soon.

 

God has supplied some of the funding for the building to get started, and the best-case scenario would be to begin foundation construction in January or February 2023. We plan on using Lazarian World Homes block system (concrete is poured into the Styrofoam-like blocks). This provides a quicker construction and better insulation.  See more about Lazarian World Homes here: lazarianworldhomes.com

We are seeking volunteers to help construct when the time comes. If you would enjoy being in the warmth of South Texas during the cold winter (estimate: January-April 2023) and like getting your hands dirty, let us know.  We can use all the help we can get!  We already have a few churches who have asked about bringing work teams, so we look forward to partnering with these groups when the time comes.

 

Prayer Requests:

1-    Continued growth of the church as we do all we can to reach our community

2-    A favorable response from the City of Weslaco for the variance of 100 feet

3-    The funding needed to complete the building in a timely fashion

4-    A project supervisor who can help us day to day as the construction is underway

5-    Wisdom in all the decision-making

 

On a personal note, our family is doing well. 

 

Joshua (left) and friends

Joshua just turned 28 this week and Kayley finished her first field work assignment for her master´s in OT.  Our Moms, living in Iowa, are doing well although there are the challenges of aging.  Virginia, David´s Mom is 91 and Shelley´s Mom, Beverly, is 86.  We plan to visit Iowa in October!

THANKS for reading this and taking an interest in the ministry of Mid-Valley Church on the border!

 

 

Mid-Valley Naz Update July 2022

 

Dear friends,

 

We have now been living in Texas for a little more than one year!  It has gone by quickly, but so much happened in a short time.  We already love this most southern part of Texas (well, maybe not the continual summer heat), and we especially love the people and culture of the area.  Whereas some parts of Texas are Tex-Mex, I would say this area is more Mex-Tex!  The Mexican heritage and Spanish language is daily life. We feel at home.

 

We officially started with the Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene on June 23, 2021.  If we remember correctly, there were 18 or 20 people in attendance that day.  We began bilingual services on that first Sunday, and we have continued that ever since.  Worship songs are a mixture of the two languages, and the sermon is in Spanish (David) with translation to English (Shelley). We have weekly Discipleship in English (Sunday AM) and in Spanish (Monday PM), as well as a weekly bilingual prayer time (Thursday AM).  The children´s church is growing too with 7-9 kids per week in preschool and elementary groups.

 

The small congregation has grown in this first year. God has brought some folks back to the church who had not yet returned after Covid, as well as new families. In June, we had two Sundays with more than 50 people!  The worship band is made up of youth from 9-19 years of age. They are learning as they go. The church has been faithful to give to missions, and when it is time to greet each other during the service, it takes 5 minutes to get everyone to sit back down again. It´s a good problem to have. Slowly but surely, God is building the family of God of Mid-Valley Naz.

 

The Fun in the Park VBS Outreach activity was a big hit. The congregation served between 20 and 30 kids at each of the four events, with snowcones, games, lessons, crafts, etc.  We are thankful for two Work and Witness teams who came to help with the events and to serve in the Rio Grande Valley.

 

As many of you know, the current church building is in poor condition. Along with the church leaders, we are considering options for new construction in the next year, if God continues to open doors. God has supplied some of the funds needed through the local congregation and from donors from across the USA, including some of you.  Thank you!

 

 

 

As I write this, we are in the process of asking the city to allow us to build a 100-foot building, which is a bit longer than the city codes normally allow based on our lot, but we pray it will be approved.  With a 100 x 34-foot building, we feel we can have a good place for worship services as well as some classroom and meeting space.  The plan is to tear down the existing building and use the space for a parking lot.  We are thankful the land is paid for free and clear!

 

We ask for your prayers as we make plans.  We hope to have a better idea within two months, with best case scenario, beginning to build in late December or early January. And if God´s plans are different than that, we are happy to follow His lead.

 

We invite you to be a part of this mission of God. Your prayers are greatly appreciated and needed.  We already have some individuals and churches that are interested in coming to help with the construction when the time comes through the ministry of Work and Witness. You can find the listing on the work and witness website under this title: Rio Grande Valley Initiative.  Let us know if you are interested in participating.

 

On a personal note, our kids are both doing very well.  Joshua has a new job in Columbus, Ohio.  Kayley is in her clinical fieldwork for her master´s in Occupational Therapy at UTEP in El Paso, Texas.  We are blessed to have such great kids.

 

  

Thanks again and may the Lord bless you richly,

Shelley and David Webb

 

Contact info:

David: davidwebb413@gmail.com

Shelley: sheljwebb@gmail.com

Website: www.midvalleynaz.org.

Email: midvalleynaz@gmail.com

Facebook: Mid-Valley Church of the Nazarene