The Webb Page: Mid-Valley Naz Update July 2022

Saturday, July 09, 2022

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.