BY JEFF AND ANNE YERGER

Casa Grande Free Methodist Church in Santiago, Chile.

A team of 13 men and women going to Santiago, Chile, from the Pacific Northwest Conference had no idea how their willingness to go would make such a difference. Their promise to help with the construction and much-needed funds was the impetus for the Casa Grande FMC members to tackle the remodeling of their sanctuary.

The big house built in 1930 is the headquarters of the Free Methodist Church in Santiago. It’s also the home of a church plant started by missionaries Ricardo and Beth Gómez just three years ago. The little group grew until the downstairs, which was divided into little rooms, could no longer hold more people.

When Ricardo Gómez connected with team leader Jeff Yerger, a mighty plan began to come to fruition. Consulting architects, obtaining permits, removing walls, tearing out the old floor, installing new columns and beams to support the second and third floors — the church accomplished all of this before the team arrived. Volunteer carpenters from southern Chile built the sanctuary platform, using the old tongue-and-groove flooring. A skilled craftsman from Costa Rica used the old floor beams to build new doors and window frames.

Members of the Pacific Northwest Conference hang a drop ceiling in Casa Grande Free Methodist Church in Santiago, Chile.

Then came the “Americanos.” The men hung strips of wood that sheetrock attached to for the dropped ceiling. They used old flooring for a wainscoting around the expanded sanctuary, covering up the cement walls below the old flooring. Working long hours each day, they worked alongside the Chilean church members, accomplishing God’s work together.

Two young women on the team tore out the walls and flooring of an old shower room to begin constructing a women’s bathroom. They also gave new life to the children’s play structure with a new roof, fresh paint, and a repaired swinging ladder. It was such fun that the church kids begged to help!

The Chileans showered the team with warm hospitality. Small groups and sometimes the whole team were invited for an evening meal. Other FM churches in Santiago invited team members to their services, which were followed by refreshments. One group was invited for a light meal at a preschool built with a castle theme. The church also had a potluck and a barbecue — no wonder there was such hugging and well-wishing between the groups when it was time for the Americans to leave. Truly, the bond of friendship runs deep in God’s family.

Even after the team left, the work went on. The church completed the sanctuary renovation by finishing the sheetrock, laying the floor tile, installing stained glass in the window frames, and painting the walls. A new event in the sanctuary, the Friday Concert Cafe, had an overflow crowd on  Friday, with some of the people returning for church on Sunday.

The team only went for two weeks, but they helped enlarge the sanctuary so the Chileans could “preach the good news” to their neighbors. The size of the congregation when the team arrived was about 30. The Gómezes say 55 people are now attending the Sunday services. The team’s willingness to go made a difference!