Spring Break this year took 43 members of Impact Christian Church in Woodland Park to Juarez, Mexico from March 21 – 28 to build a house for a needy family and a church for a grateful community. The group was comprised of ages 9-70. According to Impact Pastor Scott Park, this trip was the biggest group ever.

Impact Christian Church has been participating with the ministry, “Casas Por Cristo,” which translates to “Houses for Christ” for over 20 years. Casas Por Cristo began building homes along the U.S. / México border in 1993, first in Ciudad Juárez. They have since expanded to Ciudad Acuña, México; San Raymundo, Guatemala; Santiago, Dominican Republic; Chinandega, Nicaragua; and Marcala, Honduras. They have provided over 7,000 families with homes.

“This year was different than most other years. We asked the organization (Casas Por Cristo) if we could pick who we built for instead of them deciding for us,” Park said about the site selection. “We wanted to build a house and a church for our own missionary of over 20, Antonio Castenada of Juarez.”

“Castenada purchased some land on the outskirts of Juarez in the direction the city is growing so that he could hopefully build the first church in the area and begin ministering to the people that begin to move in,” Park said.

Casas Por Cristo agreed and Impact members built him a small church that seats about 60 people and a house that he and his wife plan to eventually move into fulltime.

Each person who made the trip paid $1,000 to go, and a large majority of that money went to cover the cost of the house and church. Casas Por Cristo charges a set amount and it is divided among the participants. Casas Por Cristo provides all the materials and has them delivered to the worksite.

They also provide a representative who acts as a foreman and translator.

The first service in the newly built church had an attendance in the upper 90’s, which exceeded capacity and was standing room only. Park preached the inaugural message, Castenada and several others spoke briefly as well. Park’s primary text was, Matthew 5:13-16. Kim Park and Tony Castenada, Jr. led worship with a band from Castenada Jr.’s church.

“We usually go in March because the timing works well for families due to kids being out of school for spring break, but also because Mexico is usually comfortable in the 70’s. However, this year it was in the upper 90’s,” Park said. “This presented an extra challenge and was a huge struggle for many of us who are of course not used to that kind of heat. But everyone found a way to deal with it, and we got the job done.

“Tony and his family were so grateful that they struggled to speak through their tears. We sure love them and their hearts for their community. God is surely going to bless many through this new church and their ongoing ministry there.”

The new church was named, “Nuevo Impacto.”