Maybe it has been over a decade or a few years or six months or maybe just ten days since you passed keys and a Bible to a family. We invite you to join us in prayers of thanks for all God is doing across this ministry.
Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, the mission of Casas por Cristo is to lead people to a life of generosity by which the spiritual and physical needs of others are met. The very first home in Casas history was built in Juárez, México and dedicated to Pablo and Rosy Cuevas Vazquez and their two year old daughter, Cintia. The Vazquez family received their new home on November 12, 1993. Since then, we have seen God foster relationships with international ministry partners who share and explain to us the deep physical and spiritual needs that families in their communities face on a daily basis. Together, we accomplish our mission when God moves the hearts of His people and His church toward the understanding that it is A Time to Build to further His kingdom.
Casas' 5,000th home was completed in the Dominican Republic on October 6, 2016. We know that the significance is not about the number of homes built, but that collectively all of the houses provided across three countries tell the story of over 22,350 people that have been exposed to the love of Jesus Christ. That means thousands of children have received the blessing of safety and security as their parents were better equipped to work and provide food, clothing, education, and a future because of a new home. Moreover, that translates to 50,000 plus Kingdom builders experiencing Christ's love as they passed 5,000 sets of keys and Bibles to the new homeowners because they understood that it is A Time to Build.
By God's grace, we have gotten from 1 to 5,000 in 23 incredible years. We know that God has blessed Casas por Cristo in order to be a blessing to others. When the persecution came to Juárez in 2008, we sought God in prayer. He slowed us down... way down... so we would correctly focus on the relationships necessary to steward his gifts more effectively. God guided us in coming alongside our international pastors and churches just as Aaron and Hur lifted up the arms of Moses as the battle pressed on. As partnerships strengthened, God moved in big ways by opening new doors to Acuña, México; San Raymundo, Guatemala; and Santiago, Dominican Republic - showing us that it was A Time to Build once again.
We are strengthened by our faith for the future of this ministry and about the hope of house number 50,000 which God has already planned in advance. Where that will be... God knows. When that will be... God knows. Who that recipient will be... God knows. How that will be done... God knows. Why that will be... we know it will be because of Jesus Christ's love! The Casas board and staff have been seeking God's guidance for the next location where He is leading us to help others in need. In unity with local pastors, we believe that God is preparing our path into 12 more countries in Latin America, and to equip this expansion, it is A Time to Build.
Thus, we are seeking to build an International Operations Warehouse and Administration Building in order to prepare for and centralize God's continuous blessings of expansion. God has a mighty plan for Casas por Cristo, supporters like you, and families throughout Latin America. Please pray and join us during this Time to Build. We cannot accomplish this big vision for the future without you. Your generous gift today will pave the way to pass keys and Bibles to more families like Pablo, Rosy, and Cintia. It is A Time to Build!
