Costa Rica North District Superintendent Johnny Calvo described July 30 as a "happy, happy" day as he spoke to more than 150 people packed into the new sanctuary at Quebrada Grande. Another 50-plus people crowded around the exterior doors and window as Calvo told the gathering that his English vocabulary was limited but he certainly knew “happy” applied to this church and growing community.

The service was the culmination of five years of prayers and work, capped by a one-year partnership between the Southern Florida District, the Quebrada Grande Church of the Nazarene, and the Costa Rica North District. 

The Quebrada Church was planted by the nearby Central Church of the Nazarene in Liberia, Costa Rica, where Alvaro Arroyo is senior pastor. Francisco Madrigal, a new minister and building contractor, was commissioned to begin the new church with the help of a few others from Central Church. Madrigal wanted to see a well-built, modern, functional church facility that would serve his community well. The mother church and daughter church congregations focused their prayers on Madrigal’s big dream.

“It is always amazing to see how God beautifully directs and weaves our plans to expand His church,” said Dennis Moore, former Southern Florida District Nazarene Missions International president. “For over 10 years our family has been looking for just the right church to be a fitting memorial to my parents who served the Church of the Nazarene for over 34 years. The Quebrada Grande church was a perfect fit.” 

Moore and his family donated nearly US$15,000 to Southern Florida to memorialize his parents, C. R. and Lucille Moore, in a global mission area. C. R. and Lucille Moore’s entire ministry was served in Southern Florida, including 32 of those 34 years as founding pastor of the Lake Worth First Church of the Nazarene. 

District Work & Witness Coordinator Roy Shuck wanted to help fulfill the Moore family’s desire for their parents' memorial. After research and prayer with Bruce Wilson, a Costa Rica volunteer missionary, God guided the Southern Florida District to supplement the initial Moore Memorial Fund and to commit to the Quebrada Grande project.

“It was the easiest money we ever raised at a mission convention,” Shuck said.  

The churches and individuals of Southern Florida contributed US$27,000 to provide the Quebrada Grande church nearly US$40,000 to build their dream facility. The funds were not only enough to build the 150-seat sanctuary, but the church is now constructing a needed educational unit.

Under the leadership of the new district NMI president, Diana Rambarran, the Southern Florida Mission Council approved two Work & Witness teams to assist the Quebrada Grande church. The teams painted, built a pulpit, completed electrical work, began construction of the educational unit, and conducted Bible adventures in the nearby public school. The two teams, with 56 total members, scheduled their travel dates to overlap so they could be fully present in Quebrada Grande as one team on dedication Sunday. Eleven members of the Moore family also participated in the effort, including four young grandchildren.

During the Sunday service, Shuck unveiled a bronze plaque dedicating the church as a memorial to C. R. and Lucille Moore, as well as a tribute to Dennis and Wendy Moore for service to the Southern Florida District. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the tremendous generosity of our Southern Florida family and the amazingly beautiful people and church in Quebrada Grande,” Dennis said. “God’s presence for this entire effort has been astonishing.”

--NCN News submissions via Southern Florida District

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