How do we locate these areas?
- Every year, our partners non-profit organizations in Costa Rica receives potential projects from new churches which are looking for support to build a temple.
- Our work is mostly focused in the rural areas from Costa Rica, supporting the poorest regions, where usually there are more children impacted by scarceness.
- Once we evaluate the project viability, the Board of Directors decide for a project and assign the budget for it.
How do we choose and execute projects?
- Receive project funding request from new christian churches.
Start the evaluation process considering the associated risks and required questions; i.e.,:
- First , if a Church , it must be Bible oriented.
- Does the church have paid for land or a grant of land?
- Is that land in the name of the church?
- Do they have consistent attendance and leadership at church to ensure the project is viable in the long term?
- Can the church pay for the constructions permits and blueprints?
- As we typically only fund the materials, does the church group have the labor or the cash to hire the labor portion of the project?
- What is the project size?
- What is the project cost?
- How does this project moves this congregation to a greater level of effectiveness?
- Do we have a recommendation from our local network?
- A site visit by one of our local advisors or a U.S. board member is required in order to evaluate all the provided information.
- The board prays over the situation and evaluates with our construction experts the technical viability.
- Once a decision is made, the project is funded and followed up closely from beginning to end with weekly status reports, photos and any other required material.
- Once the project is completed, we dedicate the new temple with on-site Board participation.
- Project is closed and donors are provided with a final report and information.
TILARAN CHURCH (2018)
A Christian community in Tilaran, a small city located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica; started a mission church years ago. They met in houses and rented buildings for years, led by Rev. Olger Boza.
A couple of years ago, the church decided to move forward in faith and buy a piece of land. With many sacrifices and effort, they acquired a nice property located in the middle of a new neighborhood with hundreds of families in vulnerability and need of Jesus Christ. Once they had the land, they contacted CARMA MISSION requesting support to build a temple. After many meetings, organization and hard work, we dedicated this precious temple; back in October 2018.
All the Glory, Honor and Praise be given to God who provided all the required and touched the hearts to make it possible.
ENRRAMADA CHURCH (2016)
Enrramada church, located in the Province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica has met for the past three years in homes and on their land which only had restroom facilities and a simple tin roof over a picnic area.
The construction of a building is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and a testimony to the people of their communities. On September 28, 2016 Pastor Guillermo Gomez and his leadership team hosted the dedication of their new building. The event was attended for around 100 people. Rev. Manuel Zuñiga, Supervisor of the WMM church in Costa Rica shared the dedication message.
In Enrramada for the ceremony was CARMA Chairman, Tim Richardson and Jose Barrera, Field Director who represented the Association. Generous donors who see their ministry to assist these small congregations has made this possible. We are deeply grateful to have participated.
SCHOOL SPORTS COURT (2015)
CARMA sponsored Lakeside International School; funding and installing a sports court at their facilities; located in Sardinal, Liberia, Costa Rica.
The project cost was around $12,000 and it serves to provide a better and more adequate place for children to practice sports.
The school’s vision is to offer a broad and challenging educational program to students from diverse cultural backgrounds, in an atmosphere of cooperation, creating a learning community amongst students, parents, faculty and the community at large.
The students support of community isn’t confined to the walls of Lakeside. They have raised toys and funds for the orphanage in Puntarenas, participated and supported the special needs school in Liberia, and visited several retirement homes in the area. They are active and engaged in school and in the community.
LOS CHILES CHURCH (2015)
In April 10, 2015 Tim Richardson and Jose Barrera traveled to northern Costa Rica to inspect the site of a proposed new church near the village of Los Chiles. Rev. Redin Madrigal was the Pastor of the congregation sited in La Union del Amparo, very close to Nicaragua. This is a very strategic church as they receive people from Costa Rica and also from Nicaragua who are in a transition process or just working at the fields. Main activity in town
is working at the fields (pineapple, watermelon, rice, beans), and also livestock.
The decision was eventually made and CARMA raised the money to build the church during the following June and July. The dedication ceremony was held in August 15, 2015 with Andy Garrett, Tim Richardson and Jose Barrera attending as CARMA leaders.
The church has been working in evangelistic programs to attract new people. They organize public events and preach the gospel to the community, also organize public events for evangelizing the children.
COLORADO CHURCH (2014)
Colorado is a small village on the Pacific Ocean’s Gulf of Nicoya. The main industries are fishing and salt extraction from the ocean.
The evangelical church building was condemned due to heavy earthquake damage and repair was estimated at US $10,000. The congregation’s plan was to support the roof while removing the walls, reconstructing the foundation then entirely replacing the walls, windows and doors. Construction work was begun June 13, 2014 with the congregation providing the labor. In July work teams from two South Carolina churches traveled to lay the sanctuary floor tile for which they had raised additional money. The dedication ceremony was held in the completed building September 13, 2014.
The village has been greatly affected by drugs, alcohol and other social problems but the church is there to continue preaching the gospel and bringing a light of hope in middle of this situation. CARMA is proud to participate in such impacting projects.
ARENAL CHURCH (2006)
Back in 2006, a small congregation in Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica required a site for worshipping and for expanding the reach out throughout the nearby communities.
A first building was constructed with the support of Mr. Joe Buice, a retired realtor from Gaffney, South Carolina. It is currently used for the Spanish and English congregation. Years later, the church required another building for children and church social events. It was also built in 2009 with God’s provision and Carma Mission members involved. Cherokee Creek Baptist Church and other Southern Baptist churches also joined the project.
The congregation in Nuevo Arenal has reached more and more communities around; through the leadership of Rev. Benero Perez. We are happy to be part of such a great vision.
