Less than a year after the Pasco Spanish Church celebrated its freedom from a monthly mortgage payment and dedicated its building, its daughter church, Kennewick Spanish, purchased and moved into its own building.

Only a few months after the Pasco Church’s exciting dedication Sabbath, the Kennewick Spanish Church, which was meeting Sabbath afternoons at the Kennewick (English) Church, started praying and searching for a building to purchase and call their own. They found a church building for sale in east Kennewick, an area heavily populated by Hispanics. The large sanctuary, spacious fellowship hall and ideal location made it perfect for the Kennewick Spanish members.

This 11,737-square-foot church facility, situated on 1.23 acres on a main thoroughfare, was a bargain at $325,000. But how could a small Spanish church with only $8,500 ever hope to make a serious offer on this property? The answer is in Romans 8:31,32. “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

God was evidently with the Kennewick Spanish Church in this endeavor. Donations and pledges poured in from everywhere. Kennewick and Pasco Spanish members pledged a total of $85,000. The Upper Columbia Conference and Corporation supported this project with UCC Share Funds and an appropriation. After a couple of months, the congregation had enough money to make a down payment, and made an offer of $299,900, which was accepted.

The first service in the new church was held on Aug. 6. It was a joyful occasion with lots of music and prayer, a skit by the church’s youth group, and an inspiring message by Ramón Canals, North Pacific Union Conference Hispanic ministries director, who spoke about revival in the church.