A small church plant in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, is focusing on spreading the Gospel by planting new congregations rather than building a large membership. Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Eterna began in a family driveway, where lawn chairs were set out and neighbors were invited to gather, led by Oscar Ortiz and his wife Wendy.
“We had just six adults that first rainy Sunday, and lots of things did not go as planned,” Oscar says. “But that was OK because we were not planting with the intention of having a big congregation one day. We just wanted to plant a church that would plant more churches.”
Although the congregation remains small, the church has already begun looking beyond its own growth. Members have been working to reach nearby communities, including the town of Loíza, where there is little Gospel presence.
Through partnerships with Send Relief volunteer teams who assist local residents by repairing homes, the church has built relationships in the community and laid the groundwork for a potential future church plant in Loíza, expanding Gospel outreach in the region.
