Local Church Planting: Poughkeepsie, NY

For over 10 years, the City of Poughkeepsie has weighed heavily on our hearts. Located along the eastern banks of the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie has one of the lowest safety rankings in New York, with a crime rate 5.82% higher than the national average. Poverty rates increase year after year, and with it, a growing need for Christ. In 2015, we made an attempt to establish a church there, starting in a home that was graciously opened to us. However, due to a lack of resources and volunteers to move forward, the doors were unfortunately closed. Since then, we have continued to pray and ask God to open the doors again to establish a local church in the area. When we least expected it, He answered those prayers abundantly!

Just a few weeks ago, a local family reached out to a member of our board, sharing their search for a Christian church where they could establish themselves. They also shared their unfortunate struggles in failing to find one. Much like Paul’s vision of Macedonia, they pleaded, "Come over to Poughkeepsie and help us." (Acts 16:9). This sincere plea deeply touched the hearts of our church planting team. After seeking the Lord in prayer, we felt that the Lord was calling us to Poughkeepsie. Immediately, Senior Pastor Jose Manuel Perez began meeting with a group of families who expressed a desire to join the church.

Among them was Thomas Marcial, a beloved senior, husband, and father of a beautiful family. Brother Thomas was one of the first to be filled with joy that God had answered their prayers. He shared his testimony and expressed his excitement about the next steps in securing a building for the church to host services in Poughkeepsie. Just one week after meeting our brother Thomas, we received a call informing us that he had fallen ill and, within two days, passed away to be with the Lord. His passing was, of course, a great shock to his family, but the timing of these events served as a clear reminder of God’s sovereignty. God had answered Thomas’ prayers, provided his family with a church, and called him home—all in the same week. We rejoice in having been part of God’s love toward this family.

Thomas’ passing also opened the door to preach the Gospel to over 30 people who attended his memorial, undeniably honoring his life and faith.

With all of this in mind, we ask for your prayers for Poughkeepsie, for the family brother Thomas left behind, for the families now attending services in his step-daughter's home, for the local building to establish the church, for the pastors involved in planting the church in Poughkeepsie, for our evangelism efforts in the area, for provision to continue with the harvest before us, and most importantly, for faith. Though there are few of us, we have a great Father who has called us to this mission. Pray with us as Jesus instructed in Luke 10:2: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”