Since 2023, 33 congregations in Peru have begun adding walls around the steel frames Maranatha built for them. Church members are constructing these walls with the local materials that are affordable and available nearby. Some are using cinder blocks and others bricks. The few churches that can afford it are increasing their building’s aesthetic appeal with a layer of stucco. “It’s exciting to see Peruvian congregations finishing the work that Maranatha began,” said Maranatha’s Vice President of Projects Kyle Fiess. “The foundation, frame, and roof we build provide a solid start for members to then complete strong buildings that stand out in their communities and that they can be proud of.”
Maranatha’s church construction in Peru is currently centered in its northern and southern regions. Crews build the parts of these structures that require specific skill sets. They start by pouring a concrete foundation that will anchor the building firmly in place. It includes a concrete ring around its perimeter, called a “grade beam,” for members to build walls on later.
Next, crews add the frame. These are made of steel so they can withstand humid climates and wood-eating pests like termites. Finally they attach a special insulated roof which absorbs the sun’s heat. This helps keep worshippers cool by regulating the building’s temperature.
Churches receive walls from volunteer groups or by constructing them themselves. Either way, this collaborative construction process has proved successful time and again. So far this year, Maranatha has built 20 places of worship in Peru.
From 2004-2006, more than 3,000 Maranatha volunteers landed in Peru, constructing nearly 100 churches and schools. In 2019, Maranatha returned to Peru at the request of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America.