Hurricand Maria: One Year Later

By José Correa

September 20, 2017, is a date Puerto Ricans will never forget. We still see on our streets the damage from that day. Streetlights still do not work, companies have not reopened, and neighborhoods are deserted. That day we lost everything—cars, homes, families, churches, everything! Today, a year later, we understand the potential to rise from destruction was within us, even though we were told it was impossible.

My family and I have decided this hurricane will not bring a halt to God’s purpose for the church in Puerto Rico. Instead, we will rise even stronger! The story of our church now has two lives: one before Maria and one after Maria.

The church in Puerto Rico began with a group of people gathering under a tree to worship and hear God’s Word. God blessed our hard work with the ability to obtain seven acres of land where we built facilities with the capacity for 120 people. We added a school to help the ministry on our island and our church. After five years, our church had become self-supporting, which in itself was a great milestone. Growth continued, and everything was going well until the day Maria hit the island.

In just a few hours, everything we worked so hard for was destroyed. Today, while the scars left by the hurricane are still painful, they serve as reminders of how great God is. He is in control of our lives and ministry. Many people left Puerto Rico looking for better opportunities. Churches have fewer members, professionals left, and schools are closing. Security has changed; policemen also have left.

Everything is still unstable. After a year, thousands of people are still without secured roofs. Prices for building materials and food have gotten higher and higher. Every day, it has become more difficult to live in Puerto Rico, but our hearts beat for this island of 100 by 35 miles. Puerto Rico is not the same after a year, but the Bible still says, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”

The Free Will Baptist church in Puerto Rico is in the process of rising up, thanks to many churches that believe God is doing something big in Puerto Rico. Churches from multiple states—Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas—and many others have supported us in this rebound. We also thank God for the people from North American Ministries, such as David Crowe and Rick Bowling who have been pivotal in this ministry.

Puerto Rico is different now, but we still have the strength to work and seek God’s favor for our island and ministry. For a year, we have met in homes and a 40-foot by 40-foot tent, preaching and teaching God’s Word wherever we are allowed. We meet six days a week in different homes, just like the churches in the book of Acts. We are starting from the beginning and putting into practice what we have learned. We don’t have many members like before, but the ones we do have are strong and eager to work to lift the church again.

Today, our economy is not great. Before Maria we were able to support ourselves. Now we get $600 to $700 monthly, and our debts are $3,000 to $4,000 monthly, including the mortgage of $2,200 per month. We believe and trust God has the control over our church and country. We are visiting the streets and houses to start once again. We are walking with the vision of the future, preparing for something big. Once again, we are in the process of obtaining the expensive permits to rebuild the church.

Today, the house where we reside is almost finished. As soon as it is finished we will start keeping the nursery there. We gather in houses for discipleship and in the tent for God’s Word on Sundays. Our next project is to complete the other part of the roof, so we can accommodate more children. In the future, we would like to construct a stronger building where the entire church family can gather.

My family and I are ready to work together to restore the Free Will Baptist church in Puerto Rico. We believe that together we will rise and see what God does in our island. We believe this is God’s way to make us stronger and to see God’s glory. Thank you for your support and prayers for Puerto Rico and my family.

About the Writer: José and Suey Correa have been planting First FWB Church in Puerto Rico since 2010. Learn more about cross-cultural church planting efforts: www.FWBNAM.com.