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With the global pandemic shutting off much of the world from itself, this year’s singular Community Project fulfillment looks south of the U.S. boarder to Juárez, Mexico and the small team from Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church (CCPC) that looks to make their way in just a couple weeks time.

Led by Parker Dragovich and Pastor Chris Piehl, this year’s trip is thought to be the 27th trip in a nearly 33-year history. For a period of 5 years (2009-2013) the church deemed it unsafe to travel to Juárez with the drug cartel violence in its heyday. And, of course, 2020 saw closed borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout the 30+ year history, CCPC has maintained a specific relationship with La Iglesia Maranatha and Pastor Jorge Mata. Pastor Jorge has served the church and the Felipe Ángeles neighborhood and community for those many, many years.

The mission trip sees several church families combine to lead VBS (vacation bible school) for the children in the neighborhood and to work on several construction projects on the church grounds and in the surrounding neighborhood. The church, within sight of the UTEP (University of Texas – El Paso) campus across the boarder, lives in a shadow of poverty, but the neighborhood is slowly being transformed with jobs and homes being built and people being elevated socially and spiritually by the work of Pastor Jorge and the church.

In addition to the local work that La Iglesia Maranatha does, Pastor Jorge and the church members have also undertaken several trips into the poorer, and more rural parts of Mexico. Taking donations and other items, the church has traveled long distances to share the Gospel and encouragement with the poorest of the poor in some of the small villages deep within Mexico.

Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United, a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!