Twelve Greater Boston Academy (GBA) students participated in a special mission trip to complete a church building project in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. More than $25,000 was raised to cover travel expenses and all the building materials needed to complete church.
“The students were great and the community was impressed by the way they carried themselves. They had a group of students from another school visit them last year and explained that the contrast between that group and our group was exponential,” said Gavin Gaynair, project leader.
The construction project was successful. Greater Boston Academy’s group of volunteers provided the finances and physical support to tile the church floors, build two bathrooms, install permanent windows and doors, and build a property wall.
This church in San Pedro de Macoris had about 13 members when GBA started this project back in 2010, under the direction of Edwin Silie, former GBA faculty member. Today the membership is about 100! The church is now the foundation of its community because it stands out among the broken down homes and dirt roads.
Members of the community are ready and have begun to make improvements so that the neighborhood and property value will improve. “I was able to get a first-hand view of the results of our labors! Our last mission trip produced much fruit and with the completion of the church during this trip, those fruits will continue to multiply,” Gaynair said.
During this trip, the school group also conducted a series of evangelistic meeting, under the direction of GBA parent Pedro Mendez. Each night the students had more than 30 visitors and the meetings ended with three baptisms. Students also conducted a children’s program each night that allowed them to bond with the children and young people of the church.
The group solicits prayers for the mission work in the Dominican Republic and for the GBA students that they will carry the fire produced by their involvement in mission work throughout their lives.
Lisa Wheeler, advancement director, Greater Boston Academy