Belen Seventh-day Adventist Church breaks ground 

BELEN—After more than two decades of worshiping and meeting together, a local church will soon have its own building.  

The Belen Seventh-day Adventist Church broke ground on Sunday, Dec. 3, on property at the corner of Main Street and Don Felipe Road.  

Pastor Ricardo Castro has been the senior pastor at the church since January, but the plans for a new church have been ongoing since 2018. He said the entire congregation is excited for the new chapter for the church.  

“It’s a glorious day,” Castro said. “We hope and pray this is the start for a beautiful thing for our church — not only for our church but for the whole community.” 

The Belen Seventh-day Adventist Church was first located in a small building on Ross Avenue. As the church grew and more members began filling the pews, they moved in 2018 to another, bigger building on South Main Street.  

It was then that church members realized its future needed a permanent structure. They were able to retain an architect to help design a new building.  

“We’ve been going from building to building,” the pastor said. “It is the very first time we’ll be getting a permanent home. Thank God, and we’re so excited about it.” 

Castro said the church recently purchased the property, which is about 2.71 acres. The new church will be about 9,000 square feet and is estimated to hold between 250 to 300 people.  

“The building (facing Main Street) will be torn down, and that’s going to create more parking capacity,” Castro said.  

While the church has been planning for a new structure for several years, the pastor said it’s been in the last six months that they’ve been seeing it become a reality.  

“We have parishioners who have dreamed of this church for more than 10 years,” he said. “For them, it’s very significant and it’s a glorious occasion for us.” 

Castro estimates the new church building will be ready to be occupied in October. 

“Our main mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and befriend and provide the nourishment — spiritual, mental and emotional — for the community around us,” Castro said.  

During the ground-breaking ceremony, church treasurer Sandra Martinez said the building project actually started 25 years ago. She said a former elder told members while they wanted a brick-and-mortar building to congregate in, it was actually the members themselves who are the church.  

“For the past 25 years, (the church), which started with only seven members,” Martinez said, “has worked diligently — through the grace of God — to build up the people of Belen. We work in such a way that everyone matters here — everyone is counted here.” 

Martinez said for more than two decades, the church has worked to encourage and uplift one another and the community.  

“Thanks to God, and his guidance, the people of Belen has recognized this,” she said. “The people of Belen have a heart like none other. Their hearts are generous. Their hearts are giving. Their hearts are loving. It is this that makes the church.”