INC Chile

In November 2021, Pastors Maickel and Romina Caroca and the community at CAF Church - our INC location in Chile - endured a devastating fire that consumed the majority of their church building, massively impacting their church operations. Having been in contact with Pastor Maickel directly, he and his team were able to update us at Faith Family with a bit more information about the impact of that fire event and what has occurred since in terms of restoration and repairs.

When asked about the damages incurred during the fire event (structural, contents, any additonal assets, etc.), Ps Maickel said:

“Talking about damage, the building was declared a total loss, because it recieved structural damage, so the city ordered its demolition. We didn’t recieve insurance money because we weren’t the owner of the building, so we couldn’t recover the investment
We had negotiated a 10-year lease for the building (which we were renting). In the agreement, the company allow us to build into the building whatever we needed, so we made our central office, kids church, café and auditorium according to our needs. The whole restoraition mentioned earlier, cost for us $20,000,000 CLP ($34,640 AUD). Even when the building was inoperative, we could save the sound console, instruments, chairs and some furniture from the café and kids church.”

When asked about how they have recovered in the meantime, specifically in terms of operating church services, Ps Maickel said:

“Because of the damage, we can’t return to the building, so while we raise the funds to buy our own building, we are renting a cinema in the centre of Viña del Mar which cost $2,000,000 CLP ($3,469 AUD) per month, where we are impacting our city through the word of God and the testimony that we still on feet even when the church doesn’t exist anymore, because we are the church.”

When asked about what resources are most valuable for their church in this time of restoration, Ps Maickel said:

“Mostly, equipment for the auditorium. In this season we’ve been getting audio gear and stuff, thinking on our next project which is our own building, but in the meanwhile we are reparing the cinema to condition it to our needs.”

Pastors Maickel and Romina and the entire community at CAF Church have continued to press into God and have remained faithful that He is at work in their lives and their community. Ps Maickel and the CAF Church family had this to say:

“Before everything we want to thank you all for showing us the heart of our movement and the family we have in INC.

Nowadays, we understand the fire was more than a disaster, it was God pushing us to go for the next level in our church for our city, because during this month we have seen His hand in every way. God has been opening and closing doors for our growth, showing us the way to take very clearly.

We know God has too many things in this new way, and when He tests our heart, He also give us the solutions to have success.”

If you would like to learn more about ways to partner with INC in supporting Ps Maickel and Romina and CAF Church, feel free to inquire through an email to legacy@faithfamily.com.au!