How God Worked in Our Hearts: Dominican Republic Church Expansion Campaign

In May of 2025, Pastor Anthony shared a vision with our church that would stretch our faith and expand our impact far beyond the walls of our building in Hilliard. He had just returned from the Dominican Republic, where he met Pastor Rafael at Eden Christian Church—a pastor who had used every resource from his secular career to plant a church without any outside help.

God had done amazing things through Pastor Rafael’s faithfulness, but the church had reached a crossroads. They had maxed out their building, maxed out their resources, and couldn’t grow any further on their own. Yet an incredible opportunity had presented itself: a nonprofit organization offered to donate $75,000 in matching funds if the church could raise the same amount.

That’s when Pastor Anthony felt God leading Northwest to step into something bigger than ourselves.

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More Than Just Fundraising

When Anthony first presented this opportunity to our congregation, he made something crystal clear: this wasn’t just about raising money.

As he shared with us, “What I’m desiring for our church isn’t that we would just raise some money, but that we would be able to seek God individually and say, ’Lord, how do you want me to respond to this? Lord, what do you want me to give? God, would you stretch me outside of my comfort zone? Would you stretch my faith? Would you grow my faith? Would you grow me as an individual?’”

He calculated that if every adult member gave $150, we’d reach our goal. But that wasn’t the point. The point was for each of us to seek God personally and allow Him to lead us—and to be open to Him stretching us beyond what we’re comfortable giving. As he told someone who said they could easily give $150: “I hope with all of the wonderful plans that God has for you, that God tells you to give more than you’re comfortable giving, and you give it, and you’re praying, and you’re trusting God, that everything else is going to work out.”

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A Challenge Above and Beyond

Anthony was clear that this challenge was “above our tithe and our offering.” This wasn’t about replacing our regular giving to Northwest, but about asking God what He wanted us to contribute to kingdom work beyond our normal commitments.

For some, the idea of giving $150 was stretching. For others, God was calling them to give significantly more. As Anthony reminded us, “It’s not where your ability is. It’s you seeking out God and Him leading you to a number and you growing in that process.”

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The Heart Behind the Vision

The challenge represented a second-floor sanctuary that will seat 150-170 people, space for children’s ministry, and room for community outreach. With the matching funds, this expansion could be completed in just six months.

But the greater vision wasn’t just about helping one church in the Dominican Republic expand their building. It was about:

• Personal spiritual growth through seeking God’s direction in our giving
• Faith stretching as we stepped outside our comfort zones
• Kingdom impact as we partnered with a faithful pastor and growing church
• Community transformation as Eden Christian Church would be able to reach more people in their area

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What God Accomplished Through Us

By God’s grace and your generous hearts, we exceeded our giving goal.

This isn’t just a financial milestone—it’s a testimony to what happens when a church family seeks God together and responds in faith. Some gave sacrificially from limited resources. Others gave generously from abundance. All gave as God led them.

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Lessons We’ll Carry Forward

As we close this campaign, we’re not just celebrating the dollars raised. We’re celebrating:

• The growth in our own faith as we sought God’s direction
• The unity of our church family rallying around kingdom purposes
• The partnership we now have with Eden Christian Church
• The anticipation of seeing what God will do through this expanded ministry

As Anthony challenged us: “Don’t just be a spectator, be a participator. Find some way to get involved and let’s see God do amazing things, not just here in this church, but in churches all over the world.”

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A Marker to Remember

This campaign serves as a marker in our church’s story—a reminder of what God can do when His people seek Him together and respond in faith. It’s proof that He can use us not just locally, but globally, to advance His kingdom.

Pastor Rafael and the Eden Christian Church family will soon begin construction on their expansion, knowing that their brothers and sisters at Northwest Bible Church partnered with them in prayer and generosity. And we’ll carry forward the growth that came from this season of seeking God together.

Thank you for being a church family that doesn’t just spectate, but participates in what God is doing around the world.