Rebecca Carpenter
Rebecca Carpenter
What began as a small gathering of believers took a significant step forward on June 13, 2026, as the Fuquay-Varina Spanish congregation was officially recognized as the Fuquay-Varina Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. The organization ceremony, led by Brad Cauley, Carolina Conference vice president for administration, marked the celebratory culmination of a journey that commenced nearly a decade ago.
In 2016, the Raleigh, N.C., Spanish Church relocated from its home of more than 10 years on Sunset Lake Road in Fuquay-Varina to Raleigh. While one portion of the congregation followed the church’s move, another remained in Fuquay-Varina. For almost a year and a half, both groups continued to meet under the Raleigh Spanish Church name until, after prayerful conversation and planning, members agreed to form a new congregation in Fuquay-Varina.
Following the final evangelistic series held at the Raleigh Spanish Church on May 13, 2017, on Sunset Lake Road by Domingo Paulino, pastor, members bade him farewell. They then formed the Fuquay-Varina Spanish group with approximately 27 families and 79 members.
Just weeks later in July 2017, Jhonny F. Castro, pastor, and his family arrived to serve the district. The church also hosted its first Vacation Bible School (VBS), themed “Peru,” and launched its Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs. Andres Hernandez, director, and Erick Ortiz, assistant director, led the Voyage Pathfinder Club, and Jessica Ortiz, director, and Monica Cols, assistant director, led the Los 300 de Gedeón Adventurer Club.
As the congregation continued to grow, the group moved from the Sunset Lake Road Church to its current church building in 2019. Like other churches worldwide, however, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a difficult season. Members continued to worship via Zoom, but when in-person services resumed in 2021, attendance declined as some members did not return. But, the congregation stayed committed to its mission.
That commitment was demonstrated in 2022, when members held their first evangelistic series outside the church in a mobile home community. Together they set up tents, chairs, and tables, while providing gifts for adults and children in the community. As a result of the series, one family began attending the church and was baptized a few months later.
As the group became recognized as a company in 2023, they continued to expand their ministry opportunities. In 2025, the church launched Guerreras de la Oración women’s ministries, led by Talucielo Perez, director, and Los Vaqueros de Fuquay-Varina men’s ministries, led by directors Erick Ortiz and Moises Mayorga. Through baptisms, professions of faith, transfers, and growing families, the congregation has continued to flourish, and today numbers more than 145 members.
The organization ceremony this past June was a celebration of God’s faithfulness through every stage of the church’s journey. As the Fuquay-Varina Spanish Church begins this next chapter, members give thanks for God’s leading, and look forward to continuing their mission of sharing Christ with the Fuquay-Varina community.
Carolina | October 2026
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