This is our newest church plant. Pastor Rosinel was forced out of his main church in Duclos, in the Cabaret zone. In December, the gangs broke into his home and robbed him of everything he owned. They took his laptop, his passport, about $600 he had saved from local small jobs, and even some of the money given through Plen Fleri. They took all his clothes, his socks, his underwear, his small Honda generator, the solar panels and inverters for the church, and even his motorcycle and Land Cruiser.

They took everything.

When he called Jay, he said, “They left me with nothing. I only have the clothes on my back.” He felt violated in every possible way.
He fled to the community where he had grown up—Fishville—because he had nowhere else to go. He had no direction and didn’t even know if he could keep pastoring.

The gangs wanted control over him. They didn’t want anyone in that area to have influence unless that influence came from them. But here’s the truth: Rosi brought light into that community. He brought jobs. He sold clean water, but not for profit—just enough to cover the cost so people could have safe water near their homes.

He cared for people like a local mayor. He checked on families. He prayed with them. He started a free sewing school so people could learn a trade, make small repairs, and earn a little money.

He gave people dignity, and the community loved him.

That’s why the gangs hated him. It wasn’t just natural—it was spiritual. Loyal people scare the gangs. They only want loyalty to them. Rosi’s influence pushed back darkness, and the enemy wanted to cut off the head of that light.

So he and Jay prayed together with heavy hearts and tears. Over time, something rose up in both of them—a resolve that they simply would never quit. They committed to keep pushing back darkness, to keep carrying the cause of Jesus forward.

That’s how Rosi ended up speaking at our church in Monoville. Ministry began to flow again. Eventually, Jay called him and said, “Rosie, I’ve been praying. You have influence in so many places, and God has taught you how to live with much or little. Why don’t we start a church that reaches the wealthy and powerful? Most of our churches serve the poor—and that’s beautiful—but what about the people at the top of society who also need Jesus?”

When Jay said that, something in him lit up. It matched what God had already placed in his heart.

But reaching people in places like Newport Beach or Solana Beach means you actually have to build a church where they will come. A tiny storefront or a broken-down space won’t reach them. It wouldn’t make sense.

Rosi struggled with the idea because all he has ever known is poverty. Jay continued to encourage him to think bigger. “If God isn’t poor, and you’re not poor, then why pray like a poor man? Let’s ask God for something impossible.”

So that’s how this church began.

We looked at several properties. Nothing worked. Then, out of nowhere, a woman said, “Give me a little money down, and I’ll let you take the land.” In a place where property is almost impossible to find—especially for a church—she offered it with almost no terms.

We agreed on a purchase price of $80,000, and we put $10,000 down. As long as we keep making payments—even $5,000 at a time—she’ll honor it. And once we reach 60% paid, she’ll allow us to start building on the land.

After we secure the property, the next faith step begins—building a church that is more than a simple plywood shack.

And that’s where this story is headed.