NEW MOBILE CLASSROOM DEDICATED

A new chapter in the life of Church Rock Family Life Baptist Church began on Sunday, May 4, 2008, as they dedicated a new mobile classroom to the ministry of Jesus Christ. When Mark Chandler arrived in New Mexico as a church planting pastor in July of 2005, he was fully aware that the his ministry would be challenging and unique. After meeting in homes, with other churches, and at the Church Rock Chapter House for the first year, the church began holding regular Sunday worship at Church Rock Academy on Sunday, October 15, 2006.

The church has faced several challenges. While they have searched for a permanent location, no privately held land is available for purchase in the Church Rock community. The nearest available land for purchase in on the east side of Gallup, and it is tremendously expensive. With such a limited number of trained adults to minister to the children on a regular basis, the church needed a different ministry option that would allow them to minister to children in smaller groups. Pastor Mark Chandler had envisioned a bus converted into a mobile classroom many years ago, and he believed this was a place where that concept would be practical and effective tool for ministering to the Navajo people.

Dale and Katie Zundel, from Canyon City , Colorado , heard about Pastor Mark's vision for a mobile classroom when they were ministering in Church Rock area churches. The Zundels has acquired a used bus that they used for storage and carpentry but found that the bus was completely road-worthy, needing only a few repairs. After sincere prayer, the Zundels were keenly aware that God has allowed them to acquire the bus for this exact purpose. Dale, a retired school bus driver and accomplished mechanic, immediately began work on the bus to prepare it for the trip, and the bus was delivered just over a year ago.

Since delievery, the bus has been transformed into a mobile facility that can be used as a mobile classroom or a mobile worship facility. New plywood was installed on the floor and has been covered with commercial tile. A wall was built near the rear of the bus to establish a storage area and to provide a location for cabinets and media equipment. An electrical distribution system was installed to provide power for lights, media equipment, fans, heaters, computers and other equipment. The mobile facility can be powered from local buildings or from a generator that can be placed outside. Adding to its flexibility, the bus no longer has any installed seating and is not used for transporting people. Each time the bus is utilized, it can be equipped for its exact use. A new LCD television is enclosed in a protective cabinet with a DVD player and VCR for teaching. The television is also equipped for use with Power Point and other computer-based teaching support. Several computers have been donated and will eventually be used for tutoring and other creative ministry developments. All of the media equipment was not permanently installed when the bus was dedicated, but the installation has now been completed. The mobile facility will continue to be improved and developed as the ministry matures.

The bus will be utilizes on Sundays as the children's classroom at the school. At other times, the bus will be taken into the communities for children's bible classes, back-yard Bible clubs, adult Bible classes, community worship services, financial planning classes and more. The Chandlers and the people of Church Rock Family Life Baptist Church are looking forward to seeing how God will use this new ministry opportunity.

The bus when delivered.	Evaluating the bus when delivered.
Renovations Underway.	Renovations Underway.

May 4, 2008, Bus Dedication

May 4, 2008, Bus Dedication

Dale & Katie Zundel

Eli & Lucas Chandler on Dedication Day