How it all started...
In 1984, Samuel J. Alvarado rededicated his life to the Lord. Shortly after, he began to teach the youth and work with men's ministry in his church. At 46 years old he felt the Lord calling him to leave Madera, his home of 25 years, to go on the road to build churches. For 10 years he and his wife Betty lived in their fifth-wheel travel trailer driving throughout the Central Valley and Mexico building churches and preaching the Word of God. During this time Pastor Samuel was under the umbrella of The Assembly of God.
In 1990, Samuel and Betty returned to Fresno to open a mission while continuing to build churches. On March 25, 1995, Pastor Samuel became an ordained minister of the gospel. The following year he felt the leading of the Holy Spirit calling him to begin a new ministry, and in 1996 Building For Christ Ministry opened its doors in Madera in a rental building on Avenue 17. After building many churches for others, with the help of the Lord, Pastor Samuel, and his sons were able to build a church for the congregation of Building For Christ at our current location 26247 Ellis Street in 1998. Since then God has used him to open new ministries in Mexico.
In 2005, along with Dr. Nicolas Retana, he opened Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy Charter School in Madera. In 2006, Samuel and Betty began traveling to Mexico to build and minister for God’s glory. Their first project was to start a Bible College and orphanage in El Papalote, Baja California, Mexico, under Building For Christ Ministry.
In 2014 Pastor Samuel connected with Tim Peffly D.D.S of Madera, who is also a missionary to Mexico since 2007. After meeting and ministering for a few years, they worked on opening a dental and medical clinic to meet the needs of the people in El Papalote. Pastor Samuel built the clinic and Dr. Peffly attended to patients. Every year since, Dr. Peffly has organized mission teams to volunteer at the clinic. In 2017, Pastor Samuel and his team built and opened a rehab mission. Samuel and Betty have continued to do God’s work by building numerous churches and ministries under Edificado Para Cristo Int. throughout Mexico.
For the last 35 years, Pastor Samuel has been a great man of faith, an Apostle, and a Kingdom Builder for Christ. Pastor Samuel has built and remodeled several churches in the Central Valley and Mexico. Many times projects have seemed impossible, but he has been a great example of faith and shown us that with God all things are possible. In May 2019 Pastor Samuel J. Alvarado retired from heading the organization Building for Christ Ministry, and his son Pastor Steve Alvarado has taken his place as Senior Pastor.
Pastor Steve continues the work and the vision of Building For Christ Ministry by Building God’s Kingdom helping people to connect with God so they would reach their potential. Our goal is simple to reach the lost, connect them to the family of God, so that they find freedom and transformation to live a Spirit empowered life. We invite you to join us in this exciting work of seeing lives transformed as we build God's Kingdom.
In 1990, Samuel and Betty returned to Fresno to open a mission while continuing to build churches. On March 25, 1995, Pastor Samuel became an ordained minister of the gospel. The following year he felt the leading of the Holy Spirit calling him to begin a new ministry, and in 1996 Building For Christ Ministry opened its doors in Madera in a rental building on Avenue 17. After building many churches for others, with the help of the Lord, Pastor Samuel, and his sons were able to build a church for the congregation of Building For Christ at our current location 26247 Ellis Street in 1998. Since then God has used him to open new ministries in Mexico.
In 2005, along with Dr. Nicolas Retana, he opened Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy Charter School in Madera. In 2006, Samuel and Betty began traveling to Mexico to build and minister for God’s glory. Their first project was to start a Bible College and orphanage in El Papalote, Baja California, Mexico, under Building For Christ Ministry.
In 2014 Pastor Samuel connected with Tim Peffly D.D.S of Madera, who is also a missionary to Mexico since 2007. After meeting and ministering for a few years, they worked on opening a dental and medical clinic to meet the needs of the people in El Papalote. Pastor Samuel built the clinic and Dr. Peffly attended to patients. Every year since, Dr. Peffly has organized mission teams to volunteer at the clinic. In 2017, Pastor Samuel and his team built and opened a rehab mission. Samuel and Betty have continued to do God’s work by building numerous churches and ministries under Edificado Para Cristo Int. throughout Mexico.
For the last 35 years, Pastor Samuel has been a great man of faith, an Apostle, and a Kingdom Builder for Christ. Pastor Samuel has built and remodeled several churches in the Central Valley and Mexico. Many times projects have seemed impossible, but he has been a great example of faith and shown us that with God all things are possible. In May 2019 Pastor Samuel J. Alvarado retired from heading the organization Building for Christ Ministry, and his son Pastor Steve Alvarado has taken his place as Senior Pastor.
Pastor Steve continues the work and the vision of Building For Christ Ministry by Building God’s Kingdom helping people to connect with God so they would reach their potential. Our goal is simple to reach the lost, connect them to the family of God, so that they find freedom and transformation to live a Spirit empowered life. We invite you to join us in this exciting work of seeing lives transformed as we build God's Kingdom.
