Builders International: Building Places Where People Find Hope

“If you build it, they will come” is a famous line from the movie “Field of Dreams.”

“If you build it, they will find hope” could easily be the slogan for Builders International.

Part of the International Ministries of the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM), Builders International seeks to “build places where people find hope.”

John James, senior pastor of Bethany Church in Wyckoff, New Jersey, says his congregation has “an incredible partnership” with Builders International.

“We love their team and have developed a wonderful relationship with them,” he explains. “As a steward of the sacrifice our people make for missions, I am looking for great soil and Builders is a great soil ministry. I am always looking for who I want to do ministry with, and Builders is excellent relationally by connecting us with incredible missionaries and projects around the world.

“In fact, Bethany Church has a team in the Bahamas right now, repairing a church that was damaged by a hurricane,” James adds. “We love mobilizing our people on missions trips with Builders International. It’s all in their name—Builders. I have seen buildings increase ministry firsthand and facilities facilitate ministry. There are also churches, Bible schools, safe houses, orphanages and grade schools as the list of places where people find hope goes on and on.”

Since 2020, Bethany Church has partnered with Builders International on numerous projects, including Melilla Safe House in Melilla, Spain, Ukraine Katowice Refugee Center in Katowice, Poland, Egypt Bible School in Egypt, Home of Hope Orphanage Medical and Dental Clinic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Happy Horizons Children's Ranch in Cebu, Philippines, and Hurricane Dorian reconstruction in the Bahamas.

Builders International began in the early 2000s as an extension of MAPS Construction. In June 2009, Builders International and MAPS Construction merged into one satellite ministry.

“The goal was to help relieve the burden on AGWM missionaries when they needed to complete a construction project for their ministry,” explains Laci Moore, chief editor for Builders International's marketing team. “The ministry has expanded from a God-inspired concept into a thriving ministry organization that helps missionaries fully develop their projects to be shovel-ready and then helps connect them with generous partners who give and go to help build ministry facilities where people find hope. In the past three years alone, Builders has mobilized approximately 200 construction teams and had more than 3,000 people attend a fundraising event.”

Moore, who also leads a new initiative for women with Builders International called SheBUILDS, serves alongside her husband, Ryan Moore, Builders International's chief executive officer.

Builders International Chief Operations Officer Jeremy Godwin notes that the ministry started as part of MAPS Construction and is now working in 39 countries and 57 projects.

More than 20,000 projects around the world have been completed by AGWM missionaries with the help of “our generous Fellowship,” he adds.

“We focus on missionaries as our customers. using the same model of Uber, which doesn't own cars and they don't need rides, but they bring them together,” Godwin explains. “We function the same way. We realize that our skill set is finding healthy projects, vetting them and connecting them with donors that want to donate to projects that matter the most along with team leaders who want to be mobilized to be hands on those projects.”

Builders International has about 40 full-time and volunteer staff with half being AGWM missionaries and half who are employees, contractors and volunteers spread across the country.

One of Builders International's recent projects is helping to construct Mallorca Christian Center, the first Christian church to be built on the tourist island of Mallorca, Spain, since 1960.

Daniel Rodriguez and his wife, Noemi, pastor Mallorca Christian Center, which started in a small storefront building that now draws more than 1,500 attendees in three different locations, plus 55 home groups gathering regularly throughout the island.

With an aggressive emphasis on evangelism and discipleship. the church ministers to addicts, street people, immigrants, and those on the fringes of society. Mallorca Christian Center's construction project is on a half-acre property, which is located on several major bus routes where thousands of vehicles pass the property daily.

Rodriguez points out that Builders International has made an impact on his church.

“When you come to see me, it feels like I am getting a big hug from God.” he says.

Ryan Moore adds "All the ingredients are here to make a huge impact, as we come alongside our missionary partners working in Spain. The only thing missing in this fantastic ministry is a place for the people of Mallorca to find hope."

Godwin notes that Builders International has ambitious goals for the future.

“Our big audacious goal is to give away $15 million per year for construction projects, which would be enough to complete almost every AGWM construction project overseas,” he says.

Laci Moore echoes that sentiment.

“We believe every person deserves a place to find hope,” she says. “We know that when we help effective ministry leaders of growing ministries build the facilities they need, their ministry is expedited and people come to know the Lord.

“Our hope in the not-too-distant future is to ensure that every mission-critical ministry facility that our missionary and national church partners need to reach people are funded and finished as fast as possible so that all can hear and have an opportunity to know the truth of the gospel,” Moore adds.