Written by: Alissa Flores
The Collegedale Spanish-American SDA Church, or SuCasa, has finally opened its doors after years of construction. Services have already been held in the spacious new building perched atop the hill behind Southern Adventist University’s track and field.
Throughout 2020, only the groundwork was done. In 2021, the foundation was laid, and over the next three years, the structure took shape and the moving process was initiated. According to Gamaliel Feliciano, the senior pastor of SuCasa, the congregation has held four services in the new sanctuary since its first service on Aug.10, 2024.
“[The church] has been praying for this for more than 15 years,” Feliciano said. “They are excited, as you can imagine. It’s something new. It is a dream that came true.”
Eliezer Graterol, professor in the School of Religion and a regular SuCasa attendee, shared his experience preaching at the church for the first time.
“The smell is brand new; everything’s new,” Graterol said. “And seeing the satisfied faces of the members, because it was a church effort, is so good.”
Feliciano and Pablo Betancurt, the associate pastor, said that despite many members traveling for the International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, SuCasa had a full house on the first Saturday it was open, and the church has been full every Saturday since.
“That day we spent some time outside, praising the Lord and showing our gratitude to God,” Feliciano said.
The pastors said the location of the new church played a key role in their decision on where to build back in 2020. Feliciano explained that the original Collegedale Hispanic church, located on Colcord Drive behind the university’s student center, was started in the 1980s by a group of Spanish-speaking Southern students and local families.
“During that time, that place was great, but there’s no way for other people to see the church unless you are going to the church,” Feliciano said. “Our location now is perfect, because we are facing the community, and behind us is the campus and we’re right next to McKee.”
Since the opening of SuCasa’s new sanctuary, the old church building has been allocated for use by High Point Chinese SDA’s services, providing more places of worship for the growing community.
Having more space has also impacted SuCasa’s attendance. Feliciano said at the old church, 210 people could attend Sabbath services.
Now, just in the bottom room of the sanctuary, 420 people can easily worship, not including the balcony that has yet to be finished.
The pastors said SuCasa now offers its members many other amenities, including a multipurpose gym, studio rooms, an outdoor movie area and a soccer field.
“We have our own area for the kids, six rooms. Four of them are to become a daycare later for the community,” said Feliciano.
Betancurt believes one of the most important new add-ons is the commercial kitchen, which he expects will pass all the tests and permissions needed to be used commercially.
“We can do many things with the kitchen,” he said, “and we have a space for Dorcas [ministry] or community service. We want to be open more than just Wednesday and Sabbath.”
With the inside almost completed and the outdoor area well on its way to regular usage, the church is preparing for a bright future.
Feliciano said he’s most excited for how the new amenities will help them serve the community and Southern students.
Feliciano said 95% of the church’s members are Hispanic, and a majority of the congregation is bilingual. It serves many families and students from the Hispanic community.
Graterol added, “We have a translation for English speakers. The quality of service, all the way from the service to the sermons, we practice for it. We are quite intentional in offering service to the Lord, that He’ll be happy, that will glorify His name.”
Although the church is functioning at its new location, Feliciano said that the members are still continuing to contribute resources to completely finish construction. So far, SuCasa members have raised $9 million to complete their church; $2 million was loan-based, and the remainder was donated. With only a few things left to finish such as the balcony and gym floors, the church is expected to receive its certificate of occupancy in November.
Feliciano explained that SuCasa means “His House” in English and that members want the church to feel like a home.
He wants the church to provide a place for people to connect on a spiritual and cultural level. He said SuCasa is the first Hispanic-American Adventist church to be located on an Adventist university campus in the United States.
“SuCasa church will be your home away from home,” Graterol said.
“Families will be friendly. They’ll speak the language you grew up with; you’ll eat Latino food. I can guarantee you’ll feel at home.”
Josue Camarena, a regular student attendee and current intern for the church, said that the people who form the congregation are what matter most.
“Their community is very welcoming,” he said. “From the moment you walk through the entrance doors, deacons welcome you, and the [members] of SuCasa always greet you with a warm stretch of hands and a smile on their faces.”
