Donna Jones - Sentinel Staff Writer

WATSONVILLE -- Jesus Abrego, pastor of Iglesia de Jesucristo Israel, has an ambitious plan for bringing spiritual and material support to his congregation. What he lacked was space at the Pajaro storefront where he has guided his flock for the past 11 years.

So Abrego leased a former neighborhood market at 480 Union St. in downtown Watsonville. Thursday, he met with an architect who will help convert the 2,000-square-foot retail space into a church. The first step will be to open a Christian bookstore, possibly as soon as Monday. Worship services will start as soon as construction of a restroom is complete, probably at the beginning of October, Abrego said.

"I'm thinking in the community, we're going to connect with people," he said of the move to Watsonville.

Abrego, a native of Sinaloa, Mexico, said 107 people attend his Apostolic Church services on average, a mix of field workers, middle-class and professional people. He said the church tries to support its members' endeavors to better their lives, to open businesses and get more education.

"We're always pushing forward, and providing the tools to get on track," he said.

But Abrego said he had to suspend a youth ministry that was drawing 60 to 70 kids due to lack of space in Pajaro. He plans to restart that and develop a food pantry to feed low-income families. He'll also reach out to people who frequent the nearby City Plaza. He's raising money to purchase translation units so English-speakers can join the Spanish-speaking congregation.

The church also offers music programs and broadcasts over the Internet. Abrego hopes to obtain a federal license to launch a low-power FM radio station, and plans to buy time on Spanish language radio and television in the meantime.

"Our radio is a bridge. Our music is a bridge" Abrego said. "All the bridges connect to Jesus Christ. He is the way."

via SantaCruzSentinel.com