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MCALLEN, Texas?During its two-year existence, Cornerstone Church in McAllen has started two other churches, grown tremendously in attendance, and reached out to countless people of various ethnic groups.
“God has been working in this congregation over the past two years in amazing ways?ways that are only by his hand,” pastor Loui Canchola said.
Located in the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen has a population of around 110,000. While Canchola is training his church to reach out to all in the city, they are making great strides in bringing a wide diversity of people together in their own community.
Several years ago Canchola, an athlete and faithful Houston Texans and Texas Longhorns fan, was coaching athletics at a local school. In 1997, God called him out of coaching and into full-time ministry. He moved quickly over the next few years, serving in a church as a student minister from 1998-2001 and later as an associate pastor.
It wasn’t long before Canchola felt God calling him to start a new church in the McAllen area, also his hometown.
“It was a burden God placed on my heart to reach out to the unchurched in the valley,” he said. With the blessings and support of three churches in McAllen?Valley Fellowship, First Baptist, and Baptist Temple?the Canchola family and several others began meeting as Cornerstone Church in McAllen in September 2003.
“We launched in a 1,200-foot storefront space that we outgrew in a month,” Canchola said. “We then moved to a hotel banquet room and outgrew that in six months. We currently lease and meet in a 9,000-square-foot industrial facility that we’ve added 3,000 square-feet to. This has totally been a God-thing.”
In the meanwhile, “We’ve helped start Fellowship Community Church in San Antonio and International Center of Joy in Rio Grande City.”
Canchola said the biggest concern of Cornerstone is to build the church?the kingdom of God. Cornerstone Church proudly proclaims Matthew 6:33 as its foundational verse.
“We’re focused on building this body of believers and we know that God will construct the building in his time,” Canchola said.
“Loui Canchola is one of the most enthusiastic, generous, creative, and fun to be around planters in Texas,” said Terry Coy, SBTC senior church planting associate. “God is using him mightily not only to grow Cornerstone, but to plant other new churches, coach new planters, and lead the way in assisting the SBTC in developing church planting in the Valley. I am grateful for his attitude, his passion for the lost, his love for Christ.”
On the Cornerstone website, the “About Us” link reads: “We are a church for those who are ‘still kicking the tires’ and checking things out, for those who may have become disillusioned and have written church off, and for those who are looking for a place to connect and serve.”
The majority of the new members at Cornerstone were unchurched before attending.
Made up of 60-70 percent English-speaking Hispanics and 30-40 percent Anglos, Cornerstone is averaging 225 people each Sunday and has grown to two services. In 2004, they baptized 27 and so far this year they have baptized 35.
“God is moving in amazing ways,” Canchola said. “We’ve seen lives transformed, marriages restored, and many people come to Christ.”
One couple, Rey and Sandy Chavez, wrote this note to the pastor: “Cornerstone has had such an awesome impact in our lives. ? I am still amazed with all the people at Cornerstone Church. I have never had friends that are so generous and non-judgmental. Everyone has accepted us with open arms. We had never experienced this with our own family and friends. It is wonderful to know that ? the battle we fight daily, we do not fight alone.”
After two years, Cornerstone is starting a new initiative this fall to help newcomers and new believers get connected to the church’s ministry. “We’re launching a foundations class. It’s for those who are saying, ‘I’ve been saved. I’ve been baptized. What do I do next?’ There is a huge need for it at this point in our church’s life.”
