Jesús Molina and his wife, Lili Molina, still remember the prayer they made to God when the Venezuelan couple moved to the U.S. eight years ago.
“God, if you take me from my country … we want to serve the people, the community,” Jesús Molina said, recalling his message.
Now, the couple’s prayers are becoming a reality in their roles as pastors of La Mesa Bilingual Ministry, an extension of White’s Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake. With a new $2.6 million building expected to come to Fort Worth’s Stop Six and Polytechnic Heights neighborhoods in 2026, the ministry aims to be a community resource for Spanish-speaking families, Molina said.
“When we provide help, we can connect with the people, with the community,” Molina said. “Our vision is for the church to be perceived as a second home.”
The ministry’s slogan, “everything in one place,” sets the tone for the vision of La Mesa as both a center for worship and community service, said Victor Resendiz, spiritual formation pastor for White’s Chapel.
“The vision is to commit ourselves to not only serve (congregants) in their faith needs, but also their community needs,” Resendiz said.
La Mesa will be headquartered in Fort Worth’s 76105 ZIP code, where 64% of the community is Hispanic and more than 35% live below the poverty line, according to census data.
The building which La Mesa currently hosts worship services, at 3429 Fitzhugh Ave., is also home to White’s Chapel Mission Health Center Dental Clinic. The clinic has offered free dental care to uninsured southeast Fort Worth residents since 2017.
The ministry has also partnered with T.A. Sims Elementary School in hosting events for students and families. And, La Mesa offers a monthly mobile market for those in need of grocery items.
In addition to the resources, the ministry hopes to be a place for Spanish-speaking families or Spanish-speaking immigrants to share their backgrounds and grow together, Lili Molina said.
“We come into different places in the world,” she said. “Now, there’s a place to be open and say, ‘This is my story, this is my history.’”
La Mesa Bilingual Ministry’s new building at 3429 Strong Ave. is expected to be completed in May 2026.
“It’s a lot of work to do, but we aren’t alone,” Jesús Molina said. “We have Christ with us.”
Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at [email protected]. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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