Cruz de Cristo - Mahahual
Pastor Carlos Rosales (pictured with his family to the right) serves at Costa Maya Ministries’ primary location on the Mexican Caribbean coast - about 4 hours south of Cancun - in a small town of about 3,000 called Mahahual.
From Mahahual we are also blessed to reach 30-35 families with the Gospel in a variety of nearby locations such as Kilometer 55, Rio Indio and Pulticub. You can read more about these locations below!
In Mahahual, there are cruise ship workers who come and go, taxi drivers, hotel and restaurant employees who are more permanent, and small business owners, some of whom have been here since the time Mahahual was no more than a few houses and a couple stores. Along the coast foreign families buy their dream beach homes, and local caretakers live on the properties year round. Using our church as a home base, we are able to preach the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people, as we see in Revelation 14:6!
Our Mission Field
“Las Casitas” neighborhood of Mahahual
“Las Casitas” neighborhood of Mahahual
“Las Casitas” neighborhood of Mahahual
Las Casitas means “little houses” and was originally built for cruise ship workers as a place to live near the port during cruise ship season. It has since grown and expanded to include a more varied and somewhat more permanent population. This is the neighborhood where Iglesia Cruz de Cristo (Cross of Christ Church) in Mahahual is located.
Río Indio
“Las Casitas” neighborhood of Mahahual
“Las Casitas” neighborhood of Mahahual
Starting about 13 kilometers up the coast from our church, and continuing another 10 kilometers. Río Indio is a beautiful stretch of beach. All up and down that area there are houses of expats, national vacationers, caretakers, and fishermen. By God’s grace, we’ve been able to build contacts to share the gospel in both Spanish and English. Pastor Rosales serves several families here with weekly worship services!
Downtown Mahahual
“Las Casitas” neighborhood of Mahahual
Downtown Mahahual
Besides the port area, this is the main tourist area in town. The long malecón (boardwalk) was constructed after Hurricane Dean in 2007 and is lined with hotels, restaurants, and street vendors. Some people also live in this area.
Kilometer 55
Kilometer 55
Downtown Mahahual
The “Kilometer 55” neighborhood is appropriately named because it’s located at about the 55-kilometer mark from where the Cafetal highway branches off toward Mahahual. Kilometer 55 is only a short distance up the road from our church. The residents are mostly permanent and work in service jobs such as hotel and restaurant employees, taxi drivers, construction workers, and massage therapists on the beach. Most of the people there live in relative poverty. We have served these families and their children for a number of years with Bible studies, kids’ programs, and the soup kitchen.
Here's a video about Kilometer 55 and the ministry we have there.
Pulticub
Kilometer 55
Pulticub
Up the coast 50 km or so along pot-hole filled roads brings you to the small community of Pulticub. Pulticub is one of the traditional fishing areas along the coast and a number of people continue to make their living that way today. It’s amazing to think God opened the door serve several families here These are families that live without electricity, running water, internet or phone service. The children, unfortunately, are not able to attend school because of the remoteness of the area. It’s a great opportunity to preach the Word, and help as we can with physical needs, as well.
Cruz de Cristo - Chetumal
In 2024, Costa Maya Ministries commissioned Pastor Jorge Briones to serve as
missionary to Chetumal. Chetumal is the capital city of our state, Quintana Roo,
with 175,000 people, located about 90 miles west of Mahahual. God blessed the
mission with a very functional rented parsonage with a separate worship space on
the premises. Every Sunday the small new congregation, Cruz de Cristo-
Chetumal, offers worship and Bible study. During the week Pastor Briones is busy
meeting people and building relationships over which the Gospel may flow!
Pictured on the right is Pastor Briones with his family outside of Cruz de Cristo Church in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México.
Exploratory Work in Cozumel
God may be opening another door for the Gospel on the island of Cozumel,
about 200 miles north of Mahahual. Missionary Briones visits several people there about every 3
months to serve them with God’s Word and counsel. He also reaches Cozumel and beyond with weekly worship services from Chetumal. God willing, this exploratory work will “give birth” to a new congregation on the island!
