Alamo Street Community Church in Monclova, Mexico expects a crowd of visitors in its sanctuary beginning July 4.

While their family members are celebrating Independence Day here, teens and youth leaders from the Columbiana Church of the Nazarene plan to help a church grow.

“The Nazarene Church is based on mission work,” said youth pastor Keith Matthews. “We make a point of taking a trip at least once every other year.”

The five members of the Columbiana church will meet up with 32 other people from churches across the state. They plan to assist on an expansion project for the church and in hosting a vacation Bible school.

“It’s exciting when we get to come together with people from other churches and work together as a team,” Matthews said.

Church members already came together to raise money to take the trip in the first place.

Matthews said they held a Valentine’s Day banquet, fish fry, dessert auction, Sunday dinners and “a lot of prayer” to offset the cost of the trip.

He said it was important for money to not be a hinderance, especially for the teens going. He said the church did everything it could to help families afford the trip.

“We take them so they can go out and help others and realize how blessed they are,” Matthews said. “We also want them to realize that God created them to help each other.”

Columbiana members have lent their services before in the Bahamas, as well as Bayou La Batre and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Other members making the seven-day trek are Skylin Brasher, Noelle Wiliford, Hunter Winslett and Samantha Matthews.