When Pastor José Sánchez and Co-pastor Ela Sánchez founded Ministerio Internacional Nueva Jerusalen in 1996, their congregation had fewer than ten members. Today, the multilingual ministry welcomes families from more than 30 nations and is preparing new ambitious development projects in the Hiram Clarke and Fort Bend Houston communities.
Growing With the Neighborhood
In 2000, the Sánchez family purchased a long-abandoned property at 12230 Hodges Street, just off what is now US 90A. That same year, they bought one of the first homes in the Corinthian Pointe neighborhood, where their children grew up watching the community take shape. “This community saw us grow up,” said Assistant Pastor Irvin Sánchez, who was a child when his family arrived.
The church expanded its Hodges Street building in 2010 to hold 1,000 people. It now holds three services every Sunday in Spanish and English, with interpretation into a Guatemalan language spoken by many families in the congregation. The family’s commitment to the area extends to leadership as well: Irvin’s brother, Caleb Sánchez, serves on the board of the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority.
Thirty Acres for the Community
In 2021, the church purchased 30 acres along US 90A between Chimney Rock and Post Oak. The original goal was more parking, but the vision quickly grew. “We bought them for church purposes, but now we see it as 30 acres for the community,” Pastor Irvin said.
The land is already open to local youth, who come to play soccer and visit the horses and cattle kept there. Plans call for a 3,800-seat sanctuary with retractable seating so the building can serve as an emergency shelter or community event space, along with a youth center and a children’s center for up to 1,000 kids with daytime childcare. The site also includes a public park with walking and bike trails and lakes, as well as four acres of shopping centers dedicated to restaurants and new local businesses. A school for about 800 students, pre-K through 12th grade, is planned for a second phase.
Designs are complete, and the church is working through the city permitting process with hopes to break ground in the next two years.
Why Hiram Clarke and Fort Bend Houston communities
For Pastor Irvin, the project is about giving neighbors reasons to stay close to home. It is also about believing in the people who already call the area home. “All we need is somebody to believe in us,” he said. “We don’t want to leave, but we want others to come here. This is our community. This is our home.” His advice for developers considering the area is simple. “You’re looking at the right place. There is a big future in our area, and we are part of that future.”
Building What Comes Next, Together
Nueva Jerusalen’s vision reflects the kind of long-term investment the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority works to support. Through infrastructure improvements, blight removal, and strategic land acquisition, TIRZ 25 is laying the groundwork for a more connected and vibrant community. That work depends on partners who are ready to build.
Pastor Irvin often returns to a verse from scripture that says one can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight. “One person doing many projects can get far,” he said. “But if we have people joining us to build this community, then we can do something greater in less time.”
That spirit is at the heart of the Developers Networking Reception, taking place Thursday, October 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at FountainLife Center, 14083 S. Main St. The evening brings together developers, investors, and community partners to connect with the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority team, explore the zone’s development pipeline, and learn where the next opportunities lie. Whether you are planning your first project in the area or your next one, it is a chance to meet the people already building here. Register for the free event and get connected with our Developers Pipeline before you arrive.
