The Yucaipa Valley Spanish congregation has purchased the former Judah International church at 12504 Fourth Street in Yucaipa.

The 140-member church held its first services in the new facility April 12. Immediately after the inaugural service, the congregation planned to begin an aggressive program of activities in order to meet the needs of the Spanish community.

Considering the advantages of purchasing this property, plans for constructing a new church building on Bryant Street were canceled, and the land is now for sale.

The new facility occupies two square acres of space at the corner of Fourth and E streets. The property has a church auditorium that needs some renovation and a parking lot that will hold 120 cars.

Included in the purchase price of $1,250,000 is a large recreation building that includes a gymnasium, a kitchen and storages facilities. The building will be used for children's Sabbath school classes. There are also several small structures that could be used for storage as well as church ministries activities.

The local Hispanic Adventist congregation is an offspring of the Calimesa church. For 12 years, they have been conducting their worship services at Mesa Grande Academy.