Blog Archives
Video Interview With Colombian President
The following interview by TIME magazine with Colombian President Juan Miguel Santos is worth a few minutes of your time. It may give you a glimpse into where Colombia has been, and where they are going as a country. Would you pray that God would send more laborers into this needy harvest? There are still millions who have never heard the truth of the beautiful Gospel of Christ.
“How Can You Leave Your Baby?!?!”
Please enjoy this guest post by my lovely bride, Aubrie.
“How Can You Leave Your Baby?!?!”
I think that I may have asked a nurse that same question 3 years ago in Peru. She said that there is always a part of you missing when your babies are not with you, but sometimes it is safer that way. She recently told me she left them behind again this year when she went to Haiti to help after the earthquake. She knew it would be dangerous, with dirty water, desperate people, disease, and sickness. She was able to help so many people on that trip and many came to know Christ as their Savior…
Another missionary wife took her small child with her on their survey trip and the baby barely made it home. He was about a year old. He became so ill with high fevers and infections. He was limp, lifeless, and almost dead. The doctors were foreign and were known to poison Christians. The mom just couldn’t leave her baby behind and it almost cost them his life.
Dear Amira,
We’re taking this trip to Colombia and leaving you with Mamaw because it’s the best we can do for you. Mommy and Daddy know that there can be dangers in unfamiliar places and they might not have all the things we have in the United States, like different medicine, vitamins, houses, soap, toys and many other things. So we need to find out what we’ll need to bring and where the safest areas to live are in Colombia, so that we can give you the very best life any Princess could ever have. God has called us to tell people about Jesus everywhere in the world, and Colombia has millions of people who have never heard about salvation. God has called our family to tell people in Colombia about Jesus and that is why we are going. We will be back very soon, and WE LOVE YOU! You are our most favorite beautiful princess!
Love,
-Mommy & Daddy-
December Prayer Letter Update
December 2010
Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! We love celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It really is because of HIM and His saving grace that we do all that we do. This letter will give you a brief update about our family, our ministry and our trip to Colombia. If you’d like to stay even more connected with us, please visit our website and blog at: http://www.BeMagnified.org.
click here to download our prayer letter (with pictures!)
Amira is growing like crazy (they tell me that’s what babies do). She will be about 9 months old by the time many of you will get this letter. She’s saying all sorts of baby words (including the most important “mama” and “dada!”), and she’s learning how to get around pretty well. We also had a great time visiting my brother Zach at Pensacola Christian College with my family over Thanksgiving. He is a freshman there.
Things continue to go well at Iglesia Bautista El Faro (the Spanish Church in Georgia that I pastor). In October we worked a booth for 10 days at the County Fair where quite a few from our church turned out to help distribute literature and witness to people. We later celebrated our 4th Anniversary and the Lord blessed in incredible ways. In December we hosted our first Annual Family Conference with Ronald Tubillas preaching in three special services. I believe this upcoming year will be the best yet at El Faro.
Our upcoming survey trip to Colombia, South America is less than 2 months away! We have our tickets and are extremely excited to finally see this land that the Lord has called us to. God has miraculously provided most of the funds needed, and he has used many of you to do this. If you would like to have a part in sending us to Colombia, there’s still a chance. We still lack about $700 and every little bit helps. You can make a check out to Lighthouse Baptist Church and mark it “Vance Colombia Trip” and send it to the address below. This gift is tax-deductible. Also, please be praying for the people of Colombia during this time. They’ve had an unusually strong rainy season this year that has left over 1.7 million people homeless throughout the whole country and 223 souls have died. The need is great! Thank you, and may God continue to bless you and your family.
May Christ Be Magnified,
Aaron, Aubrie & Amira Vance
Philippians 1:20-21
Colombia Survey Trip Details
Colombia Survey Trip Details
Aaron & Aubrie Vance | February 2011
Target Cities:
∙ Bogotá (July 2009 metro population–8,500,000)
∙ Bucaramanga (July 2009 population–1,300,000)
∙ Medellín (June 2009 metro population–3,500,000)
Goals:
∙ To obtain a larger burden for and understanding of the Colombian people and culture
∙ To gain more of an grasp of God’s Will for us in Colombia, specifically, the when and where
∙ To evaluate possible cities in which God would have us to work
∙ To plan general financial budgets, both personal and ministerial
∙ To assess specific needs and goals for long-term mission work
∙ To look upon the harvest, and to allow our eye to affect our heart
∙ To get footage, pictures and materials to assist with deputation
Information To Obtain:
Cost Of Living:
∙ Rent/Housing Costs per region/estrata
∙ Average Utility Costs per estrata
∙ Available Transportation and Costs–Buses, Taxis, Train, Purchase a Car, etc.
∙ Cost Of Food–Market, Grocery, etc.
∙ Availability and costs of Appliances and Furniture
∙ Residency/Visa Costs, Taxes
Ministerial:
∙ Rent/Purchase of a Building & Property Costs per Region
∙ Legal parameters of starting a church–license, zoning, permission, etc.
∙ Evaluate need and reception of the Gospel per Region (locate other missionaries/churches)
∙ See what is already being done for God’s kingdom and the opposition that exists
∙ Meet experienced pastors and missionaries and learn from them
Missionaries For Possible Contact:
Bogotá:
∙ Michael Hart (mikerhart@juno.com)
∙ William Aya (ayacolombia@yahoo.com)
∙ Ruday Garrido (rgarrido.com)
∙ Johnny Bolin (juanandsusana@abwe.cc.com)
∙ Craig Lingo (craig.lingo@bbfimissions.org)
∙ Freddy Nieto (ibscolombia@yahoo.com)
Bucaramanga:
∙
Medellín:
∙ Rick Washburn (kennethsr@vandaliabaptist.org)
∙ Jerard (ayacolombia@yahoo.com)
Other:
∙ Paul Clark (clark1997@aol.com)
∙ José Morales (josemorales1234@hotmail.com)
Expense Summary For Our Trip
Transportation
Flight from US to Colombia $1000
Flights Between Cities $300
Buses Between Cities $100
Taxi/Buses/Metro $300
Total: $1700
Hotels/Lodging
Bogotá $300
Bucaramanga $300
Medellín $300
Total: $900
Food/Dining
Bogotá $200
Bucaramanga $200
Medellín $200
Total: $600
Miscellaneous
Bogotá $100
Bucaramanga $100
Medellín $100
Total: $300
Grand Total: $3500
THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Many have tried to guess what our “Big Announcement” would be. Are we having another baby? Are we starting deputation? Did we win the lottery? lol… Most have probably figured it out already by hearing it through the grapevine, picking up on hints, or just being super smart. Well, wait no longer to be sure. Here’s our big news:
September 2010
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! We hope this letter finds you blessed by God, and living daily for His Kingdom. Aubrie and I have some exciting news to share. We are thrilled to announce that we will be taking our survey trip to Colombia in February of 2011!! This is something that we have been anticipating for years as God has burdened us for this place that so desperately needs Christ.
Colombia is commonly reported as the least evangelized of all Latin American countries, yet in recent years its doors are opening wide to the Gospel. Its reputation as a violent and dangerous country is also changing as leftist rebel groups and drug lords are loosing ground. On our trip, we plan to spend 2 weeks visiting missionaries and national pastors that are there doing the work, as well as scan out the land to see exactly where God would have us eventually live and serve. This is a vital step for us.
God has been working on my heart for missions since I was 11 years old. I have been able to go on several mission trips around the globe, including a 6-month internship in Peru, South America. I graduated in 2007 from the Baptist College for World Evangelism. In 2006 God allowed me to begin and pastor a Spanish ministry out of my home church, Lighthouse Baptist Church in Dawsonville, GA under Pastor Charles Blackstock. We have seen God do some amazing things during the past 4 years! People have been saved and baptized, lives have been changed, and we’ve seen many rise up in leadership. We have learned so much that will be put to use on the mission field. Although we love serving in the Spanish ministry, our heart is continually burdened for Colombia. We see that God is now opening the door to move on to the next stage of our lives. This survey trip is the next step for us before deputation.
As much as we anticipate our upcoming trip to Colombia, we desperately need your help in order to get there. We need people that will partner with us prayerfully and financially. This trip will cost around $3,500. We know that God will provide every penny, but we also know that he uses people to carry out his work. Will you be one of these people? Will you be a yokefellow together with us? If so, you can make a check out to Lighthouse Baptist Church and mark it “Vance Colombia Trip,” then mail it to 329 Harmony Church Rd. Dawsonville, GA 30534. This gift is tax deductable. If you would like to follow our life and ministry, feel free to check out our website at: www.BeMagnified.com. Thank you, and may God continue to bless you and your family.
May Christ Be Magnified,
Aaron, Aubrie & Amira Vance
Philippians 1:20-21
