Category Archives: Church Planting
Check Out Our New Ministry Video!!
It’s finally finished! Check out our video below (click here if you can’t see it)
If you would like a DVD of this presentation to show in your church please send me a message or give me a call at: 678-696-0082.
May God bless! Thank you for following us on our journey to Colombia.
Check Out This Awesome New Resource!!
I strongly believe that Latin America is one of the ripest areas in the world for church planting. The countries are open. The people are receptive. The Gospel is starting to take root. I believe we are on the verge of seeing a massive revival!
If you get a few minutes, I want you to check out this a brand new website chock full of resources for church planting in Latin America. It’s called The Latin Bridge. You see, in order to see this revival come to pass in our generation, we need more laborers and we need to get the right tools in those laborers’ hands.
If you or somebody you know are interested in becoming a church planter, or if you’re a layman or pastor that wants to have a part in seeing people reached with the Gospel we’d like to be a bridge. Check out the website here!
Last Day As Pastor Aarón
Iglesia Bautista El Faro | Dawsonville, GA
The last four and a half years have been a whirlwind for me. Somehow, God saw it fit to let me, a young man (possibly very much arrogant and ignorant) begin a Spanish ministry out of my home church. It was my last semester of Bible College and our project was to start a successful Sunday School class from scratch.
During those first couple months, many lonely weeks would go by with nobody in sight. But then people started coming. Many started accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior. Lives were being changed. Many began to grow in their faith and their love for God. The Lord Jesus Christ began a great work. What started as a Spanish Sunday School class in October of 2006 in a bitter cold tent outside the main building, soon became the Iglesia Bautista El Faro, a full-service church. Midweek services were started, Sunday school, men’s and ladies ministries, outreach events and opportunities, and so much more. Our people began serving others. Many learned how to win someone else to Christ for the first time. Fruits were being multiplied. The Gospel was being spread. Leaders were being trained. (click here to see a video from our 4th anniversary)
The past several years have been some of the greatest in my life. During this time I met an amazing woman named Aubrie, was married, became a father of a precious girl, and saw God work through me in ways I never thought possible.
Sometimes I have asked myself, “Who am I that so great a thing could be done? Who am I to be so blessed? Who am I that so many have come to know Christ through my preaching? Who am I to stand in front of all these and announce the riches of Christ?” … Then it dawns on me, it’s not about who I am, it is ALL about who HE is!! I don’t preach because I am worthy, I preach because the Lord Jesus is worthy! What an awesome life.
This past Sunday was a bittersweet time for us. It was our last day with the precious brethren at our church. It was my last day as Pastor Aarón. We turned over the Spanish Church to Brother Alfonso Gonzalez, the man who had been my assistant. Over the past couple years, the people have grown to love him, respect him and follow him as the man of God. It was a sad time for us, but we know that God was opening up the door for us to go to Colombia, South America as full-time church-planting missionaries. Tears were shed, but our church is excited to be sending out their first missionary, their pastor. Hopefully the first of many! The service itself was such a blessing, with a wonderful attendance and one precious soul saved. Be praying for Eva and her spiritual growth.
All along, it is easy for us to see how Christ has been preparing us for the work he has in store for us. A few years ago, I don’t think I would have been ready for such a task, but God knew that. Isn’t it great how each day He prepares us for the days to come? It is He that strengthens us, teaches us, grows us, establishes us and gives us opportunities to glorify His name!
Many have asked me how to know the Will of God. It’s simple. Love him and grow in him each day. Then do what He wants you to do today, and do it with all your heart. He’ll take care of tomorrow.
The road before us is great. Sometimes it seems daunting, but it is awesome to know that God is with us. He has used us before and will use us again, as long as we remain faithful to what he has entrusted to us. As David in the Bible killed a lion and bear before taking down Goliath, and he took down Goliath before leading a nation, we see that God has given us these small victories. Glory to his name.
Bring on Colombia!
Challenging Pastor Alfonso and his wife Josefina
The ladies praying for their new pastor's wife
Carina and Alfonso Jr.
Wilfredo
Elena
Elizabeth, Stephanie and Susan
Proud Daddy with his Princess
Hector
Of course as good Baptists we have to eat!
- Iglesia Bautista El Faro
The Ball Is Rolling–Fast!
It’s official….
Well, almost.
The application has been sent and we have an interview with Macedonia World Baptist Missions tomorrow morning. Lord willing we will start raising support in 1 month. wow….
It is incredible to see how God has worked in His timing and opened so many doors for us. We are very excited to be going to Colombia, South America to plant churches, win the lost and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are about to start filling up our deputation schedule. If you would like us to present our work in your church please let me know. Send me a message, or give me a call at: 770-519-1689.
God Is Working in Bogotá!
Before coming to Colombia, a mentor and pastor friend of mine recommended that I get together with Freddy Nieto while in Bogotá. He’s the pastor of Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Suba (Suba Biblical Baptist Church) and is doing an incredible work. We met up with him and his wife this morning and spent several hours learning about the way that God is working in Bogotá and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately we weren’t able to go to any of their church services, but we were able to tour the church’s beautiful facility and spend several hours with this precious pastor and his wife. Their church runs about 500 and they see people saved every week. There are many studying in their Bible Institute getting ready to go out into the rest of the country to reach the lost. Amen!
Be praying with me if you will, as Brother Freddy asked me to consider coming back in January to preach their annual youth camp. It would be an awesome opportunity but we’ll have to see if finances and time permit and ultimately if God opens the doors for this.
Later this afternoon we met up with a new missionary family, Daniel and Jennifer Mee along with their beautiful little baby girl Eliana (definitely made me miss my daughter Amira). They work with ABWE and just arrived here in the country about a month ago. They gave us some great advice about deputation, moving to Colombia and general tidbits of info they wished they’d have known before moving here. God is really working in their hearts and they are excited to be part of a movement of church planting and evangelism here in Bogotá and around Colombia.
After a delicious dinner with the Mee family we went to the Bogotá Baptist Seminary that is sponsored by ABWE and enjoyed their evening chapel service. There are quite a few young people studying in the Seminary to become pastors and missionaries and even to be laymen in the churches. There were maybe 40 in the room, then another 90 or so studying online through correspondence courses. Praise God for what he is doing in this ministry! The Lord has already used them to start dozens of churches around Bogotá and there are plans for even more churches down the road as God permits.
What we are finding is that God is definitely working here. It is incredible! People are finding hope. Souls are being eternally saved. Lives are being changed. Families are being restored. Revival is being experienced. It is great!
However, even with the wonderful news about what God is doing in this place, we must be honest with ourselves.
Let me throw some stats at you… I live in the US state of Georgia. According to the 2010 US Census, there are 9,687,653 people in Georgia. That’s just a little bigger than the city of Bogotá–smaller, if you include Bogotá’s larger metro area. In 2005 there were an estimated 8,190 Baptist churches. That’s one church for every 1,183 people. Do we need more churches there? Of course!
Yet… in this city of over 8,500,000 people (11,000,000 according to some statistics) there are maybe 25 or 30 churches, total. Only 25 or 30. That’s all. To me, at first, honestly it seemed like a lot. It seemed that this city, at least, was being reached. But that’s only one church for every 440,000 people. Wow.
God is working here.
But the need is still great.
What are we doing to reach this city?
What are we doing to reach the world?
What will you do?
We’re leaving tomorrow. I am thankful that we’ve been able to spend this time here. God has worked in my heart and I am more excited than ever about coming to this beautiful country and to these beautiful people to tell them about my beautiful Savior. He loves them and gave his life for them. The least we can do is deliver the message!
The Vance Family 