Category Archives: Family
Blessings and Burdens — June 2024 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
The past couple of months have been blessed, though filled with trials. Through it all, we praise God for his goodness and faithfulness as we minister in Colombia. He continues to work in mighty ways. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!
Ongoing Church Ministry
I’m genuinely amazed at how Jesus continually builds his church. Besides constantly witnessing new spiritual births as people believe the Gospel, we see them grow and work together in Jesus’ mission. Week by week, people are bringing their friends to Jesus. We’ve been busy with special events, too. We recently celebrated Children’s Day, serving over 100 kids from the community and sharing lots of fun and the Gospel. We showed a Gospel film; many people brought lost friends and family. God is working, and what a blessing to be a part of it!
Exciting Youth Camp
At the end of June, we hosted our second annual youth camp, in which over 50 teens and young adults gathered from the various churches we have started here in Bucaramanga. We studied the life of Daniel and were challenged to live counter-cultural lives. As these young people feel the reality of living in modern Babylon, many made decisions that will change the course of their lives and their eternity. Praise the Lord!
Pray For My Father
My dad, Richard Vance, was taken in May to the hospital with a severe infection, sepsis in his blood, and several other issues. He came very close to death a few times over the following weeks. After several surgeries on his foot, and after the specialists determined it could not be salvaged, his leg was amputated just below the knee. He was diagnosed with neuropathy and Charcot bone degenerative disease. He is now on the long road to recovery, therapy, and life adjustment. Lord willing, he will soon be transferred temporarily to a rehabilitation center. He has had an excellent spirit through it all and seems to be at peace with the change. I went to spend a week with him in June between our ministry busyness in Colombia, and I am so glad I did! Pray for him and my mom in the days ahead.
Family News
Aubrie and I recently celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary and our second daughter, Anabel’s, 12th birthday. Time is just flying by! We also enjoyed a visit from some of Aubrie’s family. We even took her uncle to try paragliding over the city!
Praises and Prayer Requests
- Lord willing, we’ll finally sign papers to purchase the building for Agape Baptist Church in July. We praise the Lord that the exchange rate has improved by around 10% since our last prayer letter. We were very concerned about this matter earlier this year, but God’s timing is perfect!
- In August, we will once again host a team from Medical Mission Outreach to offer an optical clinic and outreach for our community. Pray for the logistics of the trip and the souls of the people we will serve.
- Aubrie is still needing another surgery for her skin cancer. This will likely be before our next update.
For The Name of Christ,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with the girls: Amira, Anabel, Aris & Alethea)
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
—Colossians 3:17—
What a blessing to serve kids from the community on Children’s Day! 
Showing the flim “The Case For Christ” 
Pouring into the next generation of youth for the glory of God. 
Not only was I able to go visit my dad in June, I also got to see my brother, sister & mom. A rare event to be all together! 
I thank God for excellent in-laws! 
After 15 years of marriage to Aubrie, there’s still nobody I’d rather do life with. I thank God for my wife!
Travel & Teaching — March 2024 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
God continues to open abundant opportunities to serve him here in Colombia and beyond. This year has been packed with travel & teaching. We are deeply grateful for your prayers and support, which have been instrumental in our mission work.
Training Pastors in India And Nepal
I was invited to train national pastors in India and Nepal in January. Over one month, I preached and taught 41 times in 8 churches and 11 different pastors’ and leaders’ conferences. Over 2,000 people attended, with 800 of those being pastors. We were in many regions, each with its own dialect and culture. The travel was strenuous, and the schedule was demanding, but God blessed us in huge ways! The theme of these conferences was Gospel-Centered life and ministry.
Multiply Conference in Chile
March brought a new opportunity to preach and teach in the annual pastors and leaders conference at the Chile Baptist Seminary, hosted by veteran missionary Jason Holt. It was a blessing to share with the Chilean pastors about evangelism and discipleship and learn from the ministry experience of other faithful missionaries and pastors.
Growing Churches in Colombia
We are thrilled with the spiritual and numerical growth of the churches God has allowed us to start in Colombia. We regularly witness new people getting saved, baptized, and joining the local churches, but it never gets old! The Gospel is changing lives! God has blessed our evangelism and discipleship efforts, and we’re always looking for ways to continue to push forward. There is still much to do!
Men’s Camp
The men from our churches always look forward to gathering collectively in March for our annual men’s retreat. We focused this year on living out the principles of the upside-down kingdom of God. Pastors Felix and Juan joined me in teaching, and the Lord worked in many hearts.
New Semester of Bible Institute
We also started a new year of Bible and ministry training classes in March to prepare our churches’ upcoming pastors and leaders. We praise God for the 40(+) students studying apologetics and ecclesiology this semester. Additionally, I gather with 25 men weekly who feel called into pastoral ministry. We go over doctrine, ministry ethics, and homiletics. Only God knows what the future holds for these faithful believers!
Building Prayer Request
We have mentioned the fundraising efforts to purchase our current rented facility for Agape Baptist Church. We praise God for meeting the initial goal and being able to start the paperwork process. However, the US dollar has lost about 25% of its value compared to the Colombian Peso over the past year, and it is now the lowest it has been in 3 years. Aside from affecting our personal finances, this significantly impacts the value of the funds we still need to bring from the US to Colombia to finalize the purchase of the building. Pray for this need.
For The Cause of Christ,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with the girls: Amira, Anabel, Aris & Alethea)
“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the ant of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;”
—2 Corinthians 9:11-12—
I learned to preach shoe-less and in a kurta (man dress) in India. All things to all men! 
What a great work God is doing in Chile! The night sessions were held outdoors. 
“We spent 15 years in a religion that only gave us more fear of eternity. Now we know Christ, his Gospel and his peace!”
-Luis Fernando giving his testimony before getting baptized.
Pastor Felix teaching in the men’s retreat. It’s been great seeing God’s work in him and through him during the past decade. 
It’s a great honor to teach and train God’s choice servants. Pray for his work in them. 
In February & March we celebrated birthdays for Aubrie, Aris (9), and Amira (14)! 
What a Year! — December 2023 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
We trust you had a wonderful and Christ-filled Christmas. As we reflect on 2023, we are constantly amazed at the goodness of God. He continues to pour out his blessing and cause the ministry in Colombia to flourish. Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support!
Celebrating New Milestones
The primary church we’re working at now, Agape Baptist, continues growing and reaching new people. Each month, our attendance average increases. We are witnessing new salvations, baptisms, and discipleship involvement. Many men are advancing in their ministry training. By God’s grace, we have around 250 people attending each week! We celebrated this church’s 3rd anniversary this November.
Exciting Building News
Despite concern over the recent devaluing of the US dollar, by God’s grace and through the generous donations of some of our supporting churches and the Colombian members of Agape Baptist, we have met our fundraising goal to purchase our current rented facility! We praise God for this open door. Pray for us as we work out the paperwork in the days ahead. As God leads and provides, we’re already making future plans to purchase an adjoining lot that will allow us to continue growing and expanding.
Opportunity To Train Pastors
God opened the door for me to travel to India and Nepal in January and February of 2024 with another missionary friend. He has been several times and wanted me to join him on this trip. Lord willing, I will teach around 500 local pastors in training seminars between 10-12 locations. Some of these areas have been affected by persecution and oppression. I pray that I can bless those leading Christ’s church in this needy area. Though traveling from South America to South Asia is odd, training pastors has always been at the heart of my calling. This is an incredible opportunity! By God’s grace, my primary travel expenses have already been taken care of by my missionary friend. However, I could still use some financial help to get around the country and try to be a blessing to the local pastors and hosts. We know where God guides, he provides.
Aubrie’s Health Update
Aubrie had a tumor removed in October. This turned out to be malignant, though it is a very treatable type of skin cancer. We were told that she would need another surgery sometime in the coming months. Thank you all for your prayers for this and the other health needs Aubrie has been facing lately.
We Thank God For You!
November marked ten years since we moved to Colombia as church-planting missionaries. Our hearts were full of dreams and expectations to spread the Gospel and God’s glory, but we didn’t know the full scope of what the Lord would do. Thank you for holding the ropes for us. Many of you have faithfully supported us since the beginning, and others have joined our team of partners recently. We thank God for you!
For The Glorious Christ,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with the girls: Amira, Anabel, Aris & Alehea)
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
—Ephesians 3:20-21—
Our little family continues to grow. How is the time going by so fast?! 
Agape Baptist Church celebrated its third anniversary. Christ builds his church! 
Thanksgiving is just another ordinary day for most Colombians, but we had the privilege of hosting several ex-pat families for Thanksgiving again this year. 
We were blessed to host Pastor Alberto Gomez in October. He was the first to challenge me to pray about Colombia when I was a student nearly 20 years ago! 
We celebrated Alethea’s sixth birthday in November. How is she our youngest? 
Baptisms, Blessings, and Burdens — September 2023 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
Different Look, Same Gospel
Sometimes, the ministry looks different overseas than in the USA. Sometimes, the ministry even looks different from place to place in the same city! For instance, in the past month, one of our churches baptized several new believers in a nearby river, another did baptisms in a portable wooden and fiberglass baptistry, and yet another baptized converts in an inflatable jacuzzi. Though we adapt to the culture and the available resources, what unites us is the same faith in the same Gospel!
Successful Youth Camp
In August, we organized our own youth camp for the first time. Several dozen teens and young adults from our local churches gathered over three days to learn about our new life in Christ. It was a joy to lead this camp and see God work in the lives of many of these young people. I was also blessed as some of the other pastors we’ve reached and trained over the years helped me preach through the book of First Peter with these teens. Not too long ago, these pastors were curious university students investigating Christianity themselves!
Building Project Obstacles
We have recently faced challenges in purchasing our current rented facility for Agape Baptist Church. We are getting close to our initial fundraising goal of $200,000, and we have recently received several designated gifts from our friends and supporting churches. However, the owner has raised the asking price in our negotiations. At the same time, the dollar has come down about 25% in value compared to the Colombian Peso since last year. With those factors, we still need around $45,000. We need your help! Would you consider giving a tax-deductible gift toward this need? Gifts can be sent online or by mail to MWBM, Inc. PO Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517 and marked “A. Vance- Building” in the memo. The clock is ticking to finalize this purchase before the end of the year. We are looking for other options, but our current building is still the best fit. May God’s will be done!
Family News and Needs
In August, we enjoyed another visit from my Mother-in-law, Juanita. She is always a blessing to us. And, like the rest of our family on both sides, she has always supported our move to the mission field so well. It has been said that parents and grandparents often sacrifice more than the missionary families themselves.
Despite the many recent blessings, our family is facing another challenging season. We have felt the weight and pressures of ministry, spiritual oppression, financial hardships, and health needs. On top of all the other medical issues Aubrie has already been facing, she has a skin tumor that will be removed in October. It will be sent to pathology to see if it is cancerous. We appreciate your prayers for this and many other needs.
Thankful Hearts
We thank God for being our faithful and strong rock through every stage of life and ministry. He is worthy of all praise, and no sacrifice can ever be too great for him. And once again, thank you for your faithful prayers and support. May God bless, guide, protect, and provide for your needs.
For Our Faithful God,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with the girls: Amira, Anabel, Aris & Alethea)
“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”
—Psalm 9:1-2—
Pastor Nelson baptizing one of five new believers at North Baptist (Café Madrid). 
Pastor Félix baptizing one of four new believers at Lighthouse Baptist (El Faro). 
Pastor Juan baptizing one of five new believers at Agape Baptist. 
The youth camp, “Reboot” was a great success! Thanks to those who prayed and gave. 
Our girls love their “Mamaw!” 
Every year on the day our son passed away, we look for a boy or two to give a small gift to in his honor. Our neighbors sure enjoyed this tradition! Amaziah would have been four in September.
Thousands Served, and Hundreds Saved! — June 2023 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
It has been a very busy season here in Colombia, and God continues to do amazing things! Hundreds of people have come to know and believe the Gospel in the last few months. Thank you for praying for us and for supporting us financially to be able to serve on the mission field.
Addition & Multiplication
Our primary church, Ágape Baptist Church, has continued to grow immensely. We added an extra Sunday morning service two months ago to accommodate the new people. Our weekly attendance is now over 240 individuals each Sunday! Besides the new attendance highs, we’re even more excited about people getting saved, baptized, discipled, and added to our church. We hold a “Faithful Men” meeting every Monday for men who feel a call toward ministry. The name of this meeting is based on 2 Timothy 2:2. It is one of my favorite times of the week, as I meet with 20-25 men hungry to grow spiritually and serve the Lord Jesus. Pray for them as they prepare to follow God’s leading, and as they teach others also.
Special Guests From The USA
In June, we enjoyed a refreshing visit with a group from First Baptist Church in Ashland, Ohio. Over a week, they helped us distribute many thousands of Gospel tracts! The group saw our city’s need and some ministries and churches God has allowed us to start here over the years. We put Pastor Stollings to work preaching and teaching six times! We also enjoyed having a young man named Samuel with us for three weeks. He is praying about being a missionary and even considering Colombia. Pray that God would direct his steps.
Huge Outreach Effort
At the end of June, we also hosted a group of 27 volunteers from Medical Missions Outreach to offer a vision clinic to our community. The devil fought tirelessly, and he did his best to stop everything. However, we still helped over 1,500 people with glasses. Each person heard the Gospel one-on-one, and we praise the Lord for at least 290 professions of faith! Each number represents a person, a soul whom the Lord loves. We are already looking forward to MMO’s return in August of 2024.
Almost to the Goal!
We’re inching closer to being able to purchase our current rented facility. Out of the initial $200,000 goal, thanks to many of you, we are only lacking around $30,000! Would you consider helping us reach this goal in the next few months? Every little bit helps! For those wondering, our next stage would be to also purchase the empty lot behind our church and expand our auditorium and classroom space in God’s timing and according to his will.
Family Funnies
A friend recently told Alethea (5 years old) that her shoes were on the wrong feet, and her big sister Aris (8 years old) said they’re always on the wrong feet because she’s left-handed.
With Love in Christ Jesus,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with the girls: Amira, Anabel, Aris & Alethea)
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”
—Philippians 1:3-5—
Many in Colombia long for a political reformation. Protests and marches are common. But what Colombia needs is a spiritual awakening! We get to be a part. 
We added another 20 adults and their families to church membership in June! I love to see how Christ builds his church. 
With the pastor and mission team from First Baptist Church, Ashland, Ohio 
Part of the 1,500 people we served from the community with free glasses and the Gospel. 
Some of the 100 volunteers from our churches and some of the MMO volunteers. What a great group God! 
My girls got to serve all week alongside wonderful MMO volunteers like Mrs. Yvonne. 
Aubrie and I just celebrated 14 years of marriage. It has been quite a crazy ride, but I am so thankful we get to do this life together! 
The Vance Family 
