Category Archives: Iglesia Bautista El Faro
June Prayer Letter Update
Click Image To See Our Prayer Letter Full Size (With Pictures!)
June, 2011
Dear Pastor, Partners and Praying Friends,
Deputation Update
We sure have been blessed by the Lord’s goodness! The past couple months have been amazing and busy as we have started full-time deputation. My last day of secular work was May 6th, and he has continued to provide for us over and over. Our travels have taken us around GA, OH, TN and SC. We’ve met many new friends and were encouraged by the desire of several of them to partner with us financially. I have been doing my best to work at least 8-10 hours per day calling pastors to fill up the rest of our calendar for deputation. We know God has the meetings we need. Please pray that He opens the right doors for us.
I was recently able to preach a Spanish church fellowship hosted at the church I started in Dawsonville, GA. It was great to see our good friends and see that the work there has even grown! They’ve seen several saved and baptized, and had more families join the church. It’s great to know that Christ is still building His church.
Out Of The Mouth Of Babes
Amira (who is 14 months old) was sitting with Aubrie the other day while I was calling pastors downstairs, and she kept saying and signing “more dad, more dad, more dad.” Now, if that doesn’t make you want to take a 10-minute daddy-daughter break, I don’t know what will! ☺ She’s growing well, talking to anybody who will listen, and even starting to potty train! (That tidbit is for all the ladies out there).
Colombian Culture Corner
Colombia, just like many cultures, has quite a few sayings and idioms. One of these is “¡Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho!” (Translation: From what’s said to what’s done, there’s a big gap. Basically, it’s the same as our saying: “Easier said than done”). How true!
Prayer Requests
1. For more meetings to open up for deputation
2. For safety on the road as we travel to many different states this summer
3. For financial support to start coming in (now at around 10%)
4. For God to start preparing hearts in Colombia to receive the Gospel when we arrive.
5. For more people to surrender their lives to take the Gospel to the world. How about you?
For Christ and His Glory,
Aaron Aubrie and Amira Vance
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:20-21
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
Pray for Our Family Conference!
The Spanish church that I pastor will be hosting our first Conferencia Familiar (Family Conference) over the first weekend in December. If you don’t mind, please pray that people would come, that their families would be helped, and that Jesus would be glorified. That’s what it’s all about!
Iglesia Bautista El Faro • Dawsonville, Georgia
¡Feliz Aniversario!
Today we celebrated 4 years since we started Iglesia Bautista El Faro (Lighthouse Baptist Church) in Dawsonville, GA. Without a doubt, God has blessed in huge ways! Check out a video we showed during the service after the jump.
How has God blessed you this year?
The Vance Family 