Category Archives: News
October 2016 Prayer Letter
Dear Pastors, Family & Praying Friends,
The last month has been packed full of God’s blessing on the ministry in Colombia. Read on to rejoice with us, as well as to be able to pray about several needs.
((Click here to download a printable PDF of this prayer letter))
Making It Official
In September, we took a big step as a body of believers in officially organizing and constituting our church. Over 60 saved & baptized adults signed a covenant of membership and legal documents as founding members. What an exciting day! Pray for us in the days ahead as we submit paperwork and travel to Bogotá to finalize the legal process. Having these documents allows us to open more facets of ministry, & assist missionaries who will need religious visas.
Passing The Torch
We were pleased to have my pastor, Charles Blackstock, with us for a week to celebrate the organizing of the church as well as preach several special services. He was a tremendous blessing to our people, to the men who are training for ministry, and especially my family. I wouldn’t be here today were it not for the years I spent under his mentorship!
Looking Around In Love
We love these people. We love the way God is working amongst them. Many of the men and women who have gone through the discipleship program are now reaching & teaching others, both within the church body and in the community. Continue to pray for this work, as well as a new meeting place as we are out of room! To move into a larger facility is going to cost quite a bit, but we have a BIG God! Pray if God would have you to support this ministry monthly as lives are being changed. It would be an investment into eternity.
Looking Back In Joy
Just over 10 years ago, in October of 2006, God allowed me, as a young, overconfident, single gringo to begin a Spanish ministry in Dawsonville, GA as an outreach of my church. I learned so much during those years. God was patient with me. My pastor was patient with me. Those first few families were patient with me. But through it all, a church was born and it is thriving today. The man who pastors now, Alfonso González, was my assistant for the last few years before we turned over the work to begin deputation, and is doing an excellent job! Many times I feel like a parent of grown children who are beginning their own families. That’s what ministry is all about. We trust to see the same thing many times over here in Colombia!
Looking Ahead In Hope
Our mission work in the north of our city is going fantastic. About 150 people meet with us on Saturdays in a park under trees & tarps with a “Sunday-School” type structure. We plan to find a building soon & establish a “full-service” church here as soon as God gives us the green light and one of our men is ready. Pray for this, as well as the finances to help them get started!
Also, each year we have a special event for Christmas. We give a gift to each child, teen, and adult who come to the program on Saturdays, a meal for everyone and a special presentation and Gospel message for the whole community. If you would like to sponsor one (or many!) of the 150 people, we’d love to give you the opportunity to do so! Just send a check to MWBM, PO Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517 and mark it “A Vance – Special Project”, or you can give online!
We Believe In Prayer
We couldn’t be here without your prayers! As you pray, please remember us in the following:
- The growth of our church — As well as finances to find a larger facility (we are packed out each week)!
- The training of the 16 men in the Bible Institute — Alfredo, David, Didian, Díver, Ernesto, Félix, Javier, Jhon Didier, Jhon Fredi, Juan Danilo, Julián, Kenneth, Leonardo, Libardo, Óscar, Óscar Mauricio…
- The advancement of our mission in the Café Madrid neighborhood — Especially the Christmas program in December and future plans to officially establish a church.
- Our family — Specifically our health and finances, and an upcoming trip I have in November to preach a pastors conference in Cuzco, Peru.
We love you & thank our God for each remembrance of you. Keep on keeping on for Jesus! He is worthy!!
Love In Christ,
The Vance Family
PS – Here are a few photos from recent days in the ministry here. Enjoy!
God Worked! Inauguration Service Report
Once again, I have been absolutely amazed. God continues to put his blessing on our ministry in Colombia. Many of you prayed much for our first service at Iglesia Bíblica Bautista El Faro in Bucaramanga. Following is a report of what God did.
- Around 40 thousand invites & tracts total were distributed
- 25 people attended the English Service on Sunday July 13th
- 39 or 40 people attended the Spanish Service that followed
- I was able to start a series in John, wherein I shared the first several verses and the thought, God Came to Us! He brought us eternity, he brought us light, and he brought us life. What an amazing truth! All we must do is receive him.
- 5 people informed us that they repented and trusted Christ alone to be saved!
- Most everybody said they’d be back and bring a friend!
- Many people came because they received an invite in the street or in their home, several came that were personal contacts of mine, some through our Facebook Page and some through the website.
- The visiting group from our sending church, Lighthouse Baptist in Dawsonville, has been such a blessing. They have helped paint and repair many areas of the church building, pass out thousands of invites and tracts the past week, and helped with a few things during the service. We thank God for their presence and help. Pray for my pastor, Charles Blackstock, who will be preaching our midweek service tonight (Tuesday).
- Sunday evening we participated in a special service across town at a sister church with Panamanian missionary, José Morales. They had a wonderful attendance with many visitors. My pastor preached, I interpreted, and the Holy Spirit did a special work.
Thank you all for your prayers and financial support. We have gotten off to a great start! With the funeral that the Lord allowed us to host last Wednesday, as well as this inauguration, we have seen dozens of people profess faith in Christ in the first week of our church! GOD IS GOOD!
Please continue to pray for us. We are just getting started! Pray that some of the young men that have already shown interest would allow God to move in their hearts and lives, and that He would call some to the ministry and let us train and equip them. This is what it’s all about!
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Here are a few pictures from a wonderful day.
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- Literature distribution!
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- Jason painting over some graffiti that was on the front of the church. It turned out great!
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- Will 4 helping get our lyric and verse projection set up.
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- Getting to know one another.
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- A new use for offering baskets!
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- Singing praises to our God
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- Miss Stephanie singing a wonderful special to prepare people’s hearts to hear from God’s Word
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- Sharing from God’s precious word.
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- Bro. Victor mingling with a few Colombian men that came to our service.
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- Thank God for this group. They’ve been a blessing!
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- Pastor Blackstock preaching to the church on the other side of town on Sunday night.
Update – Funeral Service
Thank you all who prayed for the funeral this afternoon. Honestly, it was an incredible service and it was such and honor to speak God’s Word.
There were over 100 people inside our building and another dozen or two outside. I though we only had space in our church for 80. I guess I was wrong!It was packed.
We sung a few songs, shared a testimony of the deceased’s salvation and love for others, and I was able to share a Bible message of hope and salvation from John 14:1-6.
What God did next was amazing. A large number of those present decided to make a profession of faith in Jesus alone for salvation. Most had heard that Jesus died on the cross, and had some form of religion, but they admitted that having religion and trusting in our own works is simply not enough. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! They repented and believed in Him.
We praise Jesus for the work he did today and pray that this fruit will remain. Many expressed their desire to continue with us and grow in their new life.
What an honor to this elderly saint (who herself accepted Christ just last May!) that new birth would take place at the service celebrating her death.
God was glorified. The family was comforted. God’s family grew by a bunch.
Thank you for praying! Please continue to pray for this family, both those that started new life today and others who are still grieving their loss.
I stand in wonder of His grace to allow us to be a part of something much greater than ourselves.
I snapped a few pics after I finished preaching before we dismissed. Enjoy…
PS – The visiting group from our church in the States made it in just fine. Pray for a productive and fruitful trip, and for the upcoming official inauguration this Sunday!
Farewell, USA! September-October 2013 Prayer Letter
Dear Prayer Partners,
Well friends, this is the last prayer letter you will receive from us for a while…from the USA.
Deputation Update IS FINISHED!!
Yes, within days we will land in Colombia to begin the next stage of our ministry! Deputation has been a blessing to us over the last 2 years. We have made many “yoke fellow” friends. Thank you for standing with us as we take the Gospel to South America.
The best I can tell from our numbers, we were in just over 300 churches, travelling about 150,000 miles. We were in 23 States, stayed in 42 prophet’s chambers and over 100 hotels. It’s been a very busy but exciting time. God has taught us many lessons, primarily that we would trust him. He is a great God, and he always takes care of us. We don’t deserve his blessings, but we are so grateful both to Him and to you that have helped us along our way.
Currently we are at 95% of our needed support. Please pray with me that God would enable just a few more monthly partners, so that we may fully minister to the Colombian people.
Staying In Touch
Technology is great to stay connected overseas. Here’s how to get in touch of us while in Colombia. Be sure to check out our website, bemagnified.org (or sign up for email newsletter!) for periodic updates that aren’t included by mail.
Email:
(also works with iMessage/FaceTime for apple/mac users)
aaronlvance@gmail.com | aubrie888@yahoo.com
Phone:
(US number that will work for texting & calls)
(678) 696-0082
Facebook / Twitter / Skype:
search: aaronlvance
Mailing Address:
(contact us after we arrive and we can give you info on how to send us letters or packages)
Colombia Visit Opportunity!
Upon arrival to Colombia, we’ll immediately begin setting up our house and ministry. I would like to invite you to visit us on a short-term mission trip. We are organizing a special trip for singles & college aged students on June 9-26, 2014. This will include one week at the Our Generation Camp in GA for training, and nearly 2 weeks of seeing the need in Colombia, assisting with the beginning stages of a church plant and making an impact. The cost is $1700 and includes airfare from Atlanta and expenses. See our website for info and to fill out an application. Also, if you are interested in bringing a church or youth group, call or email me to work out a time. We’d love to have you!
Prayer Requests
- Our flight to Colombia on November 13
- That we could find a home to rent quickly
- Contacts to be made & souls to be saved
- Wisdom and safety
- Family back home. It will be hard on them too!
God bless. We love, appreciate, and pray for each of you. Thank you for giving so that we may go. As we see from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:16-19:
“…Ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
All For Jesus,
Aaron Vance & Family
Philippians 1:20-21
Click for a printable PDF version of our prayer letter.
Aubrie Is Having Surgery
Hey friends. I wanted to give you all a quick update about what is going on in our lives. We are just returning from a trip out to the Northwestern US where we had the opportunity to visit with some of my extended family as well as share our work in 8 wonderful churches around the Kalispell, MT area (where I was born!). God blessed during this trip and we enjoyed it thoroughly.
Some of you may have heard, but in case you missed it, I also wanted to let you know about something you can pray with us about this week. Last month, at a follow up visit from the miscarriage of our baby, Aubrie’s doctor diagnosed her with endometriosis. There is no cure, but they can do a surgery to reduce the pain of living with this disease. The plan is to make 4 or 5 incisions in her abdomen and pelvis and cut away what shouldn’t be there. It is called a laparoscopy/laparotomy. Originally scheduled for August 1st, they’ve since moved it up to this Thursday, July 25th. We met with the doctor and hospital today for Pre-op and the surgery will be at 7:30 AM in Gainesville GA. She should be able to go home the same day.
Several other women who have had this same disease as well as the surgery have been able to comfort Aubrie with words of encouragement. The surgery works sometimes, and other times there are complications, but we know all things work together for good to them who love God (Romans 8:28). He’s got it under control. Our trust is in him. He gives peace in any storm.
It is a such a comfort going through the things we do, knowing that there is One with us who knows the way. We couldn’t imagine life without our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Do you know him?
Thank you all for your prayers! They mean so much to us.
The Vance Family 