Get A Glimpse Of Colombia (VIDEO)
Check out the following time-lapse video made in Colombia.
It is a beautiful country, no doubt. But it is a country filled with people who still need to hear the true Gospel message!
I am more convinced than ever that God wants to do a great work for His name.
The door is open.
The time is now.
We’ve got to take action.
What part will you have?
An Experience That Will Change Your Life
Last Fall, after thousands of man-hours of planning, preparation & training, our home church hosted an event entitled “Hell’s Gates.”
Over the course of 7 sell-out evenings, more than 3,500 people walked through this outdoor reality drama depicting the end times. Many of these people left eternally changed. All of these people left challenged.
This October, you will have a chance to experience that same heart-pounding, thrilling journey of Biblical proportions. If you live anywhere near Atlanta or North Georgia, you MUST plan to be there. Bring a friend. Bring your family. Bring your church. You don’t want to miss it.
In anticipation of larger crowds, this event has been expanded to 11 nights. For detailed information and to buy individual or group tickets, visit: http://www.hellsgates.com/
If you are not able to attend, please pray that God does a magnificent work for his eternal glory.
Our Daughter Has a Tumor
About a week after our beautiful baby Anabel was born, we noticed a small dot on her left hand. Shortly afterwards, another, smaller dot appeared above her left eye. Both of these began to grow at a fairly rapid pace.
We asked her doctor about these and we were told not to worry. These “dots” are known as Strawberry Hemangiomas. We were told that though the markings will worsen before improving, they disappear without treatment on nearly all children that have them after around 5-10 years.
These hemangiomas, we found, are the most common of tumors in infants. They are benign and, as the doctor said, usually resolve themselves. But, what the doctors did become concerned about, particularly at Anabel’s 2 month checkup, is that the tumor above her left eye has grown so much it has hindered her from opening her eye all the way.
We were sent to an eye-specialist in Atlanta, who just followed up on her today. Since the growth is weighing on her eye and is swelling (mostly under the skin), it could cause her to lose vision in that eye. She may have to have corrective eyewear soon in life, but we will start treatment this week to try to reduce or remove the hemangioma. This should save her eye.
Treatment used to consist of injecting steroids directly into the affected area or laser surgery. Amazingly, there has been a new development with treatment that was found accidentally. The blood-pressure medication Propranolol was found to be extremely effective when given to infants early on in the development of the hemangioma tumor. Anabel will have to be monitored (since the medication can slow down the heart), may spend 48 hours in the hospital, and she will need to be on this for a year before they wean her off of it.
We pray that this treatment will work, but more than anything, we pray that God will be supremely glorified through whatever happens.
Thank you for your prayers. We know that the Lord is good.
Flower Vase Freedom?
Celebration of Independence
Yesterday, July 20th, Colombia celebrated 202 years of independence from Spain. Colombians all around the country demonstrated their patriotic loyalty much like we do for our 4th of July celebrations in the USA. They enjoyed a day off from work, parades, time with family, massive feasts, and giving thanks for their freedom.
The story of their independence is a rather interesting one, revolving around a Venezuelan-born man named Simon Bolivar (who spent most of his time in Colombia and liberated 6 countries from Spain), and more interestingly, a conflict about a flower vase. Yes, a flower vase! You can read about that story here.
The battle for freedom in Colombia wages on.
I’m not talking about simply freedom from oppression from rebel groups, violence and political uprisings. Yes, that is what many focus on, but I’m talking about the freedom that Jesus speaks of in the Bible.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
You see, Colombia, just like the rest of the world, has a root need for eternal freedom. If you look at the entire passage there in John 8, Jesus was speaking to the Jews who were religious. They had the right family heritage, being sons of Abraham. They had the law. They had the right customs and practices and they didn’t see their need for being made free.
But Jesus saw that they were indeed servants and slaves to sin, and of their father the Devil.
Pretty harsh words, aren’t they?
Set Free or Made Free?
No matter how hard we try, in our own effort, the best we can do is to be “set free” from sin. There’s a difference between that and what Jesus actually said. He said he would make us free!
Here’s a good way to picture it… If you were in prison paying for a crime that you committed and I came by with a bomb and blew the wall off to let you out, I would have set you free. The problem with that is, eventually they are going to come looking for you (and me) again to throw us both back behind bars. It would be a temporary fix.
But, what if I go and pay your penalty for you. I can then walk in the front doors with the warden, who reaches for his keys and lets you out, now a free person. You’ve been made free. There is a great difference! Because, now, there is no more condemnation (See Romans 8:1).
How are we made free? By Jesus Christ! He paid our penalty 100%. As long as we try to work our way to God, the best we can do is break free for a little bit. We can’t get completely free from sin, and we can’t get completely free from eternal condemnation.
But, thanks be to Jesus, he has already paid the price and offers to MAKE us free! The Bible calls that Justification. My record is cleaned. God’s books show that I am free. There is no more punishment for my sin. No condemnation.
Do you see the difference? That’s what Colombia (and the rest of the world) need to hear.
What about you?
Have you let Jesus make you free or are you still struggling along, trying to make it on your own. If you were to die today, would you spend eternity with God, or would you be found guilty. It all goes back to what you’re depending on. Are you depending on your works? Your religion? Your effort? Your family?
Jesus Christ died on the cross to buy your freedom. Why don’t you believe in that today? Don’t just believe that it happened, but put all your faith in what He has done and repent of your own effort. He said he’d make you free.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
If you need help or if you have questions about salvation and being made free, I and my family would love to help you and answer your questions. Leave a comment, send me a message or give me a call. I promise to respond because Jesus loves you, and I do too.
June 2012 Prayer Letter
June 2012
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Deputation and Family update…
She’s here! Anabel May Vance was born on May 26th, was 7 lb 8 oz and 20 ½ inches long. Healthy and beautiful, both her and her mommy are doing wonderful. Amira loves having a baby sister and has responded extremely well to having the new little one around. (You can see more details and pictures on our website: www.bemagnified.org or www.facebook.com/aaronlvance)
I am constantly amazed at how good God is to us. We gained 7 new monthly financial partners in May and 4 in April. This puts us at 33% of our needed support. Praise the Lord!! Would you pray that we would reach 100% support by our goal of the middle of next year? Perhaps God would have you to join our team of partners. We’d love to help you extend your ministry to Colombia.
Out of the Mouth of Babes…
Our 2-year-old Amira is learning and growing every day it seems. Recently, when we ask her to do something (like pick up her toys) she often says, “Sorry Mommy & Daddy, I’m too busy!”. And sometimes when she asks us for something (like candy) and we say no, she says, “What I got to do?!” … Where does she pick up this stuff? 🙂
Colombian Culture Corner
In Colombia, once a friendship has developed, greetings become warmer and a lot more hands on. Men will embrace and pat each other on the shoulder (known as an “abrazo”) and women kiss once on the right cheek.
There are over 200 cities in Colombia that still don’t have a Baptist church. Would you pray that God would send more laborers? Maybe he would send you. Let us know if we can pray with you about this.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do what we do without you. We love you and thank God for you. Stay even connected with us through our website: www.bemagnified.org or give us a call: 678-696-0082. God bless!
Prayer Points
1. Baby Anabel and Aubrie as they recover
2. Travels while on deputation
3. Salvation of lost friends/family
4. Financial support (now over 33%)
5. Colombia, 46 million people still need the Gospel!
The Vance Family 