Blog Archives
Overflowing! — January-February 2026 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
Packed House At Agape!
We wish you could stand with us on a typical Sunday morning Agape Baptist Church. Before the first hymn even begins, chairs are being added, children are squeezed onto laps, and latecomers scan the walls for any remaining space to lean. Both services are now consistently beyond full capacity—an incredible answer to prayer and a visible reminder that God is drawing people to Himself through His Word. It is a “good problem”— and yet one that requires wisdom as we seek the Lord for next steps in space, structure, and shepherding.
Discipleship & Training
Beyond the numbers, we are rejoicing most in the depth of spiritual growth. This year, nearly 100 adults are actively engaged in intentional discipleship—meeting weekly in homes, studying Scripture, memorizing truth, and learning to walk faithfully with Christ in daily life. The fruit is evident: growing hunger for the Word, transformed lives, and new believers being grounded in the faith. Your prayers and support are directly shaping these lives.
We also recently relaunched our weekly “Faithful Men” gathering, and the response has been deeply encouraging. Every Monday, around 30 men fill the room—Bibles open to the book of Titus—preparing their hearts for leadership in their homes, church, and community. Many are young in the faith; others are stepping into ministry responsibility for the first time. Please pray that the Lord would continue raising up a generation of faithful, qualified men for His church.
Injured National Pastor
We ask a special prayer for Pastor José Nelson, whom we commissioned to lead a nearby church plant. He recently suffered a serious arm fracture while doing building repairs and is unable to work for a season, creating financial strain for his family. If the Lord leads you to be a blessing to them, please contact us.
Refuge of Life Nonprofit
At the Fundación Refugio Vida children’s center, 74 underprivileged children are now receiving daily meals, school tutoring, and Christ-centered discipleship. Ongoing support is always needed! Gifts can be sent to MWBM, Inc., designated “A. Vance — children’s center.”
Adoption & Travel Update
On the family front, we rejoice that Alexander’s adoption in Colombia is fully finalized—a huge answer to prayer! This now begins a lengthy U.S. immigration process, which has delayed our anticipated furlough travel to the United States until further notice. We trust the Lord’s timing and appreciate your prayers.
Love in Christ,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with Amira, Anabel, Aris, Alethea, & Alexander!)
“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—
A fruitful year! — November-December 2025 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
As we look back on 2025, our hearts are full of gratitude for what God has done and continues to do in Bucaramanga. The past two months have been packed full of events, milestones, growth, and blessings, both as a family and in our public ministry. Celebrate with us!
Alexander Is Home With Us!
As we mentioned in our previous letter, November 20th was a special day for us as a family, as we welcomed a new member through adoption. Alexander (1) has fit right into our crazy family. Pray for us as we work through the legal processes in both Colombia and the United States to formalize the adoption.
Milestones & Special Events
Agape Baptist Church, our main work in Bucaramanga, has continued to grow spiritually and numerically. November marked five years since we started this church, which has become a beloved body of believers. In addition to our regular outreach efforts, we held a special program on Christmas Eve, during which many of our church members gathered to assemble hundreds of sandwiches and gifts, which we then distributed among the homeless in our city. We praise God for his work in and through his people!
Christmas at Refuge of Life
Our nonprofit ministry, based at our church in the Cafe Madrid neighborhood, held its big Christmas program in December, during which we gave gifts to nearly 200 children. With their families also in attendance, more than 300 people gathered to hear the Gospel and enjoy the program and a meal. Though we finished off the year with a bit over 60 children we serve daily, it is a blessing to hold events like these that expand our reach and shine the light of Christ into the darkest corners of our city.
A Plenteous Harvest
There are times of life and ministry in which you simply have to prepare the land, other times to sow seed of the Word, other times to cultivate and prune, and then there is a time of reaping a harvest. This has been an outrageously fruitful year! We saw hundreds of people make professions of faith, dozens go through extensive discipleship, and nearly all of our churches are full to capacity each week. This is all part of the fruit that is added to your account! The harvest is ripe in Colombia! We are praying for more laborers to come and help us. Would you pray with us toward that end?
Love in Christ,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with Amira, Anabel, Aris, Alethea, & Alexander!)
“I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”
—Philemon 1:4-7—
Huge Family News! — September-October 2025 Prayer Letter
Reading time: 3 minutes
Dear Praying Friends & Family,
We are grateful for what God has done over the past months here in Colombia. Every soul saved, every child fed, every leader trained is a reminder of His faithfulness. Thank you for enabling this mission through your prayers and giving.
Medical Missions Outreach Clinic
This year’s Optical Clinic campaign was our largest ever — with over 1,800 people receiving free eye exams and prescription glasses across two locations. Nearly 200 volunteers from our churches joined a team of 28 from MMO to make it happen. Most importantly, 275 individuals made professions of faith in Christ! Praise God for how He uses physical care to open doors for eternal healing.
Terriffic Women’s Conference
In October, our churches came together for a special two-day women’s conference held in a rented convention center. More than 100 women attended and were strengthened in their walk with Christ. Each woman received a book on living a Gospel-centered life, a gift that continues the work long after the event.
Ministry Travels
In September, I (Aaron) made a brief trip to Mexico for a discipleship and leadership conference. Then in October, I traveled to the United States to visit and preach in three supporting churches. These opportunities to reconnect and share what God is doing on the field were a great encouragement.
HUGE NEWS: We Are Adopting!
We’re thrilled to share that after more than two years of working with Colombian authorities, we are adopting a baby boy! Our son, Alexander, who is just over one year old and was born here in Bucaramanga, will come home to us on November 20th. The girls are beyond excited — and yes, he’ll have five mothers!
Thank You For Your Partnership
Your prayers and monthly support make all of this possible. Together, we are seeing lives changed and churches strengthened across Colombia. We’ve just released a short video update highlighting what God is doing—we’d love for you to watch and share it! I’ll include the link below.
Thank you for standing with us as we serve in Colombia — we couldn’t do it without you!
With Grateful Hearts,
Aaron & Aubrie Vance
(Along with the girls: Amira, Anabel, Aris & Alethea)
“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—
Here is a quick 2025 ministry update video:
https://youtu.be/ILi0hIy66EA
Have You Considered Adoption?
Image via Wikipedia
My wife and I have been interested in adoption since before we even met. If the Lord sees fit, we would love to be able to adopt sometime down the road, either domestically or internationally. What a wonderful depiction of the Love of God. Just think of how many Bible verses describe His relationship with us in adoption terms:
- “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains:” Psalm 68:5-6
- “Thou art the helper of the fatherless. LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.” Psalm 10:14,17-18
- “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” Romans 8:14-16
- “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
Here’s an article from the popular Colombian newspaper EL TIEMPO that relates the need for adoption in Colombia. There are more and more children being abandoned by their families in not just this country but around the world! They need a family. Will you be their family?
http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/boyaca/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-8281940.html
The Vance Family 