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—
January 2015 Prayer Letter
January 2, 2015
Dear Praying Friends,
We trust that you all have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Life is more busy & blessed than ever here in Colombia. Up front, thanks to all who have supported us this year through your prayers and giving. We couldn’t do what we do without you allowing God to use you in this way!
Growing Church, Growing People!
In July we started our first church here, and in 6 months, God done things far beyond what we expected! New people visit nearly every week, many accepting Christ and getting into discipleship. There are also now 4 men who have expressed desire for ministry and are taking steps toward that end. Pray for Óscar, Eduardo, Sergio and Jhon and for me as I work in training them and others to do the work of the ministry. This is why we’re here!
Merry Christmas for Many Children!
In September we began an outreach ministry for children and adults in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of our city. The response has been phenomenal! We are averaging around 150 each week, with over 250 attending our end of the year Christmas program. Gifts were given, as was the Gospel, and several accepted Christ as their Savior! Thank you to those who donated toward this need. If you’d like to give toward future projects, you can give online (www.bemagnified.org), or by sending a check to our mission board marked “A. Vance – Special Project.” Our plans are to start another church here within a year.
Big God, Big Plans!
We are looking forward to seeing God work in 2015. We have big plans and ask that you pray specifically for these things. Be praying for free English classes we will be starting Monday January 5th. Pray for a youth camp that I will be preaching this month with churches from around the country. Pray for our leaders, and me as I train them. Pray for open doors to start more churches here. Pray for more laborers for our city of Bucaramanga, and the dozens of others that are full of unreached people. Pray for a missions trip we have planned for U.S. students and singles June 15-25 (There’s still time to sign up — info at http://www.bemagnified.org).
Home Happenings
By our next prayer letter we’ll be able to introduce you to our new little baby girl, due February 23. Aubrie is doing well with the pregnancy, and our girls are thrilled about being big sisters. We’re required to leave the home we’ve been renting, so please pray as we find another house. It’s been over a 2 month process of complicated ups and downs, but we hope to finalize something this week. Contact us for our new mailing address. Also pray for a vehicle for our family and ministry. We have not have the funds for this, but we know that God can provide in his timing. If you’d like to give toward this need, you can give online or by sending a check to Macedonia (address below) and mark it “A. Vance — Vehicle.”
Once again, thank you! Thank you for holding the ropes for us! God is good. He is worthy. He is working. Are we willing to take steps forward this year for his glory?
Serving King Jesus,
Aaron Vance & Family
Click to see a printable PDF of this prayer letter (with pictures!)
Report on the “Bless a Colombian Child” Christmas Project
Thank you for blessing a Colombian Child this Christmas!
What an amazing time we had on December 20th with the children and families of Café Madrid, a poor community on the outskirts of our city of Bucaramanga Colombia. Our church, Iglesia Bíblica Bautista El Faro jumped in and participated in an amazing way. Dozens of people here collectively spent hundreds of hours preparing food, gifts, logistics and more to make the day a success.
And what a success it was!
We had 157 children sign up who had already been attending our Bible club program on Saturdays. These came, and brought people with them! We were expecting around 200, and God blessed us with over 250 people! Gifts were given, songs were sung, snacks were snacked upon and the Message of Christmas was preached. We thank the Lord for several who made professions of faith, receiving the BEST gift of Christmas, the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.
Please enjoy this video we put together of the special day:
Thank you to those who gave online to this need. It was a help to us as we were able to bless many children who may not have had a Christmas otherwise. We are constantly seeing lives changed in this neighborhood. Pray that God continues to work, and pray for us as we wait upon His timing to officially begin a church here!
If you would like to give toward future projects like this one, you can send a check to our mission agency, Macedonia World Baptist Missions, Inc. (PO BO 519 Braselton, GA 30517), or online, here.
May God bless. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Bless a Colombian Child This Christmas
God’s Work In Café Madrid
For the past 3 months, our new church plant (just 5 months old), has sponsored an outreach ministry for children in an outskirt community of our city of Bucaramanga, called Café Madrid. I am amazed to see the impact God is making through us in this short time, both in families from the community and in our church people.
Changed Lives — Changed Destinies
These Children are thrilled to see us each time we show up, bringing their chairs to the local park, with smiles on their faces, ready to sing, say their memory verses, do a craft, eat a snack and hear a Bible lesson. Many of these do not know, or have been separated from their parents. Many of these would end up in jail, in gangs or dead within 5-10 years. Many of these might be lucky to eat one meal a day. Many of these have never understood or known the love of Jesus and his people. That is, until now. Children and adults are accepting Christ and experiencing a life and hope that is above circumstances.
Physical vs. Spiritual Food
We understand that giving physical help (humanitarian assistance) without the spiritual (real missions) is empty and non-profitable in the long-term. However, we also remember God’s words in Proverbs 28:27, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” (See also Proverbs 3:27-28; 14:31; 19:17; 22:9; 31:20; Isaiah 58:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 20:35; Romans 12:20; James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:16-18).
Big Hearts, Big Plans
With that in mind, we are planning a big Christmas event this weekend. 157 children have registered (who have already been coming to our Bible Club), and many of them are bringing whatever family they have around. A small choir will sing songs they have been practicing, I’ll share a Christmas salvation message, we’re making traditional Christmas food for everyone, and we’ll give away special gifts to each of these kids. In a special box, we’ll put a few small toys (according to the child’s age and gender), a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, a book of Bible stories, a children’s gospel tract and a personalized letter from somebody in our church. That’s the most thrilling part for me. Our church folks have really jumped on board with this program and are working day and night as a team to see it come to pass. It’s really going to be a great day!
Your Part — Help us be a blessing!
If you want to be a part of blessing a Colombian child this Christmas, there is still time to give. You can sponsor a child’s Christmas this year for $5! You can donate through our mission agency, Macedonia World Baptist Missions, who will then forward the funds to us. They’ve made it easy to give online through Paypal, or you can send a check to: P.O. Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517 (make it out to MWBM, Inc. and put “Aaron Vance – Special Project” in the memo). All contributions are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt. Any extra funds that come in will be used toward this ministry for future projects and events.
And above all, please pray. Pray that everything goes smoothly. Pray that we can be a blessing to these families. Pray more precious souls accept God’s perfect gift of salvation. That is, after all, the real reason we celebrate CHRISTmas!
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” – James 1:17 –
Enjoy this slideshow of a few pictures we have taken over the last couple months.
The Vance Family 