SAM missionaries Joel and Angel Ballew help connect pastors and ministry leaders in Barranquilla, Colombia for mutual encouragement and support with the hopes they can work together to further the Kingdom in their communities. Please pray for Otto, Marvel, Daniel, Helen, Cristian, and Evelin who serve the Church as pastors and mentors. They all have a great vision to see healthy churches transforming the people and communities of Colombia. 

The Oriente, an area to the east of Medellín, is the fastest-growing region of Colombia. Pray for the many pastors, including Juan Carlos, Nate, and Julian, who are serving the people and churches of this area. Pray that God would establish healthy churches to reach the growing populations. 

Julián and Serina serve in Medellín, Colombia. Working with and connecting pastors and ministries across denominations, they want to see Medellín and the surrounding towns transformed by the Gospel. Pray for Julián as he preaches and supports other pastors. Pray for pastors Jonathan, Andres, and Larry, their families, and the churches they serve.

God is at work in the Indigenous communities of Colombia. Many Indigenous struggle with displacement, persecution, and conflict with the drug trade. The Wájaro Foundation listens and learns from Indigenous leaders and accompanies them in their efforts to create sustainable solutions for the benefit and betterment of their people. Pray for the staff of Wájaro, including Laura, Carolina, Brian, and SAM missionaries Jake and Lauren Jones.

Pastor Jorge and Kristina, along with SAM missionaries Chris and Cristi Haylett, serve the church Nueva Esperanza and the foundation Manos de Esperanza. The church and foundation serve Los Quindos, an under-resourced neighborhood of Armenia. Please pray for this church family as they serve and reach out to a community struggling with poverty, violence, and drugs. Please pray for more funding for the foundation to restart its programs for kids and adults to provide for their physical and spiritual needs.

Kat works with vulnerable youth in Barranquilla, Colombia. Many of these youth have experienced trauma including loss, displacement, or abuse. Kat and Ruth Ahumado, a social worker,  train others in trauma-competent care and trust-based relational intervention to care for and support the youth in the community. They serve with First Presbyterian Church and a program called “Creciendo con Jesus,” Growing with Jesus. Pray for more leaders to become certified to train others in trauma care. Pray for the youth of Barranquilla to experience the Kingdom of God through the loving and safe care of the Body of Christ!

In Barranquilla, Colombia, Kat hosts friends and acquaintances weekly in her home for “English nights.” This diverse group of 20-somethings gathers Wednesday evenings to practice English by discussing different topics around cultures, values, and worldviews. Kat is grateful for the openness of her peers. Please pray that genuine relationships are established within the group. Pray for those who don’t know Jesus. That they would come to see Him a little more clearly through the conversation and the time shared with one another.

Serina and her friend, Elayne, hosted a tea for their teen girls’ book club from their church in Medellín, Colombia. It was the first time the group could get together in person since the pandemic! The teens’ moms also attended and enjoyed fellowship and mutual encouragement. Pray that the Lord would bless the group of girls. Pray that they grow in faith and love for one another, their families, and their church.

Chris and Cristi serve with Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) Church in Armenia, Colombia. They desire to see the local community transformed by the Gospel. In January, the church participated in Operation Christmas Child (OCC) training. They will give gift boxes to children and invite them to join a discipleship study about Jesus called “La Gran Aventura (The Great Adventure).” Pray for the children who will hear about Jesus through the OCC gift boxes.

Pray for these Colombian pastors, their families, and their churches: Julián, José, Ronald, Arturo, Wilson, Andres, Julio, Fredy, and Wilmer. These men meet regularly for study, prayer, mutual encouragement, and spiritual growth. They represent churches in Santa Marta, Ciénaga, Cartagena, Medellín, and Bucaramanga. Pray for their churches to reach their communities with the good news of Jesus.