At Verdad y Vida Church in Manrique Oriental (outside of Medellín, Colombia), Pastor Wilson and his wife, Sandra, are committed to serving their congregation in both spiritual and practical ways. Recognizing literacy as a key need, Sandra launched a literacy class to equip church members to read and study Scripture for themselves. This initiative will not only strengthen personal faith but also deepen discipleship and church teaching.

SAM missionaries Julián and Serina Arias regularly walk alongside this church, encouraging and supporting its growth. Pray for Pastor Wilson and Verdad y Vida Church as they serve their growing congregation with joy and wisdom. Ask God to bless the literacy class, giving students perseverance and confidence as they learn. May this class equip more members to study the Bible on their own and grow in their faith.

Since 2015, Chris and Cristi Haylett have faithfully served in church planting and discipleship in Colombia. The last several years they have been in Armenia, walking alongside Pastor Jorge, Kristina, and the community at New Hope Church and Hands of Hope Foundation. Now, they have returned to the U.S. to focus on their family’s needs while trusting God to continue His work in Armenia.

Pray for their transition, for meaningful connections as they share their ministry with churches, and for New Hope Church to keep growing in its mission to reach the next generation for Christ. Pray for Pastor Jorge and Kristina as they disciple and lead, and ask God to provide the support they need to continue transforming lives in Colombia.

Julián and Serina Arias, SAM missionaries in Colombia, shared this incredible testimony from Julián’s ministry with Ser Bíblico:  

Pastor Gabriel, who was on the verge of burnout, found encouragement and support through Ser Bíblico’s teaching and care. God used this ministry to renew his strength and restore his joy in serving his church.

Praise God for Pastor Gabriel’s renewed dedication to his calling and for how Ser Bíblico is equipping pastors with sound doctrine and support. Pray for Pastor Gabriel to continue serving with joy and for Julián and Ser Bíblico to impact even more lives in Colombia.

After completing a year-long study of fundamental doctrines with Ser Bíblico, Iglesia Bíblica Evangelio y Vida (Gospel and Life Bible Church) in Caldas, Colombia, is eager to put their learning into action. The church plans to officially establish membership and ordain its first deacons, marking an exciting new chapter in its ministry.

Pray for the leaders to have wisdom, for unity and faithfulness to strengthen the church body, and for their ministry to bear fruit that transforms their community for Christ.

Thank you for lifting up this milestone in prayer!

CoVentus—a co-working space in Barranquilla, Colombia—is finally open and thriving!

It’s now home to:
– Three churches meeting regularly.
– Weekly pastors’ meetings for City2City.
– Three foundations using the event space and boardroom.
– An English night, a prayer meeting, and a “Foundations of the Faith” class.

Please pray for CoVentus to continue being a hub for connection, ministry, and community transformation in Barranquilla. 🙌

Julián and Serina Arias serve in Medellín, Colombia, where Julián is part of Ser Bíblico, a ministry dedicated to strengthening churches with sound doctrine and biblical teaching.

One church they’ve worked with, Verdad y Vida (Truth and Life) in Manrique Oriental, has experienced incredible transformation under Pastor Wilson’s leadership. Through a deeper understanding of sound doctrine and commitment to biblical practices, the church has embraced significant changes—even reflecting its convictions in its remodeled sanctuary.

Now, the church is focusing on equipping members with less formal education to improve reading skills, ensuring everyone can grow in studying God’s Word together.

Please pray for Verdad y Vida Church and the ongoing ministry of Ser Bíblico!

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing messages of gratitude from missionaries across Latin America. 

Today we have two messages!

From Jake and Lauren Jones, serving in Colombia: “We are thankful for Daniel, our new Director of Operations, his heart for Jesus, and how he is serving the Kingdom. We’re thankful for our firstborn son Judah, who we are so proud of and who will be moving on to work and study at the beginning of 2025. We are thankful for the Maclellan Foundation to bring together Indigenous Christian leaders throughout Colombia next year in order to work together on building the Kingdom of God, especially in conflict regions. We’re thankful for 20 years of marriage and 9 years of serving in Colombia!”

We are thankful for Jake and Lauren and their work with The Wajaro Foundation!

From Jorge and Ginny Enciso, serving in Colombia: In Bogota, Colombia, the Encisos work with Viva Youth to support social and spiritual transformation. Please head over to our Facebook or Instagram page to see a “thankful video” from the Encisos and their community at Viva Youth. You don’t want to miss it!

We are thankful for the Encisos and the staff of Viva Youth!

Follow along on SAM’s Facebook and Instagram to see a photo of the Jones family and a video from the Encisos.

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing messages of gratitude from missionaries across Latin America.

From Julián and Serina Arias, serving in Colombia:

“We are thankful for God’s provision and His grace. We are humbled that He continues to sustain us and our ministry through the generosity of His people. And we are grateful that He continues to give us so many opportunities to serve His Church. He always gives us grace as we seek to encourage, train and support our brothers and sisters in Christ. What a loving Father we have!”

We are thankful for Julián and Serina!

Follow along on SAM’s Facebook and Instagram to see photos and videos to accompany these testimonies of gratitude.

From November 2-4, the annual Ciudad Corazón Spiritual Retreat will be taking place, offering a dedicated time for spiritual renewal and community. This retreat creates space for participants to step away from their daily routines, draw closer to God, and find encouragement in fellowship with one another.

Ciudad Corazón is a ten-year-old house church network in Colombia and Venezuela deeply devoted to community service and ministering to the most vulnerable in society. Please pray for a fruitful retreat for Ciudad Corazón!

Praise God for the completed construction at CENFOW, a Wayuu pastoral training center in Uribia, Colombia! With SAM’s financial support and missionary Jake Jones‘ oversight of the plans, local leaders facilitated the expansion, including shaded porches where students can gather for learning and discussion. 

Founded in the early 2000s, CENFOW has been instrumental in training Wayuu pastors who now serve their communities. Pray for the continued impact of this center as students study and prepare to bring Christ’s transformational hope to northern Colombia.