FROM   VILLAVICENCIO,   COLOMBIA,   SOUTH AMERICA

The    Gage    Report
Sponsored by: Village Green Baptist Church
4707 S.W. 127th Ave.
Miami, Florida  33175
email: jhgage@yahoo.com
Mailing Address: A.A. 2578, Villavicencio, Colombia S.A.
VILLAVICENCIO, META, COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA   (Updated March 27, 2001) -       Mission’s 3rd Year -    Vol 2    No.1016
Cucuta, Mission Report, March 27, 2001
 Mission Update, March 9, 2001 The A.B.A. Seminario Teológico Bautista Estudios Biblicos
Page Two of this Report
 Colombian News
Confirming the Faith is an important part of mission work
Two Brethren join our Church thru Baptism
Thankful to the Lord for His rich blessings
Villavicencio-.  The mission continues to grow as two more are added to the church as brethren Javier Gelves and Jorge Restrepo were baptized this past Sunday.Bro Jorge Restrepo is Baptized and added to the church
Bro. Jorge Restrepo, pictured to the right is now not only a family member (He is Carmenza’s brother-in-law) but now is a member of our church family.  He has been faithfully attending the mission for over a year, but it wasn’t until Sunday that he made the decision to take a stand for the Lord and to be baptized.  Bro Jorge works in a very difficult area of Colombia where the political situation is extremely delicate.  His testimony before those that live there as well as here in Villavicencio has been a true blessing and encouragement to those he comes in contact with.  Those who live in a country, such as the United States where to be a Christian has become almost an easy way of life, may not appreciate the courage it takes to Stand up and be Counted among the Lord’s Churches.
Colombia is the world’s third strongest Catholic country, and  there are areas where it is still unhealthy to say “I am a Baptist“.  Also, the guerrilla movements here in Colombia have killed over 100 Christians this past year.  So our prayers are with our new brother and member.
 

I AM READY AND WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LORD
Bro. Javier Gelves, had been baptized by another Baptist group in Colombia. He is a minister and has served as a missionary in various areas of Colombia especially in “Los Llanos”.   He will be working as a Missionary Helper here in Barcelona.  However, with the uncertainty of whether or not his previous baptism be scriptural, he and I wanted to be sure, so we baptized him.  To some, this might seem to extremely picky-picky, but unfortunately, we are now living in an era where I believe it is better to be safe than sorry.  The spirit of Bro Gelves is really appreciated when he said, “If God has led me to this church to work for Him through the Missionary Baptist Churches, and if I want to be numbered among those faithful to His teachings, then I want to do whatever it takes to be correct to be a part of His Church”.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE

  • The Mission has asked Bro Javier to help us Mission helper, working with the youth and visitation.
  • With the delicate  political situation, hopefully this will also free Bro Gage to seek out new mission opportunities where it is safer.