Church planting in Colombia
From first steps to a growing ministry (VIDEO)
When missionary Nathan Bonham and the MTW team arrived in Rionegro, Colombia, in 2020 with the goal of planting a church, they knew no one. No core group existed. They started from scratch by building relationships and offering hospitality wherever they could. Soon the Bonhams were hosting Bible studies in their home, sharing meals together, and asking families if they were interested in seeing a church planted.
Though the Reformed Presbyterian church was very new to the community who were mostly from Roman Catholic or prosperity gospel backgrounds, the Lord blessed the work. Little by little, the work grew to the point where gatherings needed to move out of the living room. The Lord led them to one of the main centers of the city. El Redentor Presbyterian Church had its first public worship service on Reformation Day in 2021.
Since then, Nathan says it’s been a roller coaster, but they’ve been encouraged by both church growth and personal transformation stories. The team started a university ministry that became an RUF Global campus. The church has also been involved in two mercy ministries with at-risk boys and girls. They’re able to lead Bible studies, help with homework, and then help with special events throughout the year, where we they try to live out the gospel.
It all comes together in the planting and strengthening of the local church. The team’s hope five years down the road is the same vision and hope they had from the beginning, to see a multiplication of healthy churches in the region.
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Tom Mills
Tom Mills is a content creator for Mission to the World. He is a graduate of Wheaton College. Tom loves meeting and interviewing believers all over the world, capturing stories of God's global church.
