Pray For
- development of healthy leaders, multiplication of committed disciples and continued empowerment of transformational churches
- wisdom for Pastor Thad Roller who serves as the mission district leader
- wisdom and grace for all the district pastors and leaders during this time of transition
- the missionary families of Thad and Nikki Roller (Chia), Ricardo and Beth Gómez (Medellín), Shane and Katie Jewell (Bogotá)
PRESENT MINISTRIES
The Free Methodist Church began here over a quarter of a century ago to serve at-risk children in Colombia. Today, in addition to providing educational, nutritional and spiritual support to at-risk children in three different cities, there are now three established churches and seven church-planting projects. The district also has three leadership training centers and is very committed to planting community churches. Eight churches along the coast are also in the process of affiliation.
ORIGINS
In December of 1993 the director of the FM churches in Costa Rica, Jorge Gomez, traveled to Colombia to visit his mother-in-law. While there he met with his nephew, Libni Gasca Montenegro, who shared that God had given him a vision of raising up a denomination in Colombia. Under Libni’s direction, and with Costa Rican support, the church was started in 1994.
Country LeaderS
Thad Roller
Colombia Mission District
Missionaries
Ricardo & Beth Gómez
Based out of Medellín, Colombia, Ricardo Gómez serves as area director for Latin America. He oversees the U.S. missionaries and national leaders in 17 countries as they implement the shared vision to participate with God in the restoration of Latin America by...
Shane & Katie Jewell
Shane Jewell was called to full-time missionary service as a young boy. He and his family now serve in Cajica, Colombia. Both Shane and Katie are helping to develop worship teams for church plants in Cajica and Tocancipa. Shane also serves the Latin American Area as...
John Jairo Leal & Susana Castro
John Jairo Leal and Susana Castro are ordained pastors in the Colombia Missionary District and have served as pastors and church planters in Medellin. John is currently director of Community Church Planting with Impact Latin America. Susana is coordinator of the...
Thad & Nikki Roller
The Rollers live and minister in Cajicá, just outside Bogotá, Colombia. They are passionate about seeing leaders, disciples and churches multiplied in their community and throughout Latin America. Thad’s primary role is to help train, mobilize and support pastors,...
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Colombia
One CIty
Bogota, Colombia
Opportunity
Colombia
Recent Heartbeat Articles
A New Awakening
Marlín, a 51-year-old woman, thought her life was perfect! Her family was just as she had dreamed, and she had a wonderful job doing what she was passionate about – teaching. As a teacher, she thought she was prepared to face any difficult situation, until one day, when everything changed.
From the Front Lines of the Fight to the Front Lines of Transformation
Colombia is a country of great diversity – diverse landscapes, climates, fruits and people. This diversity is also reflected in generational differences. Many in the younger generation are discontent. In 2021, young people were on the frontlines of protests and marches against the government. Willing to do whatever it takes, they are very aware that on many occasions, these protests change from an intended peaceful tone to one of violence, often resulting in the death of civilians and police officers. The lack of clear and effective opportunities to improve their lives and see hope for a better future often causes protests to evolve into a wake of desolation, rage and destruction.
Following Shiprah and Puah
Before Moses and Aaron, there were Shiphrah and Puah, two midwives who stood up to the most powerful leader in the world at the time (Exodus 1). Pharaoh isn’t named. The author draws the contrast between the powerful and the powerless: a powerful tyrant against the poor oppressed, one elite man against two marginalized women.
Without Shiphrah and Puah, there would have been no Exodus. Moses would have been killed at birth. The Israelites would have continued in slavery. These midwives stood up to power, injustice and slavery. In contrast to Pharaoh, they brought new, miraculous life into the world. They were original abolitionists. They helped create new futures.
COUNTRY STATISTICS
Mission District
- Population: 46,245,297 (72% urban)
- Evangelical Christians: 7.5%
- FM Work Opened: 1994
- FM Churches: 3
- FM Church Planting Projects: 8
- Churches in Affiliation Process: 8
- FMC Membership: 705
- Ordained Ministers: 4
- Ministerial Candidates: 8
- District Leader: Thad Roller
- Eccleasiastical Accountability: FMWM through Latin America Area Director, Dr. Ricardo Gómez
Major Cities:
- Bogotá (7.8 million)
- Medellin (3 million)
- Cali (2.8 million)
Photo Credit: TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Join the ministry in Colombia
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Church Planting & Development
Funding the Colombia Church Planting and Development (CPD) will help resource the following strategic initiatives:
- Church multiplication training and equipping events where pastors and bi-vocational lay leaders gain essential skills, form and strengthen mentoring relationships and report and celebrate advances
- Resources to encourage and support churches as they pursue community impact and holistic transformation.
- Strategic gatherings for key leaders working on multiplying committed disciples, developing healthy leaders and empowering transformational churches
- Basic supplies such as Bibles, chairs and microphones for the growing number of church planting initiatives throughout Colombia
Extra Mile Projects
Bogota Strategic Initiative
Funds support key initiatives in the capital city of Bogota, including:
- Leadership development and training for ministry, especially the youth and young adults who are at the forefront of outreach initiatives.
- Help to financially sustain a ministry to Bogota’s street children through a Free Methodist children’s home whose vision is to walk with and be in the lives of each of these children until they graduate from university.
Goal: $10,000
FINDESIN Relocation Fund
FINDESIN roughly means “the end of without.” It is a home and support network for girls being rescued from human trafficking started by the Normandía FMC in Bogotá Colombia. In the last 10 years they have served over 50 girls in a very holistic and intensive way, about 12 at a time. Government regulations and high rent are pushing them to relocate the home. This EMP will raise funds to purchase property and renovate or construct a permanent facility.
Goal: $200,000