Ministry of the Month: Colombia

Colombia Ministry Recap:

Welcome back to my journey with Team Bloom! I feel like we’ve been so busy I’ve hardly had time to share all we’ve been doing this month. We have partnered with Ciudad Refugio (City of Refuge), in Medellin, Colombia for a second all squad month. This means our whole squad of 20 women have been working together again. Even though we have been separated into our teams or even smaller groups to work in different ministry moments, we have been united in our mission to support Ciudad Refugio. 

Ciudad Refugio is a ministry with many different functions. Their main purpose is to see lives transformed by Christ through diminishing the strongholds of drugs, alcohol, abuse, and homelessness. Current programming includes operating as a Teen Challenge ministry, where men participate in a one year rehabilitation program. Additionally, there is programming for a one year women’s rehabilitation program. On the weekends there is teen programming for youth to stay at the ministry, some of these youth have entered into living at the ministry full time.

 For those participants that are able, there is the opportunity to work through the on-site bakery, packaging micro business, and flower distribution. The ministry continues to grow both in outreach and in operations. Currently, the second building of the ministry is in construction to house more ministry partners at the facility. This will include health care, mental health services, missionary dorms and employee apartments. 

During our time here, we have partnered with Ciudad Refugio for many different outreach activities. This has included going to the Bronx of Medellin, the most prominent drug abuse location of the city. We have also helped host a community outreach fall festival. The desire is to bring the face of the ministry to the community for the purpose of inviting them into continuous programming. We’ve prayed and shared stories with Uber drivers, park goers and even others walking down the street. It’s been a beautiful picture of what it means to do ministry and life together. 

With the Youth of the ministry, we have built relationships through childcare, church services and youth group! We’ve done Bible studies, prepped in the kitchen and had a Birthday Party with the women of the ministry. 

Throughout the month we have been fed by the hands of the bakery and have been able to purchase additional donuts, coffee, and pastries! It’s been such a delicious month! And sharing daily smiles, simple conversations and the sink with these people has been such a daily joy for everyone involved. 

We were also able to partner with Pastor Willy at Iglesia Cristiana Ministerio Vida Nueva Asambleas de Dios AD. For a week of skit ministry and prayer. Our skit displayed the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit to be with us through every step of life. This led us to be able to hand out prayer cards and pray for each person of three services across two congregations for the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself in their lives. 

My dear friends, supporters and family, I want to reiterate how treasuring it is to represent you and of course, Christ on this journey. Lives are being touched, encouraged and changed because of your financial giving, prayers and words of encouragement. Though the needs are many, blessings abound as we go forth and serve others. Soon we will be moving on from here and heading to Ecuador. I’ll update you all more on that later! 

Lots & lots of love,  

                     Sav & L Squad