Bucaramanga,located in Colombia’s North-West, is a city full of beautiful views and ayear-long summer-like weather. It has over160 parks scattered throughout the city for which it has been given thenicknames of "La Ciudad de Los Parques" ("City of Parks")and "La Ciudad Bonita de Colombia" ("Colombia's BeautifulCity"). Bucaramanga isinternationally recognized for its parks, the warmth of its people, and thebeautiful views that characterize this region of Colombia. The city is surrounded by the suburbs ofGirón, Floridablanca, and Pie de Cuesta, which comprise the metropolitan areaof Bucaramanga. The city is located 384kms (approx. 240 miles) from Bogotá, the country’s capital city.
Bucaramanga’seconomy is based on shoe-making and similar complements. In recent years, Bucaramanga has stood outfor having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Its main public educational institution isthe Universidad Industrial de Santander(Industrial University of Santander), but it has more than 14 universities inthe entire region along with a research and studies center for cardiology andadvanced medicine. Bucaramanga’spopulation breakdown is as follows: Bucaramanga, 523,040; Floridablanca, 250,980; San Juan deGirón, 138,862; and Piedecuesta, 106,960 for a total population of 2,168,360 inthe Santander province. Interestingly,53% of Santander’s population live in Bucaramanga’s metropolitan area.
The churchwas established in this beautiful city by North American missionaries in the80s. These missionaries brought God’sWord with good will and great work thus reaching part of Bucaramanga’scommunity. In this way, they establishedthe first Church of Christ in this region of Colombia. However, due to security reasons, they had toleave the city after having been threatened by the guerrillas, which controlleda large part of Colombia’s territory at the time. In addition, the power exerted by drug dealersin Colombia in the 80s and 90s hurt significantly the work of foreignmissionaries in the Colombian region.
By then,brothers with little ministry experience took over the leadership of the churchuntil the recent years. Thanks to God’shelp, these brothers did a great job in moving forward and reaching out tocommunities in an effort to keep the love among them and their growth inknowledge of God’s Word.
Bucaramanga’sChurch of Christ has received help from Venezuelan preachers in different partsof the region thus consolidating a good relationship with the neighboringcountry. Preachers like AlbertoHernandez from San Cristobal, Venezuela, and other foreign preachers like BobBrown, Roberto Miranda, and others are just some of those who have helped instrengthening the Church, its knowledge, and its passion in the region.
After morethan 27 years, Bucaramanga’s church has not had a missionary preacher or afull-time local preacher. Instead, menlike Ricardo Moreno, Ricardo Martínez, and others have continued preaching anddiscipling the membership. In November2010, brother Ricardo Moreno (who is more than 60 years old ended up staying byhimself leading a congregation of more than 80 members after the decision ofone of the most influencing men in the church to move and establish anothercongregation in the area. This left avacuum of vision and action plan for this congregation, and has raised the needfor someone to take the lead of this group of 80 people in the city’s downtown.
TheAndrade family has decided to move to Bucaramanga and partake of the blessingof continuing spreading the gospel in this region of Colombia. For almost two years, the Andrade family hasbeen praying for an opportunity to serve in a congregation in Colombia. After several conversations with the brothersin Bucaramanga, the Andrade family presented a work plan, which the brothers inBucaramanga accepted along with the rest of the congregation last July. This led the Andrade family to the decisionof moving to Colombia to evangelize, support, strengthen, and encourage thechurch in short and long-term goals as well as projecting a clear vision. The Andrade family has, therefore, committedto God and the congregation to serve in that place.
TheAndrade family has served in Merida, Venezuela, and Denver, Colorado, for atotal of 14 years, in which they have served the Lord’s Church full-time andhave acquired experience, passion, and commitment. This has been demonstrated through the workthey have done throughout these years serving the Lord full-time throughevangelism, keeping the sound doctrine, and loving the church.
"Since Iwas young, I have served the Lord; and there is not another way in which I wantto spend my life than loving my Father’s house, preaching the gospel, andseeing transformed lives through the power of God”. This is what I think of myself based on oneof the most important lessons that my father, Pedro Andrade –a Church of Christpreacher for more than 30 years–, taught me seven years ago in the Venezuelanairport on my way to Denver, Colorado. "Do the best you can with what you havewherever you are. God gives you thestrength and capacity to use you for His will and purpose” (Hebrews13:21-22). These words have been myguidance and strength in difficult moments; and I know that they will continueto be strong pillars of my life and faith in this life journey until my Lordcomes for us.
I have abeautiful wife, whom I met in my high-school years. At that time, she was not a Christian, butwith love and perseverance, I preached to her and her entire family (more than15 members!) who are now members of the church for God’s glory. Today, we have been married for 14 years and,during that time, God has blessed us with two beautiful daughters, Anna Ayme -8years old- and Amanda Abigail -2 years old-. My wife and my two daughters have been a demonstration of God’s love forme: they love me and God has allowed me to be their father and husband. I am thankful for so much love and kindnessfrom God for letting me preach His Word. He instructs me and corrects me every day, and I am thankful with Himfor letting me be who I am because of His will despite my mistakes andimperfections. He loves me and wishesthe best from me.
I amconvinced that God has given us this opportunity to serve him in Bucaramanga,and has called us to work along with these brothers and sisters for the gloryand exaltation of His name.
Forinformation about the Bucaramanga mission need, and If you would like tocontribute to the
ministryin Latin America, please make contributions to the Highlands Ranch church ofChrist and earmark in the note, Bucaramanga Mission. Please mail your contributions to:
PMB202,9457 S. University Blvd.
HighlandsRanch, CO 80126-4976
Phone: 303.229.9444
bobbrown5@compuserve.com
andrademission@gmail.com
