We Share the Gospel in English – In Medellin Colombia!

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said to His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This passage is known as “The Great Commission”. Following that commission, we share the Gospel in Medellin.  The difference is that we do it in English.

For nearly 2,000 years, this verse has been the basis for all Christian missionaries who have ever been sent all over the world. Those missionaries have learned thousands of foreign languages so that they could preach the good news of Jesus Christ to every distinct “people group” on earth. I think most other Christians think of this as referring only to missionaries who were sent to third world countries. They were going to share the gospel with people who had never heard of Jesus Christ.

Is an English-speaking church in Medellin fulfilling the Great Commission?

But now, as I think about why God called us to Medellin, I realize that our mission here is also part of the Great Commission. Why?

1. First, to share the gospel with those who have not yet repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Evangelism).
2. Second, to establish an English-speaking Christian community of believers to help and pray for one another. This is very much like a church family in an American Christian church (Fellowship).
3. Third, to “disciple” our fellow believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Discipleship).

Therefore, the Holy Spirit is working through us as we share the gospel in English in a city where 99%+ of the population does not speak English! But in a city of 4 million people, that still leaves around 40,000 who can understand our message. Our challenge is to find them and help them find us. Our mission is very important and has eternal consequences. If they don’t hear and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and don’t believe in Him, they will all be separated from God for eternity.

And what I just realized this week is that most English-speakers are not conversational in Spanish. So, there is no way a Spanish-speaking Christian could share the Gospel in a way they would understand. That is a role only an English-speaking believer can fill. And that is a major part of the reason God wants an English-speaking church in Medellin.

How Does Grace Church Medellin Participate in the Great Commission?

Recently, I read an article titled “9 Ministries That Satisfy The Great Commission“. I found it interesting that out of the 9 Ministries, Grace Church Medellin is already working in 4 of them. And as God brings growth to our group, we will eventually have regular worship and preaching services, and that will add a 5th Ministry. Just based on that, we are participating in fulfilling the Great Commission. Here are the ministries Grace Church is currently doing:

1. 

   Small-Group Studies
   We have weekly Bible Studies in our members’ homes or apartments. These studies include time for fellowship, Bible study, singing, prayer, and lots of discussions that larger settings don’t offer.

2. Individual Discipleship
   Spending time one on one with a fellow believer, opening our Bibles together and learning how to become more like Christ, is the most effective way to make a disciple.
3. Church planting
   In our case, we are trying to reach people from our culture who choose to live in a different culture. So we are the best ones available to reach out to our fellow English-speakers.  Many of them are our fellow countrymen from North America.
4. Reproduction (or Multiplying)
   The Great Commission is about “disciplering”. That is a made-up word that means making disciples who make disciples. And that is one of our long-term goals. This will require many more Christians who are committed to evangelizing, disciple, and yes, even send out missionaries.  We can send missionaries to other cities in Colombia and perhaps other countries. And we are working in many ways to get the word out about how others can join us in this work.

Grace Church Medellin Is Here for You

Romans is my favorite Book in the Bible because it contains so many critically important passages.  For example, it is the clearest representation of the Gospel or “Good News” about Jesus Christ and the meaning of his death, burial, and resurrection.  Romans 8:38-39 is one of the most powerful demonstrations of God’s love for His people, and is justification for why He called us to Medellin.

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is planting a new church in Medellin through those He has called. It is starting in the Poblado area, but we believe it will spread to many other areas of Medellin and the Abura Valley.  We are delighted and humbled that He has chosen to work through us to accomplish His plan. And we hope we may be the first of many such churches for English-speakers. Medellin is a very large city, and there are thousands of English-speakers living full or part-time here. And our numbers are growing every month as more people discover the many benefits of living and serving Christ in Latin America.  Come and join us.

Steve Tuggle