Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is your sending church?

Rives Church is our sending church and has been behind us since I first went to Colombia in 1991. After getting married and moving on to Panama and Mexico the church has faithfully partnered with us. And now as we transition back to Colombia, Rives has given us their blessing and has been in communication with our Ethnos 360 office to confirm their support in our new ministry. Rives Church is located at 2800 W. Berry Rd, Rives Jct MI 49277.

2. Is living in Colombia similar to living in Mexico?

Both Colombia and Mexico share a common Spanish heritage as seen in the language and the influence of the Catholic Church.  Soccer is widely popular in both countries and their are some similarities in their diet with rice, corn, and beans being main staples. However, one major difference in their meals is that Colombian dishes do not include the hot spices of Mexico! Both countries have similar forms of government which are democratic, presidential republics that include a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

There will be some major differences as we transition to life in Colombia. The metropolitan area of Bogota has a population of 12 million people where as the population of Chihuahua is 1 million people. So city life is much more crowded in Bogota in terms of living spaces, transportation, and doing business. Bogota is also located in the Andes mountains at over 8600 ft above sea level where as Chihuahua is found on a desert plateau about 5000 ft in elevation. So there are differences in the climate conditions and the higher altitude takes some time to adjust to. 

Both Countries use the peso as its form of currency, but there is a big difference in the value of the peso in each country. At this time, $1 US is equal to about 18 Mexican pesos while in Colombia $1 US is equal to about 3750 Colombian pesos! So a major difference is adjusting to the exchange and evaluating the prices of goods. The cost of living is similar in both countries.

Both countries have modern shopping centers and medical facilities. In Bogota we will enjoy the local bread stores, meat markets, and vegetable markets that are within walking distance. (Colombians walk a lot each day and have no problem getting in their 10,000 steps. 😀) We can go to the modern super markets as well as they are close by. When necessary, we will utilize public transportation in Bogota as it is cheap and readily available. 

3. Is it safe to live in Colombia?

      Short Answer: 

There are heightened risks in some parts of the country but we feel safe to return and serve in Bogota. Safety of mission personnel is a top priority in every field of service. Assessment of risk factors is continuously updated as local/national news is monitored on a daily basis. Measures are in place to help missionaries make intelligent decisions about serving in their ministry locations and each person can decide to leave a field at any time they choose due to security concerns. Individual discernment and awareness is also necessary when making daily decisions concerning each day's activities. 

Longer Answer: 

This has been a common question asked of us throughout our years of serving in ministries outside of the US. And there has been plenty of news that causes people to ask the question. In looking at the history of the early church and missions in the Book of Acts, we find that Jesus commanded his followers to go into all of the World (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth) and that He promised to be with them. As the disciples went out to fulfill this command we read that they had a lot of success in establishing churches as people responded to the Gospel! But we also read that they faced persecution, imprisonment, beatings, fines, stoning and even death. You can read about God protecting the missionaries at times and keeping them from harm while at other times, God allowed them to suffer hardships and dangers. God never rescinded the command to go due to the threat of danger.

Today, just as back then, security is a concern and is taken very seriously. Missionaries are made aware of the dangers that they could face in any country that they serve in and precautions are practiced. However, we cannot eliminate all of the risks that are present in the world around us. When Jesus sent His disciples out to preach in Matthew 10, he said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." The Lord understood that he was sending out His closest friends into a hostile world and nothing has changed. It is because of the fallen world that people need to hear the Gospel and the message of salvation. But again, He promised as he sent his disciples out in Matthew 28, "...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So we all go knowing that God is with us.

We lived and served in Mexico for 18 years and we really enjoyed the time we had there in spite of the dangers that are reported in the newspapers, we felt safe there and moved about freely. We also don't see Colombia as "a foreign country" in that it is the country where Martha was born and raised, her family is there...its home in many respects for us. We have visited Colombia several times over the years and many people have continued to serve there even after we left in 1994. We understand the challenges that exists and we use discernment as we go about life while there and we walk by faith- as all believers are called to do. There is still work to be done in Colombia and we do believe that we are safest when we are walking in the center of God's will. Prayer is a vital key to facing each day wherever we are, and we would ask you to pray for safety as we participate in the Gospel going out to the unreached people of Colombia. So again, we do feel safe in returning to Colombia. 

4. What are some facts about Colombia?

• Official Name: Republic of Colombia

• Government: unitary republic divided into 32 departments and a capital district which are under the authority of the central government consisting of Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.

• Current President: Gustavo Petro

• Population: 53 million people

• 440,831 sq miles- 26th largest country in the world, 4th largest in South America. Colombia is slightly larger than California and Texas combined

• Capital: Bogota – population 12 million people; it is 8660 ft above sea level

• Currency: The Colombian Peso - $1 US dollar = $3700 Colombian Pesos

• Major Exports: Emeralds, Coffee, Flowers

• Religion: 75% Roman Catholic; 15% Protestant; 5% Agnostic or Atheist; 5% other

• Unreached people groups: 59 of the total 98 people groups (a population of over 1.3 million people)  

Fun Facts about Colombia

Nick name: The Gateway to South America

The only South American country that has coastline on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

It has the most number of bird species in the world

5. Do you have any other questions that you would like to ask us? Feel free to email us and ask!