Faces of Faith – Javier

Would you change jobs so that you could start a Bible study group? That’s what Javier Rivas from Buenaventura, Colombia, did. He started studying with Academia Cristo in September 2022. He quickly moved through the Academia Cristo discipleship program. He loved what he was learning and wanted to share it with others. But he worked at a resort about an hour boat ride away. Work would often keep him away from his city for weeks. When he learned more about how he could plant his own church, he decided to look for work in his home city. He knew that being away from home for extended periods of time would limit his potential to plant and lead a group, and being based in his city would give him opportunities to invite, gather, and teach.

Motivated by his love for the gospel, he left his job and looked for a new one in Buenaventura and started gathering a group. First, he shared a course called “The Four Key Concepts” that covers the topics of sin, grace, faith, and works. Then he taught a course called “Learn from me,” a Bible information course. Today, he continues to gather his friends, family, and neighbors around God’s Word.

Javier has been blessed with employment in his city. However, he has also become a blessing to others as he shares with them the message of salvation through Jesus.

From Matt Behmer, Latin America missionary