Missions Update: Amanda Berger Aug 2026

Amanda Berger •
August 12, 2026

3 Minute Read
Missions Update | Colombia

This month, we received an encouraging update from one of our missionaries serving in Colombia. While there are reasons to celebrate, there are also urgent prayer needs we want to share with our church family. Read Amanda’s update below:


Thursday Evangelism

Every Thursday morning I join my local church to minister to ladies working in prostitution.

We pray with them, provide a snack with Scripture, and work to train them in other crafts to help them generate income in a different way when they are ready.

Some are also struggling with substance abuse, so I have been intentionally focused on connecting with those individuals.


Rehab Ministry

This month I was able to connect with a few rehabilitation centers in the area and share a devotional!

My hope is to build strong relationships and begin ministering weekly at several different rehabilitation centers in order to disciple individuals during their time in rehab and connect them and their families with local churches after they leave the program.

Please pray that God continues to open these doors and establish lasting relationships.

A Speed the Light Miracle

In July, I received my Speed the Light vehicle!

I am so grateful to receive this miracle.

Thank you for your generosity that enables missionaries to have reliable vehicles.

Having this vehicle allows me to minister in places that would otherwise be unreachable or unsafe for me to travel by bus or taxi alone as a single female.

[Note from Ps. Abram: For over 15 years, I have personally been giving money to Speed the Light, supplying cars like this across the world! Each time I see a STL VEHICLE, I am overwhelmed that our money can be used for God’s Kingdom across the world!]

Earthquake Update

On Monday, August 10, Colombia experienced a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that lasted four minutes, an unusually long amount of time. The epicenter was about an hour away from me and was felt over a wide radius.

Thankfully, all AGWM [Assemblies of God World Missions] personnel serving in Colombia are safe.

I was asleep in my apartment on the 13th floor when it happened. I grabbed my puppy and ran down the stairs. It felt like being on a boat that was hit by strong waves while trying to walk down stairs at the same time.

Thankfully, my building is structurally sound, and I am back in my apartment, which miraculously doesn't even have a single crack in the wall! Other apartments in the building experienced superficial damage, and I am so grateful for God's protection over my home.

Armenia experienced a devastating earthquake in 1999 that changed building engineering standards, which I believe helped reduce the devastation this time. However, the trauma from that event, along with the recent earthquake in Venezuela, has left many people feeling anxious.

Towns near Pereira, Cali, and Manizales are still searching for missing people beneath the rubble. The national church is gathering food, water, hygiene supplies, and volunteers to distribute aid throughout the affected areas. I will be joining these efforts to meet physical needs while also sharing the hope of Jesus.

How You Can Pray
  1. For those who are still missing to be found.
  2. For God's provision for families who have experienced devastating loss.
  3. For supernatural comfort and peace from the Holy Spirit for those living in fear and anxiety.
  4. For wisdom, strength, and open doors as I continue ministering through Thursday outreach and rehabilitation centers.
  5. Strength, wisdom, and protection for our missionary as she serves the people of Colombia.
Your Next Step

Take a few moments this week to intentionally pray for our missionary and the people of Colombia.

Your prayers and faithful giving are helping bring the hope of Jesus to people who need it most.

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From this Tag: Missions
August 27, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Bradfords August Update
We hope you have had a great summer! As students are heading back to school and families are getting back to their typical rhythms, we are continuing to itinerate. We have BIG news regarding our itineration: We have raised 50% of the monthly commitments we need!!! And we are close to reaching 60% of that same number. We are SO grateful for and happy with this progress. We are pushing to be fully funded by the end of November, just 3 months away! With that being said, NOW is a great time to financially partner with us! Click this link or the button below to give. We need YOUR monthly giving commitment to get us to Belgium. Click to Give Once 100% of our monthly budget is fulfilled through giving commitments and 100% of our cash/one-time costs budget is raised, we will be cleared to apply for our visa. We want to have finished the visa application process by the end of the year. With this timeline, we would, hopefully, be able to head to Belgium in early 2027! Please be faithfully praying with us that this will happen. We are eager to get to Belgium! We are currently itinerating in Kansas City. We will head back to Indiana next week. We will be taking a long itineration roadtrip down to Lakeland, Florida for a Wednesday night service in early October. We plan to schedule many services and meetings on the way there and back. We can't wait to meet and share God's call on our lives with many pastors and churches. Belgian wildfires Belgium is currently experiencing the largest wildfire in their history. It has burned over half of their oldest and largest nature reserve. Thousands of people across Belgium and Europe overall have been forced to evacuate because of the growth of the fires. Pray with us for the people of Belgium and all those affected by the wildfires across Europe. Prayer requests: Continued safety while traveling and no issues with our car Individuals would be led to partner with us through monthly giving commitments Churches would be led to partner with us through monthly giving commitments Europe's wildfires to be controlled and extinguished Xander and Taylor Bradford (765) 637-8377 xander.bradford@eu.agwm.org

Xander Bradford

August 19, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Fall Speed the Light Offering
Fall 2026 Speed the Light CampaignGive to STLLearn about Brad Keller TLDR TLDR We're raising $1,000 by December 31 to help provide a future replacement vehicle for our Missouri Youth Alive missionary, Brad Keller. Through Brad's ministry, more than 2,000 Missouri students have given their lives to Jesus, and your generosity helps him continue equipping students to reach students. Pray for Brad and Missouri schools, then click Give to STL to help us reach our goal. Why We're Giving Every week, thousands of Missouri students walk into schools without a relationship with Jesus. Youth Alive exists to change that. Brad Keller serves as OUR Missouri's Youth Alive missionary, equipping students, churches, and schools to share the gospel on campus through student-led ministries, evangelism, and discipleship. Brad’s truck has over 200,000 miles on it and is beginning to show signs of retirement. We are raising money so that when the time comes, STL can purchase him a new one! Meet Brad Keller Brad is the Youth Alive missionary for Missouri. If you haven’t met him, you’ve most likely heard him, “GLORY!” His heart is for student discipleship and campus missions. Through his partnership with the local church, he has helped start a movement to raise up thousands of student missionaries around Missouri. He loves working alongside Pastors and Youth Pastors and is here to help your church reach your public school. Brad ministered to Ps. Abram when he was in youth at Youth Camp and Pastor’s Kid events! Campaign Goal and Status Goal: $1,000 by 12/31/2026 $0 / $1,000 Raised (0%) Why This Matters Over the years, over 2,000 students have given their lives to Jesus through Brad’s work in the public schools across Missouri. Prayer Requests Pray for: Brad Keller Missouri schools, students, and faculty Student missionaries sharing their faith in their schools Frequently Asked Questions What is Speed the Light (STL)? STL is the Missions giving initiative of the Youth of the Assemblies of God USA. STL primarily raises funds for vehicles and other equipment used by missionaries around the world to share the gospel! Where does my money go? It is given to our Southern Missouri Ministry Network who sends it our missionaries! Is my donation tax deductible? Yes, it is! Can parents give? Yes, but our goal is primarily for students! We want to build a culture of generosity in the next generation so the Gospel will impact the world! Can I give online? Yes, click the button below to donate! When does the campaign end? On December 31, 2026 as we close the year! Then in the Spring semester of 2027, we will have a new goal!Give to STLLearn about Brad Keller Weekly Log: August 19th: Given: $0 | Pledged: $1185 August 26th: Given: $0 | Raised: $0

Rev. Abram Bagunu

Associate Pastor

Currently Reading
August 12, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Missions Update: Amanda Berger Aug 2026
Missions Update | Colombia This month, we received an encouraging update from one of our missionaries serving in Colombia. While there are reasons to celebrate, there are also urgent prayer needs we want to share with our church family. Read Amanda’s update below: Thursday Evangelism Every Thursday morning I join my local church to minister to ladies working in prostitution. We pray with them, provide a snack with Scripture, and work to train them in other crafts to help them generate income in a different way when they are ready. Some are also struggling with substance abuse, so I have been intentionally focused on connecting with those individuals. Rehab Ministry This month I was able to connect with a few rehabilitation centers in the area and share a devotional! My hope is to build strong relationships and begin ministering weekly at several different rehabilitation centers in order to disciple individuals during their time in rehab and connect them and their families with local churches after they leave the program. Please pray that God continues to open these doors and establish lasting relationships. A Speed the Light Miracle In July, I received my Speed the Light vehicle! I am so grateful to receive this miracle. Thank you for your generosity that enables missionaries to have reliable vehicles. Having this vehicle allows me to minister in places that would otherwise be unreachable or unsafe for me to travel by bus or taxi alone as a single female. [Note from Ps. Abram: For over 15 years, I have personally been giving money to Speed the Light, supplying cars like this across the world! Each time I see a STL VEHICLE, I am overwhelmed that our money can be used for God’s Kingdom across the world!] Earthquake Update On Monday, August 10, Colombia experienced a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that lasted four minutes, an unusually long amount of time. The epicenter was about an hour away from me and was felt over a wide radius. Thankfully, all AGWM [Assemblies of God World Missions] personnel serving in Colombia are safe. I was asleep in my apartment on the 13th floor when it happened. I grabbed my puppy and ran down the stairs. It felt like being on a boat that was hit by strong waves while trying to walk down stairs at the same time. Thankfully, my building is structurally sound, and I am back in my apartment, which miraculously doesn't even have a single crack in the wall! Other apartments in the building experienced superficial damage, and I am so grateful for God's protection over my home. Armenia experienced a devastating earthquake in 1999 that changed building engineering standards, which I believe helped reduce the devastation this time. However, the trauma from that event, along with the recent earthquake in Venezuela, has left many people feeling anxious. Towns near Pereira, Cali, and Manizales are still searching for missing people beneath the rubble. The national church is gathering food, water, hygiene supplies, and volunteers to distribute aid throughout the affected areas. I will be joining these efforts to meet physical needs while also sharing the hope of Jesus. How You Can Pray For those who are still missing to be found. For God's provision for families who have experienced devastating loss. For supernatural comfort and peace from the Holy Spirit for those living in fear and anxiety. For wisdom, strength, and open doors as I continue ministering through Thursday outreach and rehabilitation centers. Strength, wisdom, and protection for our missionary as she serves the people of Colombia. Your Next Step Take a few moments this week to intentionally pray for our missionary and the people of Colombia. Your prayers and faithful giving are helping bring the hope of Jesus to people who need it most.

Amanda Berger

August 3, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
A story from DW in the Gulf
Embracing Unexpected Interruptions “Being in this country again was not a part of *the plan*.” “I’m *supposed* to be in the Gulf right now.” “I’m not *supposed* to be here.” These are a few of the repeated thoughts I’ve had since the war has delayed my move to my intended destination. I’ve been so grateful to return to the field, to be with amazing teammates, and to be back in this country; yet, I have still wrestled with this unanticipated change of location. Questioning “why” and wondering what God is doing in me and in this season of “not yet” and waiting for the next season to start. Despite my wrestling, Jesus has shown Himself faithful and that He is still at work! A specific testimony came from an unexpected interruption. Much like this particular season! Some of you may remember I came to help with the internship program here. Thank you for praying for them! They all had an incredible 5 weeks encountering God’s love and calling over their lives and over this region. Their first weekend in country we took them to many tourist locations – around the region – so they could see the country as a whole before starting language study and team life. After 2 long days, I was very ready to return home for a shower and sleep. But as it happened, this was the very night I met my neighbor for the first time. I greeted the father, hoping this would just be in passing. However, he answered with the appropriate cultural response, inviting me over for tea with him and his family. So with a nudge from Jesus, I delayed my shower, dropped off my bags, and visited them. We exchanged pleasantries, introduced ourselves, and I sat with their adult daughter, Natalie*. After about 45 minutes of chatting, we ended the visit, but not before they invited me back for a meal a few days later. I brought one of our intern girls with me when I went back, and I had no idea what these visits would open up… After we ate, the intern needed to leave for a meeting, and Natalie* and I went for a walk around our neighborhood. We talked about life and God! We shared about our differing views on religion. I told her about the importance of Jesus and how we were all made in God’s image – both of which were strange concepts to her. However, the most impactful moment of our time together was at the end of our walk. We rested on a park bench where Natalie* shared about some struggles she had been having with mental fog and loneliness. I asked her if I could pray for her in that moment, and she said immediately said yes. It was a touch from the Lord that she was thirsty for! I ended the prayer “in Jesus’ name,” and she reported feeling a lot better. Wiping away tears, she couldn’t stop hugging and thanking me. I pray this prayer and our conversations repeat in Natalie’s* mind, and she begins to have a curiosity about Jesus and a life lived with Him. God showed me His intentionality behind interruptions. That it’s not about a timeline, a location, or what *should* be or *should not* be. It’s all about Him. Whether big interruptions or small ones, Jesus is at work. He made this day, and He has intentions for it. He put me here in this season, and He has intentions for it! “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 Prayer Requests Natalie* - that she would become interested in Jesus! Wisdom within my witness and showing Jesus to my friends here Preparations and prayers for my upcoming move to the Gulf, I fly out mid-August! Thank you as always for your support and prayers! I thank the Lord for each of you, and I feel so blessed to reach this world together. With love, DW (A Note from Ps. Abram: If you would like more information on this worker, reach out here from us.)

Rev. Abram Bagunu

Associate Pastor

August 1, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
2026-2027 BGMC Giving
2026-2027 KIDS BGMC GivingGive to BGMC TLDR BGMC helps kids participate in missions by giving to help missionaries and ministries share Jesus and meet needs around the world. Our goal isn’t only to raise money. We want to help our kids develop a lifelong heart for generosity, missions, and reaching people with the Gospel. Kids can bring their BGMC offering to Commission Kids or families can give online using the Give to BGMC button below. Why We’re Giving We believe kids don’t have to wait until they’re adults to participate in the mission of God. Through BGMC, our Commission Kids get an opportunity to pray, give, learn about missionaries, and discover what God is doing around the world. A few dollars may not seem like much, but when kids from churches across the country give together, their generosity can make an incredible impact. More importantly, we’re helping our kids learn something that can shape the rest of their lives: God can use what I have to help someone else know Jesus. What Is BGMC? BGMC stands for Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge and is the missions giving program for kids in the Assemblies of God. BGMC helps provide missionaries and ministries with the resources they need to share the Gospel and meet practical needs around the world. Through BGMC, kids aren’t simply learning about missions. Kids get to participate in missions. Our BGMC Goal Goal: $1000 Raised: $265 / $1000 Progress: 26% We’ll update this page as our kids continue giving so families can follow our progress together! Every gift matters, whether it’s a handful of change, birthday money, money earned from chores, or something a child intentionally chooses to give. Why This Matters We want generosity to become part of the discipleship of our kids. Our goal isn’t simply for adults to give money on behalf of their children so we can reach a number. We want kids involved. We want them asking questions about missionaries. We want them praying for people around the world. We want them experiencing the joy of giving something that belongs to them. And ultimately, we want to raise a generation that believes following Jesus means participating in His mission. Pray With Your Kids Take some time as a family to pray for: Missionaries serving around the world Children who haven’t heard about Jesus Churches and ministries meeting practical needs in their communities People who will hear the Gospel because of BGMC Our Commission Kids as they learn to live generously Frequently Asked Questions What is BGMC? BGMC stands for Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge. It’s the Assemblies of God missions program designed specifically to help kids participate in missions through praying, giving, and learning about needs around the world. Where does our BGMC money go? BGMC giving helps missionaries and ministries purchase resources they need to share Jesus and serve people around the world. Throughout the year, we’ll also introduce our kids to missionaries and missions projects so they can better understand the people and ministries their generosity helps support. How can my child give? Kids can bring their BGMC offering with them to Commission Kids. Families can also give online using the Give to BGMC button on this page. Can parents give? You can, but we especially want to encourage kids to participate in the giving process themselves. Consider helping your child find age-appropriate ways to earn or set aside money for BGMC. The amount isn’t what’s most important. We’re helping kids learn that generosity is part of following Jesus. Does a small gift really matter? Yes! BGMC works because kids everywhere give what they can. When thousands of children participate together, small gifts become a powerful resource for missions. Every gift also gives us an opportunity to teach our kids about generosity and God’s mission. Your Next Step Talk about BGMC with your kids this week. Pray together about missions and help them decide how they would like to participate. Then bring your BGMC offering to Commission Kids or click Give to BGMC below. Together, our kids can help the whole world know Jesus!Give to BGMC Giving Log AUGUST - $265 Given

Rev. Abram Bagunu

Associate Pastor

July 8, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Story from Colombia: Forced to take Drugs
Reposted from a message from Amanda Berger: Story: The need is so great the government doesn't even know where to start... WINS: It's been a few days since our Chi Alpha team left - it was an amazing week of ministry with several highs including 6 salvations, but I'm stuck thinking about an interaction I had Saturday night... We were ministering at a youth small group, the team came ready with a sermon but God changed their heart to share on persecution, not really sure why but in obedience changed the sermon. At the end of the night one of the youth leaders shared with me that her nephew who attends the group was asked to do drugs a while back, and said no. He was beaten for saying no and has since been forced to do drugs. My heart shattered at this reality many kids and youth face here. The accessibility & affordability of drugs...and society's indifference, or avoidance, of all those struggling with addiction. I've met with many pastors and been told multiple times, "Amanda, the need is so great the government doesn't even know where to start; we are overwhelmed with need." In the face of overwhelming need, I'm reminded that we serve a God bigger than any need, system, or plan. A God who sees each individual as His child and has a plan for redemption for all of them. Would you pray for: Open doors & wisdom on where to start Pastors & individuals willing to serve Thank you for being a part of breaking cycles and making disciples in Colombia! A day in the life: familiar, yet different. You asked for more a day in the life of a missionary so here we are. First, let me break any illusion that missionary life doesn't have mundane parts, because boy does it. In fact, I just had a month full of mundane adult chores with all the obstacles that come with them: Apartment hunting Attending 80 hr of drivers licensing class Buying a car (pic to come) Oh, and train a puppy These things are familiar things we do in the USA, but in a different language & a different country with their own rules & regulations - some of which you don't know until you break them. It's taxing on the mind and body. While the achiever in me wants to say, geez, Amanda, that's all you did? I can proudly say I DID ALL OF THAT! So whatever you're doing today that feels mundane, or like it's not moving the needle, remember God is in the mundane & necessary parts of life as much as he's in the mountain top moments.

Rev. Abram Bagunu

Associate Pastor

May 11, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Irvin Rutherford passing his missionary mantle on to the next generation.
Pastor Irvin Rutherford, a missionary for over 60 years, is passing on his mantle to the next generation. While visiting this past March, Pastor Irvin, our missionary board member, shared that after 60 years of ministering throughout the world, he's passing on the leadership of global ministry teams—GMT—to Pastor Aaron McManus over the next few years. You can watch the service where he shares this update with our congregation by clicking the button below.Watch here Brother Irvin has ministered primarily in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, for decades. He and his wife, Linda, traveled throughout Asia and the world, raising their kids and ministering. Now that both Irvin and Linda are growing older and are more restricted in their travel, Pastor Irvin has been training a new leader to take over his ministry. Pastor Irvin has trained and impacted the lives of 500 leaders in 83 countries worldwide. Ps. Aaron will be working with Ps. Irvin, as they prepare him to lead the continued effort around the world to preach the gospel and build up the next generation of church leaders, pastors, evangelists, and church workers across the world.

Rev. Abram Bagunu

Associate Pastor