MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA

A city once stained by decades of violence and drug trafficking, Medellín has made huge strides in shrugging off its former reputation. Named “the world’s most innovative city” in 2012, Medellín is now known for its cultural opportunities and progressive improvements to education, transportation, and infrastructure. Nestled into the Aburrá Valley, the metro area is home to almost 4 million people, a number that will only increase as Colombians, Venezuelan refugees, and other internationals flock to this global city.

Sadly, the evangelical church has not kept up with this population growth. A mere 11% claim to be evangelical Christian, but only half of these belong to a local church. These numbers become staggeringly low if you subtract the churches preaching the prosperity gospel and other syncretistic messages. The need and opportunity for church planting is quite clear, and that is the mission of the MTW team. Through university ministry, theological education, biblical counseling, and other mercy ministries, they hope to bring spiritual growth and renewal to this thriving city.