Northern Chile
The Catholic religion in the North is very strong.
According to the census made in Chile four years ago, the evangelical population in this area was only 3%. There are 600,000 people in the fourth region (state) that do not know Jesus.
Our Vision
- To plant a church in the north of Chile that would reach many with the Gospel.
- That the new Christians would be discipled to grow in their personal walk with the Lord, be trained in the fundamental doctrines, and be prepared for ministry.
- It is our vision that through our church other churches would be planted.
- Our prayer is that the Lord would allow us to be a missions-minded church, supporting national pastors and missionaries through prayer, offerings and missions trips.
- We also pray that those called of the Lord would prepare themselves in a Bible institute and be sent by our church as pastors and missionaries.
Lisa Collio
My parents were missionaries with Word of Life and when I was 1 year old we went overseas as missionaries. Our family lived 14 years in Argentina and 3 years in Venezuela. I enjoyed living in Latin America VERY MUCH and am fluent in Spanish. I always enjoyed learning about the Bible and enjoyed accompanying my parents to the different ministry opportunities that they had.
I completed high school at the Word of Life missionary school in Argentina and then studied at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Argentina. I completed the 3-year curriculum and received a theological diploma.
Upon completing the Bible Institute I was a short term missionary to Chile with Word of Life for 2 years. I was involved in the Children's Home ministry, teaching the Bible to children. I taught English to the children in the Word of Life missionary school and helped start a Junior Church ministry in my local church. I was also involved with a Word of Life Bible Club (This is a program that works through the local church and is designed to teach teenagers the Bible.) and visited the girls and discipled two of them.
The Lord allowed me to study at the Children's ministries Institute in Warrenton, MO in the year 2000. After completing the training I grew to love the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship, especially the emphasis that is put on the importance of training others. The verse that impacted me was Titus 2:2 where we're instructed to teach faithful Christians who will be able to teach others. Also, I love their teaching methods for the Children's Clubs.
The Lord directed me to the CEF ministry which has the objective of reaching the boys and girls with the Gospel and establishing them in local churches. This goal is accomplished through our teacher training courses. After receiving the instruction, the teachers put into practice what they have learned by teaching Evangelistic Children's Clubs. The children are integrated into the local church that hosted the Children's Club.
I was accepted as a CEF missionary in May of 2001 and my short term trip ended now in June of 2006. While in Chile I was able to help the CEF ministry in Santiago and in the entire country grow, and was also the Local director for Santiago for 2 years. I'm a certified CEF Teaching Children Effectively Instructor in level I and II. In 2005, 1,300 teachers were trained through the CEF courses and through the CEF ministries over 11,000 children heard the Gospel and over 3,000 received the Lord.
Francisco Collio
When I was 9 years old, a teenager invited me to a Good News Club where there would be games, songs, candy (That is what I liked the most.) and also a Bible lesson. I did not know what the Good News Club was about, but for candy I would go anywhere, especially if it was free! That afternoon during the Good News Club, the teacher told a story about Noah and his family who were saved from the flood because they believed on God. The question that the teacher asked was, "Do you want to believe on God to find salvation?" That day on March 24, 1982 I received Jesus as my personal Savior and from that day I am sure that some day I will be with the Lord.
When I was 14 years old I met a Word of Life missionary named Gamaliel Fuentes. He and his family were a great example for me and he was the hero of the faith that every teenager needs. I dedicated my life to the Lord at a summer camp and I told Him that I wanted to serve Him. I decided at that age that I would go study in the Word of Life Bible Institute in Argentina. During the following years I participated in the Word of Life camps in Chile as a summer staff. This was a great blessing for me because I learned to serve with a heart ready for all good work. At the same time I was serving in my local church as a leader with teens and children. This church was started by a group of children.
Twelve years passed before I could complete that big goal and thanks to the Lord I was able to study in Argentina from 1999 to 2001. Also, I was able to participate in the ministry of Illustrated Evangelism and travel to the north and south of Argentina evangelizing and teaching people in different churches throughout the country. This allowed me to see the development of the local church and motivated my heart to serve the Lord and prepare myself as a Pastor. Matt. 9:35-38 really impacted me. Jesus went to cities and towns teaching in the synagogue and teaching the Gospel of the kingdom, healing the sick. When He saw the multitude He had compassion on them because they were abandoned and scattered like sheep who did not have a shepherd. Then He said to the disciples, "Verily, verily I say unto you, the field is ripe unto the harvest, but the workers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth workers unto His harvest." Verse 36 kept me awake many nights as I thought of the look that Jesus had when he saw His people in this condition. It must have been a look of sadness.
The question was clear. Who was I to deny myself to the heart of Christ? Later I read I Timothy 3:1. "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work." The word desire is like a fire that no one can put out. This conviction and desire to serve the Lord were greater than any personal interest that I could have. I know that leading people in a church puts me accountable to the Chief Shepherd which is a great responsibility, and I am willing to accept it because God has placed this important calling in my life.
Letter from the Collio's
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We were approved by Titus International as missionaries! We are officially starting our deputation process. Our project is to return to "La Serena", which is in northern Chile. There are 600,000 people in this area and very few Gospel preaching churches.
Our vision is to evangelize and plant a church using the resources that we are trained in such as: CEF Clubs and Word of Life Clubs. The emphasis of our ministry will be to "Train nationals to reach their world for Christ." Our prayer is that the trained nationals will start churches in the surrounding towns, under our leadership.
Currently Francisco is completing a two year missionary apprenticeship at First Baptist Church in Elkhart. His primary focus will be the Hispanic ministry. The church will provide us with a house and a monthly offering that will cover 3/4 of our monthly needs.
Thank you for partnering together with us in the eternal investmet of sharing the Gospel.
In Christ,
Francisco and Lisa Collio
Please make your checks payable to "Titus International" and put "Collio Familiy" in the memo section. Mail to:
Titus International
1515 McBrien Road
Chattanooga TN 37412
If you would like more information on Titus or would like to recive a copy of our newsletter in the mail, please let us know.
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