The beauty of Kingdom kin

Listen to our 2025Q1 Ministry Update

(Written by Q&A and Read by Anna Kim – Produced by Kyu) ~ Download Printer Friendly PDF ~

Your account has been locked…

This was the message that unexpectedly appeared on my phone the night before our 2nd annual Raíces Profundas family discipleship conference. This year, we offered both on-site and live streaming formats for the conference, and I (Kyu) was adding final contacts to a WhatsApp group for sharing the online access information. Since many registrations occurred at the last minute, I added nearly 200 contacts in a short period of time. Thus, the system automatically flagged my account as potential spam and unceremoniously locked me out. Of course, I was able to appeal this lock-out, but it would take about 24 hours for my account to be restored–too late to share the conference link.

Still, God was faithful. Upon waking the next morning, I asked our Deep Roots team and our prayer partners to pray that God would allow us to get the information out. We began trying other avenues for communication and started the event.

Shortly after the conference ended, I was notified my account had been restored. And that WhatsApp group showed over 100 unread messages. It was a bit daunting to open the chat, but I was grateful and delighted to find that the participants had helped one another, sharing the link and assisting with technical support so that everyone could get logged on for the conference. It was a beautiful glimpse of the Body of Christ at work. These were literal strangers, helping one another as kingdom kin.

Through on-site and virtual methods, we were able to serve our local Medellín community of believers, along with over 80 participants from other parts of Colombia, plus Panama and Peru. The feedback we received was encouraging and humbling. The message was a beautiful reminder to keep Christ at the center of our closest relationships, with some specific highlights for Biblical insights for parenting and healthy relationships with adult children.

We’re especially grateful for our Avant coworkers who visited to share wisdom on family discipleship from their areas of expertise and experience. Young parents left with practical tools, while others, including those with adult children, were reminded it’s never too late to honor Christ in our family relationships.. In Christ, we’re called to faithfulness, not perfection.Thank you to those who prayed, gave, and helped make this Deep Roots (Raíces Profundas) event possible. May God bless you, and also continue to build His kingdom through this ministry!

When Missionaries Rest

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
— Matthew 11:28-30

Life isn’t always easy. Between home, relationships, work, and ministry, the weight can wear anyone down — especially if they are without rest or support.

Missionaries face these same pressures, often magnified by the demands of cross-cultural life and ministry. Studies show the stress levels among cross-cultural missionaries mirror those of social workers, healthcare professionals, first responders, and even military personnel. Burnout remains one of the leading reasons missionaries leave the field — and sadly, around 70% of these departures may have been preventable.

We, as Team Kim, are especially grateful for the thoughtful care Avant Ministries provides as an agency to their missionary members–those entrusted with carrying the gospel both near and far. After the Raíces Profundas conference in February, we were blessed with time for rest and debrief with Avant’s member care team in Panama — a space to pause, process, and be refreshed for the work ahead.

Kevin and Maria (member care) know rest comes with ice-cream 😉

We’re thankful for their commitment to both proactive and compassionate care — a living reminder of the gentle yoke Christ offers.

If you’re considering missions or choosing a sending agency, we encourage you to look for one that values member care, walking with you not just in times of need, but equipping you through biblical wisdom for a faithful, sustainable life of service.

Other 1st Quarter Highlights:

During our January visit to Peru, we enjoyed time with Kyu’s parents, were able to encourage 600+ VBS/Sunday School teachers by speaking at the annual AMED conference, and hosted a professional development workshop for the AMED ministry team.

Kyu&Anna and 2 couples co-leading youth group

We have had opportunities for mentorship, including the 2 couples who co-lead the youth ministry with us, and 4 young couples who are all parenting young children.

Sharing our personal testimony with the children

Kyu and I were invited to teach a children’s Sunday School lesson on life as a missionary at our local church.

New & Next:

Our religious visa renewal is still a few months away, but we’ve already begun praying and preparing. Other missionaries have shared that the renewal process has become increasingly challenging — whether due to local politics or global tensions–who knows? Either way, we trust that God remains sovereign over kings, governments, and even paperwork!
We’re also grateful for a handful of upcoming training opportunities designed to equip us for the work ahead. These will stretch our minds and offer a refreshing change of pace from our day-to-day routines.
Jóvenes 3D (our youth group) continues to grow — not so much in numbers, but in depth of community. We’ve seen teens opening up, sharing thoughts and questions during gatherings, and our adult facilitators are growing in confidence and leadership. This year’s theme is “Truth” – focusing on knowing truth and also putting truth into practice.

Family or Kid’s Highlight:

The girls started their first formal music lessons this year–Lucia is studying singing, and Noelia, ukulele. The amount of live music in our home has increased significantly, and it is a delight to hear them working hard and improving!

Prayer Requests:

Favor and guidance as we prepare for our visa renewal this October.
Strength and focus as we engage in training and meetings designed to better equip us for Kingdom work.
Wisdom and clarity as we plan for the next phases of ministry and prepare for our anticipated home assignment in mid-2026.
Balance and intentional rest for our family as we step into a busy season of life and ministry.

Thanks, with an Appeal

We are so grateful for everyone who has prayed for us, provided specific resources, given faithfully, or recently joined us in partnership to support our family and the Kingdom work we are doing in Colombia.

Earlier this year, we took a pay cut to adjust to a decrease in support. However, with so many amazing opportunities for ministry ahead, now is the perfect time to consider becoming a monthly partner or increasing your current level of support.

We invite you to prayerfully consider how you, your family, and your community can make a lasting impact by becoming monthly financial partners with us to strengthen families and churches in Latin America. Together, we can continue to share God’s love and make a difference!

Check out our personal giving link! 👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼 CLICK HERE