Miguel Ochoa is a church planter and pastor for with the Assemblies of God in Bogota, Colombia.

Miguel became passionate about planting churches when he realized that it was the most effective way to do what Jesus commands us to do—make disciples.

These convictions brought Miguel to take that next step of faith. Not only did he prepare himself for ministry by studying theology in his denomination’s seminary but also, he took practical classes about church planting through Multiplication Network Ministries (MNM). Miguel felt strongly that he could not wait to serve in another, perhaps more desirable place, but go to where there was need.

Miguel analyzed his community through the survey provided in the MNM training. Looking at the results, he realized there were no churches with a healthy doctrine. Miguel also learned there was an especially great need for providing the young kids a space to be socially accepted and cared for spiritually.

Although the risks and challenges were great, Miguel took up this mission. With the help of his denomination, he was able to move forward. He started programs to evangelize through music and art to reach the kids and Miguel also began reaching out to and discipling the people of the community. Through his ministry, Miguel addressed their deepest need: to be transformed by Christ.

“We began to pray for this community, to evangelize with activities and God was bringing the people. We threw ourselves into this ministry and we let ourselves be guided as a congregation that was being born. We began to take joy in the people who were receiving Christ and now we have more than 40 people baptized and a membership of 70 people in just two years,” says Miguel.

He is excited to see what will happen when this new generation of church planters is empowered and can go out to where there is need.

Miguel’s goals for the future are to continue planting churches in the neighborhoods surrounding his first church. His prayer now is that the church can be self-sustaining to continue to grow and to meet more needs of this new community.