Ever since high school, Marlayna has had a burning desire to serve God’s Church at a Christian school that serves the missionary community. Since serving with Inner City Impact in Chicago, Steven has desired to help children’s lives be transformed by the power of the gospel and build their resiliency that enables them to overcome social, emotional, and academic difficulties. We both have desired to see the great commission fulfilled in making disciples. Our passion is to work closely with youth, mentoring them and pointing their attention toward serving God with their whole heart, soul, and mind. In November 2009 we attended an educator missionary fair, and there the Lord placed the seed in our heart for the Church in Bogotá, Colombia.
Within Bogotá and its 10 million people, there are many different Christian ministries and missionaries proclaiming the Gospel and building up Jesus’ Church. But, one of the most common reasons missionaries leave the mission field is the limited educational opportunities for their children. As a way to support these missionaries, church leaders, and local believers, El Camino Academy (ECA) has, for the past 30 years, provided the instruction and discipleship for the children of these church workers, thereby allowing them to serve the Colombian people. To learn more about ECA, please visit their website HERE.
Our ministry at ECA is multi-faceted. Steven is fulfilling the roles of counselor for students with social-emotional and/or academic difficulties, special needs math teacher, and provide college prep and guidance. Marlayna assists with the middle school science, library activities, and teaches English after school to students, parents, and other people from around Bogotá. In addition, we are investing in the lives of the students by sharing the Gospel with them in both word and deed, discipling them inside-and-outside of school, and building them up to become servant-leaders in the body of Christ. Specifically, together we are discipling a class of 19 students (6 boys and 13 girls) and serving with them at a special needs orphanage called Luz y Vida. ECA’s emphasis on student discipleship is one of the key aspects that separated it from all the other schools we investigated.
In order to keep costs low and allow ECA to continue to support local missionary families, pastors, and church laypeople, the school asks for all staff members to be sent as missionaries. As such, we want to invite you to join us in this adventure of serving God. First and foremost, we need your prayer support. Only when a ministry is grounded in prayer and seeking God’s direction, does it bear fruit. The school does supply us with a stipend that covers half of our rent cost, but we need partners to help cover the other living costs, such as health insurance, rent, utilities, food, and public transportation. If you would like to receive our email newsletter, please send us your email address. Also, please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have, as we would love discussing this opportunity with you further.
*The following information was taken directly from the RCE website. Feel free to visit the RCE website directly HERE.*
How can I give?
Thank you so much for your interest in us and RCE International! To partner with us financially, please use the ID number 11923
To donate by check, please make checks payable to: RCE International. Please include the account number for the missionary you would like to support (Steve & Marlayna Pence #11923) on the memo line of your check or on a separate sheet of paper, please indicate the designated ministry that you would like to support with this gift.
Mail to:
RCE International
PO Box 4528
Wheaton, IL 60189
We also offer an Electronic Funds Transfer where your donation is deducted directly from your checking or savings account on a monthly basis. Please fill out and return the EFT Brochure to set up your automatic donations.
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