Living the Mission: One Indigenous Community at a Time
Misael Artunduaga, a lay Bible instructor, stands with his Bible and motorcycle in front of a wooden Seventh-day Adventist church in one of 11 Indigenous communities across Colombia’s eastern plains, where he has been sharing the gospel for the past seven years. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
July 10, 2025 | Cristalinas, Meta, Colombia | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News
Seven years ago, Misael Artunduaga, a lay Bible instructor living near the eastern plains of Colombia, discovered his passion for sharing the gospel with indigenous communities across the vast grassland region east of the Andes Mountains.
It all began when a member of the Sikuani indigenous community stayed at the family-run motel operated by Artunduaga and his wife. A friendship quickly formed. “He invited me to his home, and I began teaching him and his family about God’s love and His plan of salvation,” said Artunduaga. “Later, he introduced me to his wider community.”
Misael Artunduaga (right) checks seedlings with the leader of an Indigenous group during one of his visit to the community in March 2025. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Soon after, Artunduaga met the community leader. After six months of Bible studies, the leader and his family were baptized.
A Chance Encounter That Sparked a Mission
“It took some time to earn their trust,” he said. “I spent time in their community, integrated into their culture, went fishing with them, planted cassava in their small gardens, and stayed with them for days, eating and sleeping in a hammock.”
“It was quite an experience to understand how they process things,” explained Artunduaga. “They have a different way of communicating and socializing. Their language consists of only 11 letters.” He noted that mostly men know how to read and write, and while he has managed to learn a few words in two of the local languages, he has been working with an interpreter to help translate the messages. “God began to awaken in me a mission to share the gospel with more families in the community,” he added.
Misael Artunduaga (center back) takes time to speak with a group of believers as District Pastor Henry Ramírez (right) joins in to offer encouragement during a recent visit.. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Little by little, Artunduaga began visiting more communities on his motorcycle, studying the Word of God with them and bringing food, clothing, and Bibles to share. He often travels two, three, and sometimes up to 13 hours to reach these remote indigenous communities, spending three weeks out of every month ministering among them. He teaches Bible lessons that begin with God’s plan of salvation, the Sabbath, living a Christian life, and maintaining proper health and nutrition.
So far, Artunduaga has reached 11 communities—speaking three different languages—with the gospel message, out of the 67 large indigenous communities in the region. Each of the 11 communities has a small wooden church where members gather regularly for worship.
Believers gather in the wooden Seventh-day Adventist church as Misael Artunduaga leads a Bible study. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
More than 700 people have been baptized through Artunduaga’s efforts. To support the growing work, the local conference has assigned a district pastor to help visit and minister to the communities when possible.
“Sometimes it takes weeks before I can return to a community because visiting all of them can take over two months,” he said. Evangelism takes time to take root in indigenous communities, Artunduaga explained.
Misael Artunduaga prays before baptizing a couple from the Piapoco language community in Piragua, located in the eastern plains of Colombia, on June 28, 2025. [Photo: Courtesy of Misael Artunduaga]
Living the Mission—A Life of Purpose
Artunduaga, who was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 14 years of age, considers his work with indigenous communities one of the most meaningful and fulfilling experiences of his life. “I love spending time with them, talking with them, and telling them about Christ,” he said. “When I’m with them—during those gatherings of eight or ten days—it feels like vacation time for me.”
Lay Bible Worker Misael Artunduaga with one of the 11 ethnic communities in the eastern plains of south Colombia that he has been ministering too with the gospels for years for six years. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
For Artunduaga, Living the Mission means fully engaging with indigenous people—spending time with them, building relationships, and preparing them for Jesus’ second coming.
Misael Artunduaga’s story was featured in the Inter-American Division’s Quinquennial Report during the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s 62nd General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, on July 10, 2025.
To view the video report, click HERE