In this episode, we sit down with Jason Holt, a missionary to Chile and the Latin America field director with Vision Baptist Missions, to talk about the vital role of Bible training in missions.

What does it really mean to start a Bible college on the mission field? Is it necessary—or even biblical? Jason shares practical, real-world insight from his experience starting with just a few men and building a structured training program that equips national leaders for ministry.

🔑 In this conversation, you’ll discover:

• Why training men—not just growing attendance—is essential for church multiplication

• The biblical foundation for discipleship and ministry preparation

• How a Bible institute can grow into a full Bible college

• Practical steps for missionaries who feel called to train the next generation

• The importance of intentional structure, delegation, and long-term vision

• Encouragement to start small—even with just a few students around a table

Jason also shares lessons learned, challenges faced, and the joy of seeing national leaders rise up to lead, teach, and carry the ministry forward.

💡 Key takeaway: “Pastor less, train more.” Our goal isn’t just to build churches—but to equip others to lead them for generations to come.

SUBSCRIBE to our podcast "Mission Post" on all platforms.

To learn more about Vision Baptist Missions, go to visionmissions.com

Follow us on social media and check out our website.

Quotes:

“We don’t need an attendance record—we need men.”

“Bible college is not the goal; training faithful men for ministry is.”

“Jesus didn’t just send men—He spent years preparing them.”

“We’re commanded to train and prepare, not send out a novice.”

“A structured system helps you teach purposefully and keep track of what’s been taught.”

“It’s not necessary to have a degree—but it’s a helpful tool in many cultures.”

“You can start with just a few men around a table.”

“Don’t wait until you have twenty—start with three.”

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—use the resources that already exist.”

“Teaching forces you to grow—it stretches you in ways nothing else will.”

“Delegate, delegate, delegate—training others multiplies the work.”

“Your role isn’t just to pastor—it’s to train men for ministry.”

“If your week looks 100% like pastoring, you may be missing your main mission.”

“Get people to read, think, and interact—not just listen.”

“Don’t spoon-feed them—teach them how to think.”

“Think in decades, not days—ministry is long-term.”

“The goal is national leaders who can lead better than you.”

“Rarely hearing your name as a favorite teacher—that’s success.”

“Start small, but think big and plan intentionally.”

“There’s no shortcut—training requires time, effort, and structure.”

“We are not going to be there forever—someone must carry it on.”

“Pastor less. Train more.”

“Bible college is the training arm to accomplish the mission.”

“If you never ask someone to consider ministry, don’t expect them to step into it.”

“Stretch yourself—but don’t break your family in the process.”

From Navy diver to missionary in Colombia—this is a story of adventure, calling, and surrender.

In this episode, Chesley shares how a life spent chasing adventure—from the U.S. Navy, MMA fighting, commercial diving, and underwater robotics—ultimately led him to something greater: the call of God.

Raised in a pastor’s home, Chesley first sensed God’s calling at a young age—but like many, life took him in a different direction. It wasn’t until years later, at the height of a successful and exciting career, that God made it clear: it was time to go.

Now serving as a missionary in Medellín, Colombia, Chesley reflects on what it means to leave everything behind, trust God fully, and live with eternal purpose.

👉 If you’ve ever wrestled with God’s calling, purpose, or missions, this conversation is for you.

Key Themes:

• Calling vs. comfort

• Purpose vs. adventure

• Christian missions testimony

• Obedience to God

• The urgency of the gospel

SUBSCRIBE to our podcast "Mission Post" on all platforms.

To learn more about Vision Baptist Missions, go to visionmissions.com

Follow us on social media and check out our website.

Quotes:

🔥 Calling & Purpose

“I don’t care what I do in life—I just want adventure.”

“If I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it.”

“It wasn’t that I wanted to go—I had to go.”

“My job lost its meaning when God made His calling clear.”

“There’s no way I could stay and ignore what God was telling me.”

🌍 Missions & Burden

“There are millions of people who have never heard the gospel.”

“It’s not worth all the money in the world if someone dies without Christ because I didn’t go.”

“People all around the world are waiting to hear—and someone has to go.”

“God already knows what’s under the ocean—but there are people who’ve never heard His name.”

⚔️ Surrender & Obedience

“I asked God to help me, because I couldn’t make that decision on my own.”

“When God calls, He will help you say yes.”

“Loving God means responding when He calls.”

“The past is the past—but God can use all of it.”

🧭 Upbringing & Preparation

“Everything I went through was preparation for where I am now.”

“Growing up, I saw the struggles—and now I know they’re coming, but I’m ready.”

“God gives us tools early in life that we don’t fully understand until later.”

“My childhood was an adventure—and it prepared me for this one.”

⚡ Adventure & Perspective

“I chased adventure—but the greatest adventure was God’s calling.”

“All the things I chased never compared to what I found in obedience.”

“What once felt exciting eventually felt empty without purpose.”

#ChristianTestimony #Missionary #FaithJourney #GodsCalling #Missions #Purpose #Gospel #ChristianPodcast #Medellin #Colombia #Obedience #FollowGod #Testimony #Evangelism #FaithStory #Chestley Howell

From Finals to the Field | Missionary Training & Calling Stories

In this episode, we sit down with several graduates from the Vision School of Missions as they finish their final classes and prepare to step into full-time ministry around the world.

Hear powerful testimonies from Luke, Jacob & Damaris, Sarah, and Grant as they share:

• What God taught them during their three years of training

• The most impactful Bible classes (hermeneutics, theology, preaching, and more)

• Real-life lessons about walking with God and staying grounded in the basics

• How God is leading them into missions in places like Colombia, Argentina, Taiwan, and West Africa

• Their current journey of raising support and preparing for internship

These honest conversations highlight the transition from Bible college to the mission field, the challenges of preparation, and the importance of depending on God every step of the way.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to prepare for missions—or what God does in the hearts of those who say “Here am I, send me”—this episode is for you.

👉 Support these missionaries or learn more:

https://visionmissions.com

Chapters:

00:00 Luke Coffey – From classroom to Colombia

02:38 Jakeb Alma – Marriage, training, and Argentina

05:24 Damaris Alma – Understanding biblical missions

08:14 Sarah Garner – Called to Taiwan

10:26 Grant Snode – Learning dependence on God

SUBSCRIBE to our podcast "Mission Post" on all platforms.

To learn more about Vision Baptist Missions, go to visionmissions.com

Follow us on social media and check out our website.

Quotes:

🔹 Spiritual Growth & Calling

“The most helpful classes were the hardest ones—the ones you struggle through the most.”

“Bible college helped me grow in my personal walk with God more than anything.”

*“We can get so busy studying the Bible that we forget to walk with the Lord.”

“How you read the Bible is one of the most important things in your life.”

* “I’ve become less sure of myself and more dependent on God.”

* “If God doesn’t do it, it’s not going to happen.”

🔹 Missions & Purpose

“This internship is the final step before stepping onto the mission field.”

“We’re not just going out and making things up—we’re following biblical principles.”

“God has a plan, and we’re just trying to follow what He’s already laid out.”

“Missions is more than a passion—it’s obedience to God’s calling.”

“From training to the nations—that’s the next step.”

🔹 Training & Classes

“Hermeneutics taught me how to actually understand the Bible.”

“Learning how to prepare and deliver a sermon changed everything.”

“The classes that stretched me the most impacted me the most.”

“You spend enough time with missionaries, and it fills in the gaps.”

🔹 Personal Testimonies

“Here am I, Lord—send me.”

“I knew God’s plan would be better than anything I could create.”

“Three years felt like forever… until it was gone in a moment.”

“God showed me I can’t do this—but He can.”

🔹 Faith & Dependence

“You reach a point where you realize only God can change hearts.”

“It’s not me—it’s completely the Lord.”

“What seems impossible on paper becomes possible through God.”

“Every step forward has been God’s provision.”