Jeremy was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on September 13, 1984, and moved to Georgia at an early age. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior around the age of seven, and from that point, God began shaping his life for ministry. At 17, he started attending Bethel Baptist Church in Richmond Hill, Georgia, where God placed a burden for world missions on his heart. At 19, Jeremy surrendered to God’s will and prepared for ministry at Trinity Baptist College. During college, he gained experience in various ministries and completed an internship with church-planting missionaries in Ukraine. It was also during this time that God brought Michelle into his life.
Michelle was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on December 8, 1986, and grew up in a Christian home. She accepted Christ at the age of 12 and surrendered to God’s call to missions in high school. In 2005, a mission trip to Nicaragua with her church deepened her desire to serve, and she chose to attend Trinity Baptist College, pursuing a degree in education.
Jeremy and Michelle met during their junior year of college, became friends, and served together in evangelistic children’s ministry. Their relationship grew, and in 2008, Jeremy graduated with a B.A. in Missions, Michelle with a B.S. in Education, and shortly after, they were married on March 13, 2009.
Following their marriage, they led the junior children’s program at West Jacksonville Baptist Church while seeking God’s direction for missions. A church mission trip to Nicaragua confirmed God’s call on their lives. Believing that life “is a vapour,” they immediately began preparing for service in Nicaragua and were approved by B.I.M.I. During deputation, they were blessed with two daughters, Lila and Ellowyn.
In April 2014, the family moved to Costa Rica for language school. After one year of language school, they then served in San Marcos, Carazo, Nicaragua. They partnered with a national Bible Institute graduate named Berner Lopez. After two and a half years, the church was established, self sustaining, and supporting other missionary church planters. Their son, Elijah, was born in Nicaragua in August 2017. In July 2025, the church in San Marcos celebrated its ten year anniversary and supports over 14 missionaries.
During their first furlough, Nicaragua experienced severe unrest and violence an the Blanzes were unable to return at that time. Seeking the Lord’s guidance, they then transitioned to serve in Costa Rica. During their first year Jeremy was asked to serve as pastor of another church planted started by another BIMI missionary so that he could take a much needed furlough. After that, they planed the church called “Iglesia Bautista San Pablo Para Cristo” in San Pablo, Heredia, Costa Rica. Despite the difficulties of planting a church during the pandemic, they persevered, and the church is now growing, maturing, and supporting other missionary church planters.
As they look toward the future, the Blanzes hope to establish other churches in Costa Rica as well as train others to do the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment