Roberto and Cameron Vivanco
Roberto and Cameron Vivanco
SAMS Role: Missionaries
Home Church: They have the privilege of having many churches from Upper South Carolina, North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina partner with them as well. St. Matthew's, Spartanburg, SC. is their official home church.
Starting Year with SAMS: 2001
Calling to Ministry: Cameron's calling to missionary work began in 1998 at a Youth Specialties conference. She had always thought that missionaries were doctors, teachers or 'Bible-beating-freaks'. When God showed her that He could use her passion for youth ministry on the mission field she began to see that she had been very, very wrong. Two and a half years later she left to go to language school and start her international ministry career.
Roberto's calling to missionary service came when God started showing him how his classical music training could lead people into a deeper relationship with God through worship music. His passion for creating worshipful environments and leading others in learning to do the same have been the foundation of his ministry since 2006.
God continues to guide and direct their effort as their specific callings evolve over time, but this is how it all began.
Ministry Mission: The Vivancos serve with SAMS and are seconded to an organization in Ecuador, Youth World International, which seeks to “impact Latin America and the world by identifying, training and equipping leaders to impact young people and their families to be disciples of Jesus Christ.” The Vivanco’s ministry is focused on youth, specifically through education, music ministries and leadership development. They run Education Equals Hope (E=H) a non-profit which exists to provide for the education of students in desperate and difficult situations: poverty, extreme poverty, women coming out of prostitution, human trafficking, and young men coming off the streets, etc. Cameron founded and continues to direct this program.
Roberto's main focus in ministry is serving in leadership and directing the music/worship ministry for a local international church, English Fellowship Church. You can find his music and videos on the Education Equals Hope YouTube page.
Together they resource the Diocese of Central Ecuador with renewal ministries such as Happening and Cursillo programs.
Personal Points of Interest: Cameron Graham Vivanco is originally from NC, she has been in full-time lay ministry since 1995. Since 2002 she has been focusing on the voids that come with physical, spiritual and emotional poverty, especially in the areas of education and leadership development. Roberto is originally from Quito, Ecuador, and has passion and gifting in music ministry. The two met while reviving a Diocesan youth program in Ecuador and have been in ministry together since 2006. Cameron graduated from The University of the South, Sewanee, TN and holds a certificate in youth ministry from the Institute for Professional Youth Ministry. Roberto holds a degree in Pastoral Theology from Seminario de Sud America. They have three children and live in Ecuador.
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 — If anyone belongs to Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!
