EAST ASIA – “Street evangelism just doesn’t work here.” That’s what Markus Feirer was told by members of the church he was training in evangelism. The International Mission Board missionary didn’t believe the church members were right. Walking up and down the streets of the East Asian megacity, people were everywhere, yet they were so disconnected. Looking down at their phones while they boarded buses and metros. AirPods in ear as they crossed the street. No one stopping — all laser … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists reminded to ‘tell others what He has done’ at IMB Sending Celebration
When Patrick and Kathryn Thompson arrived to plant a church in New York City with their two kids, the reality that they were already doing cross-cultural missions set in. Patrick walked into a grocery store, glanced at the outrageous price of eggs, and immediately knew his grocery bill was going to triple. Kathryn remembers walking windy, icy streets in the winter because they sold their cars when they left Georgia. In New York City, it was all about walking and navigating crowded … [Read more...]
Heart of Hispanic mission team revolves around discipleship
EDITOR'S NOTE: Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí . (To read this article in Spanish, click here.) Who is Jesus? Why did He come to earth? Is eternal life guaranteed? Is a believer truly transformed through Christ? Who is the Holy Spirit? Are we guaranteed a life without suffering if we follow Christ? Standing in front of believers in a village off the beaten path, 19-year-old Jaelin opened her Bible. Speaking through a translator, she answered those … [Read more...]
Gospel arrived right on time for believer in Himalayas
SOUTH ASIA (IMB) – International Mission Board missionaries are grateful that the gospel got to Shanti, a new believer from a formerly unengaged, unreached people group, right on time. Last year, the IMB shared about national believers Lalita and Sandeep. In partnership with IMB missionaries Mike and Beth McKenzie, Sandeep located an unreached people group on a trip that Mike commissioned among his national partners. The national partners were tasked to go into hard-to-reach areas and … [Read more...]
Five Missouri Baptists recognized at IMB’s Sending Ceremony
Missions legacy highlighted during SBC annual meeting in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS, La. (IMB) – Rachel grew up with a deep understanding of what the missionary life looked like. Her church had a strong missions program. In addition to her training at church, she developed a love for missions through her family. She learned about the missionary life as she played with her cousins and sat around a family holiday table and heard her aunts and uncles share their adventures of watching God work … [Read more...]
Their new missions assignment: caring for the called
The specifics of Tim and Annie’s call to missions changed, but the calling itself never altered. God led the Tidenbergs to bring the gospel to the nations, and they’ve obeyed. When they retired from their church planting role in East Africa, they moved to the U.S. to lead a church. Then, they felt led to move back overseas. Now, they spend their time in West Africa resourcing, equipping and supporting missionaries as member care consultants with the International Mission Board. In this … [Read more...]
From New Age to new life: Art ministry in Spain leads to salvation
Henar was searching for the truth everywhere she thought she could find it — her Catholic background, through Jehovah’s Witness friends and even New Age religion. She tried crystals, meditation, energy and healing. The search left her overwhelmed and without peace. That’s when she met Emilio and Hannah Marrero, International Mission Board missionaries to the Basque region of Spain, through an online Bible study. She connected deeply with them and the message they taught using … [Read more...]
Missionary returns to field a third time to finish task
'My heart was still here. I didn’t feel like the job was done.' THAILAND (IMB) – As a 22-year-old Journeyman, Jeri Whitfield saw long-term missionaries commit their lives to God and the people they served. That was her model for missions — a missionary presence that creates gospel access and transforms lives. It’s still her desire today, 40 years later. It’s also why she’s returned to serve in Thailand through the International Mission Board three times. The first time she left, … [Read more...]
Because you give: Tia’s eternity is forever changed
It all started with a coffee run. On a trip to the closest city to the Village of Three Temples, International Mission Board missionaries Jason and Robin Ebeyer were praying to find a “person of peace”– someone who would welcome them and help in their ministry efforts. The Ebeyers have been working for the last few years with the people in Isan, a region in Thailand where the Village of Three Temples is found. In this village, there is no Christian presence of any kind, and they … [Read more...]
Robayna named IMB’s Hispanic church mobilization strategist
RICHMOND, Va. (IMB) – The International Mission Board announces Annel Robayna as the new Hispanic church mobilization strategist, serving with the mobilization department. In his role, Robayna will work with 3,390 Hispanic congregations across the Southern Baptist Convention to mobilize pastors and church members to reach the nations with the gospel. “Annel Robayna serves IMB's Revelation 7:9 vision by focusing on our mission to serve Southern Baptists,” D. Ray Davis, manager of the … [Read more...]
‘We have the solution,’ IMB appointees, Georgia Baptists reminded
AUGUSTA, Ga. – As Leslie Montgomery finished college, her dad asked if she was ready to go to Africa as a missionary. He had heard her speak of that desire often growing up. Her reply was one of frustration. “No, I was ready for that nine years ago. Not anymore,” she said. She’d felt the call of God to missions at 12 years old. Yet, it seemed God wasn’t opening those doors for her life. In her view, there were too many “messy years in the middle,” she says. She had given up on her dreams … [Read more...]
At Sending Celebration, IMB appointees reminded to abide in Christ
BEAVERDAM, Va. – After a mission trip to Honduras, Shelton Johnson sensed God calling him overseas. “The Lord just opened my eyes to the need to go,” he said. But, he had a wife and two kids. He wanted to be sure his family was sensing the call as well. Listening to the Lord’s leading in his family’s life, he waited for Him to call each member of his family, individually. It started with his 11-year-old daughter, Addyson. She came downstairs one morning after reading Genesis. She said, … [Read more...]