UGANDA – George Smith’s COVID-19 test came back positive. The diagnosis began a months-long battle of prayer and physical challenges for Smith and his wife Geraldine, IMB missionaries in Uganda. George contracted the virus in January 2021 while attending a training event in a small Ugandan village. A week after he returned from the training, he received a call from friends at the training letting him know that they had COVID. Since George had a small cough, he decided to get tested just to … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists appoint 64 missionaries in Sending Celebration
Four missionary families with ties to Missouri commissioned NASHVILLE (BP) – International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood made a confession to the thousands gathered in the Music City Center on Monday (June 14). As 2020 dragged on, he said, challenge after challenge made the IMB’s goals seem further and further beyond reach. “I questioned at times if we would be able to do everything that is necessary to appoint, train and deploy new missionaries in the midst of a global … [Read more...]
IMB missionary Jim Flora dies at age 63
MT. VERNON (IMB) – Jim Flora, an IMB missionary from Missouri who served faithfully among the Basotho people of Lesotho in Sub-Saharan Africa, died from cancer Friday, May 8, 2021. He was 63. “From the pulpits of Missouri to the mountains of Lesotho, Jim was passionate about sharing the gospel and loved to preach the good news of Jesus Christ,” Paul Chitwood, IMB president, said. “While he will be missed around the world, we know that many will stand before the throne of the Lamb one day … [Read more...]
Women strengthen one another in missionary partnership
SOUTH ASIA – Missionary Liz Karwood* reports that in the area of South Asia where she serves, the lostness can feel staggering. She understands that her team can’t even begin to reach the 25 million Muslims in her region without involving other believers. She also understands that “God is working and is bigger than the task in front of us.” Faced with multitudes of people who do not know Jesus, her team has intentionally focused on evangelism training and building partnerships with South … [Read more...]
One family, three generations, 100 years of missions in Brazil
BRAZIL (IMB) – Is passion genetic? Can one love burn for three generations? Do children pick up Great Commission tendencies from parents, along with mannerisms or voice inflection? The Lord calls whom He will. Ears well-tuned to God’s call run in the Cowsert family. For 100 consecutive years, three generations of Cowserts have served as Southern Baptist missionaries to Brazil. Each has “served God’s purpose in his [or her] own generation” (Acts 13:36). J.J. and Grace In 1921, Jack … [Read more...]
IMB trustees appoint 68 missionaries, announce new affinity
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Trustees of the International Mission Board (IMB) approved 68 new fully funded missionaries for appointment during their May 11-12 meeting in Richmond, Va. This is the first in-person meeting trustees have had since Jan. 2020, before restrictions from COVID-19 necessitated virtual meetings. Missionaries approved for appointment will be recognized during a Sending Celebration held June 14 in conjunction with the Send Conference in Nashville before the 2021 SBC Annual … [Read more...]
FIRST PERSON: Darkness is powerful reminder to missionary
CENTRAL ASIA – Last night at sunset the electricity in our neighborhood flickered off. I stalled my dinner prep in hopes that the lights would return quickly, but in the end we enjoyed a candlelit meal and reminisced about our early days on the mission field, when the electricity didn’t go out for hours at a time, but more like days and weeks. In the late 1990s the newly independent Soviet Central Asian countries were still learning how to work together to share resources—kind of like … [Read more...]
Three lives restored in East Asia: Physical healing was just the beginning
EAST ASIA – I recently witnessed God work powerfully through the prayers and faithful obedience of a local East Asian church. One Sunday while Mei*, a faithful believer, led worship for the church’s online meeting, she suffered a serious stroke. After weeks in the ICU, she could not speak intelligibly, could not move her hand well enough to use her phone to text, and because of Covid protocols, her church family wasn’t able to visit. The doctor warned her loved ones that the stroke was … [Read more...]
Afghan girl points other teens to Jesus
AFGHANISTAN – Amita* looks around the room and sees seven other Afghan teenage girls watching as she talks. She joyfully shares how God broke through her fear and doubt and led her to His kingdom of light. Amita knows deep within that God has changed her life through the saving knowledge of Jesus, and her face lights up as she talks about her faith. Addressing these teenagers, she longs for them to experience the same joy and peace she has found. She tells her story: how her family’s … [Read more...]
Prepare yourself and your churches for the missionary task
RICHMOND, Va. (IMB) – We might not know what to expect for 2021, but we do know that God is still moving and Southern Baptists need to be prepared to answer the call to reach the nations. At the IMB, we’ve been so grateful to hear from individuals and churches who remain committed to using their gifts, skills and experiences to share the gospel, make disciples and plant churches. We’re thankful for each of you because there will never be enough missionaries from any country to complete the … [Read more...]
Filipino mission spreads from Missouri, throughout the globe
SIKESTON – Under the theme ‘From Southeast Missouri to Southeast Asia,’ nine Missouri Baptist associations recently came together to launch an ambitious program to spread the Gospel not only to Filipinos in their counties, but to Filipinos around the world. Roger Graham, Acting Director of Missions for the Charleston Baptist Association, organized the Acts 1:8 Filipino Conference on April 24 at Miner Baptist Church to lay out a vision that partners nine Baptist associations in local … [Read more...]
Following the leader: A Brazilian Baptist’s example
BRAZIL – "He took along Peter, John and James and went up on the mountain to pray" (Luke 9:28 CSB). It’s 6 p.m. in Rio de Janeiro and Fernando Brandão, executive director of the National Mission Board (JMN) of the Brazilian Baptist Convention, heads into the most important meeting of the day. This standing consultation occurs Monday through Friday, for one hour, with the exception of the last Friday of every month when six hours are blocked out. Brandão and the JMN team are there to … [Read more...]
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