BOLIVAR, Mo. – Andrew (Andy) N. Leininger, who served as a Christian worker in the former Soviet Union for 22 years, died in his home state of Missouri on Oct. 13. He was 56. In November 2016, Leininger was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive cancer that caused a brain tumor. In the months that followed, he had multiple surgeries and treatments. On October 12, 2019, his wife Elizabeth shared an update on Facebook that Leininger had moved to hospice care. On October 13, … [Read more...]
Southeast Asian earthquake victims find physical, spiritual healing in Christ
SOUTHEAST ASIA—Cahya* sped home on his motorbike, desperate to see his family in the wake of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. He had waited 30 minutes — long enough to let the tremors subside — but a sudden landslide took him by surprise. The treacherous trip affected Cahya’s life forever. When he resumed consciousness, he had two broken legs. Unable to afford medical care, Cahya and his parents sought out the shaman for healing, but his efforts were painful and fruitless. About six … [Read more...]
IMB, Billy Graham Center focus research, resources on rural churches stateside and abroad
WHEATON, Ill. – The International Mission Board and the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College’s Rural Matters Institute have launched a five-year research project that aims to arm the rural church with resources needed to advance the gospel within and beyond the United States. “The idea is to provide information that will benefit rural practitioners in the United States and around the world,” said Dr. Jeffrey Clark, director of rural missiology andresearch for the IMB. “This will involve … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists engage in Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics, Rugby World Cup
TOKYO, Japan – The world will converge on Tokyo, Japan, twice in the span of a year for two international sporting events, the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics. Southern Baptists and their local church partners in Tokyo will be there to share the gospel with the players, coaches, and fans. Between the Rugby World Cup matches this month, rugby fans supporting the twenty qualifying countries are joining the crowds in Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing. Southern Baptist volunteers from … [Read more...]
From desert to ocean: East Asian believer celebrates journey to faith
EAST ASIA – There are times when the vast lostness in East Asia feels abstract, and others when the statistics fade, replaced by real stories of people I love, like my close friend Karen.* She heard the gospel for the first time after she moved to my city for college. Living in a small town with a Buddhist mother and an atheist father, Karen had never even met a Christian until she moved to the city where I serve. Still today, no one in her family shares her faith, and she doesn’t know … [Read more...]
IMB trustees approve balanced budget
RICHMOND, Va. – International Mission Board (IMB) trustees approved a balanced budget for 2019-20 during their Sept. 25-26 meeting near Richmond, Virginia. The meeting also included an update on an external report regarding IMB’s prevention and response to abuse and harassment. The week also included orientation for 23 new IMB trustees, including Missourian Jim Barnhart, associate pastor of Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston. He joins two other Missouri Baptist on the IMB trustee board: … [Read more...]
Adoniram Judson’s legacy lives on in Rolla
ROLLA – For decades, Harriet Bain has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to people from across the globe. But little did her students know that their lives were being impacted, indirectly, by one of the greatest pioneer missionaries in Baptist history. Bain, a member of First Baptist Church, Rolla, was born in the Southeast Asian country of Burma (also called Myanmar) and came to the United States with her family in 1959. She then finished her college degree, met and married her … [Read more...]
Italian masterpieces – Cape Girardeau churches use spray paint to share gospel in Italy
BELLUNO, Italy — Former art teacher turned youth pastor, Jared Griffin pulled out cans of spray paint and set up an easel on in a public park in this northern Italian town of Belluno, population 35,876. He was there with a recent mission team from the Cape Girardeau area. Their intent was to attract Belluno residents viewing the art creations and engage them in conversations about the Gospel. Why spray paint cans? In Italy there is a great appreciation for art. Classical sculptures, … [Read more...]
Muslim who became Hindu for love finds Jesus in South Asia
SOUTH ASIA – Zoya’s* family life was a mess. She had fallen in love with a Hindu man, and consequently, her Muslim family disowned her. As the years went by, she became the mother of two and a dutiful Hindu. But her marriage suffered when her husband Azad* began drinking too much. A friend brought Zoya to the home of Baptist workers Alexander and Lillian Traverston,* where Zoya found a job as a language tutor. As they studied, Lillian shared stories from a children’s Bible. And as time … [Read more...]
Concilium, Inc., available to equip Missouri Baptists for mission efforts
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Missouri Baptist churches have an opportunity to equip themselves for fulfilling the Great Commission through the help of Concilium, Inc., a Kansas City-based organization that provides training for missionary efforts across the globe. Pisgah Baptist Church here will host one such training event, Sept. 28. Registration for this “Travel Safety Orientation” is $50. To register or to learn more, visit www.concilium.us/TSO. Scott Brawner, a Missouri Baptist, is co-founder … [Read more...]
Trafficking survivor finds hope in Wales through witness of IMB missionaries from Missouri
CARDIFF, Wales – The Welsh capital city of Cardiff, nestled on the country’s southern coast, is the end of the line for many refugees and immigrants who’ve traveled across Europe seeking a better life. Born in Southeast Asia, Tai* arrived in the city several years ago with little hope. He was a victim of human trafficking – a globally rampant, modern-day form of slavery. But after coming to Cardiff, Tai found hope after meeting a missionary family from Missouri, who serve with the Southern … [Read more...]
IMB’s Chitwood: ‘Your state convention helps churches reach your state, our world for Christ’
EDITOR'S NOTE: Paul Chitwood serves as president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board. To learn about the Missouri Baptist Convention's state missions offering, visit https://mobaptist.org/mmo/. To learn about the Cooperative Program, visit https://mobaptist.org/cp. My first international mission trip took place on a farm in central Kentucky. As a new pastor in the community, I found myself interacting often with migrant workers from Central and South … [Read more...]
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