RICHMOND, Va. – On average, eight Christians died every day for their faith in 2019. That equals more than 2,920 people killed for the cause of Christ last year, according to the 2020 annual report from Open Doors’ World Watch List. In addition, 9,488 churches or Christian buildings were attacked, and 3,711 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned. Overall, 260 million Christians experienced high levels of persecution in the top 50 countries on the World … [Read more...]
IMB celebrates 175 years with prayer, virtual timeline
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – 2020 has been a year like no other. COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has taken lives across the globe and caused untold sickness and suffering. Closed borders limit international travel. "Shelter-in-place" orders are leading to massive unemployment in the U.S. as retail businesses, manufacturers and restaurants shutter their doors. And yet, the International Mission Board continues to see God at work around the world – work Southern Baptists have … [Read more...]
Send Relief names Francis Horton as vice president over international operations
Send Relief announced Francis K. Horton III as its new vice president overseeing operations outside North America on Thursday, April 2. Horton brings more than 20 years of international missions and relief experience to the role. The announcement comes one month after the International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) announced Bryant Wright, founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., will lead Southern Baptist’s national and … [Read more...]
IMB’s Chitwood sets five-year plan, new VPs
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (BP) – IMB president Paul Chitwood announced IMB's five-year plan during meetings with trustees Jan. 29-30 in Riverside, Calif. IMB trustees also elected Charles Clark as vice president of mobilization and Price Jett as vice president of finance, logistics and technology; appointed 21 new missionaries for service around the globe; and recognized 78 former IMB personnel in memoriam. Seth Polk, who serves as IMB trustee chairman, presided over the meeting. Polk is lead … [Read more...]
IMB African American church strategist named
RICHMOND, Va. – Jason Thomas has joined IMB's partner relations team as African American church mobilization strategist. In this capacity, Thomas will work with nearly 4,000 African American churches across the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to mobilize pastors and church members to pray, give, go and send. "The IMB is excited to have Jason join our team as we work to deepen our relationships with African American churches across the convention," said Chris Derry, director of IMB's … [Read more...]
IMB values partnerships, Chitwood tells advocates
RICHMOND, Va.— More than 155,000 people die daily without Christ. This is a harsh and unacceptable reality facing Southern Baptists, IMB President Paul Chitwood told a recent gathering of advocates near Richmond, Va. The lost — those living apart from a relationship with Christ — need people who will advocate on their behalf by praying, giving, going and sending. The gathering, which included Baptist state executives, associational and WMU leaders, former missionaries, student leaders … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon Offering totals $156.6 million for 2018-19
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Southern Baptist church members gave $156.6 million to support international missionaries in 2018-2019, the third-highest Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions ever received. "Because you and your church gave through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, you are a part of reaching the unreached in every nation," said IMB President Paul Chitwood. "When you make LMCO a priority in your church, by God's grace, we see the numbers rise exponentially of … [Read more...]
IMB appoints 24 new missionaries
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – The International Mission Board celebrated the sending of 24 newly appointed international missionaries in a service at Swift Creek Baptist Church, Wednesday, Sept. 25. The new missionaries included one couple with Missouri connections serving among the people groups of East Asia. Since they serve in highly restricted area, their names were withheld for security purposes. IMB trustees voted to approve the candidates during a meeting near Richmond earlier in the day. Dr. … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists celebrate sending 42 new missionaries
RICHMOND, Virginia — Southern Baptists celebrated the appointment of 42 new missionaries in a service held Wednesday, Nov. 14, near Richmond, Virginia. Churches of all sizes from Louisiana to Indiana and North Carolina to Kansas are sending singles, couples and families to large cities, small villages and hard-to-reach places around the world. Vance Pitman, senior pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas, reminded new missionaries and those attending of the importance of cooperative giving and … [Read more...]