SOUTH ASIA (IMB) – Churches in South Asia have deep roots in fertile soil. Seeds of the gospel have spread across the area, and new churches are being planted. Churches plant churches who plant churches, and each church’s birth and subsequent growth requires local leadership. South Asian church leaders are putting into practice what they’ve learned and are training others to do the same. Aadya is one of many South Asians spreading the seeds of the gospel. Clark and Elizabeth Atwood serve … [Read more...]
Moldovan Baptists take sheets off their beds for the sake of helping Ukrainian refugees
BOZIENI, Moldova (IMB) – Moldova, a small and impoverished nation bordering Ukraine, has received an estimated one refugee for every 25 Moldovans. Most refugees are being housed and cared for by churches in the Moldovan Baptist Union. The Moldovan Baptist Union has more than 400 churches. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Moldovan Baptists worked quickly to create a safe space for refugees – constructing a chapel hall in a day, building an attic to accommodate more refugees, using a children’s … [Read more...]
DR volunteers comfort traumatized refugees
SUCEAVA, Romania (SEND Relief International) – “You are safe.” These were the words a Ukrainian woman, her daughter and an elderly woman needed to hear while waiting for their train. “Breathe in. Breathe out.” Mickey Ebert first spoke these words to a woman and her daughter at a train station in Suceava, Romania. The mother tried to put on a brave face as she walked into the station. Ebert welcomed her and handed her a piece of paper with a QR code on it that read, “Hope for Ukraine.” When … [Read more...]
Ukrainian Baptist finds water in wasteland, reunion in time of war
ROMANIA (IMB) – Yura knew reunion was on the horizon and he found an oasis on the way. Carrying three heavy bags, the Ukrainian man stopped at the station Romanian Baptists established and Southern Baptist Disaster Response (SBDR) and Send Relief teams are now manning near the border of Romania and Ukraine. Yura accepted a bottle of water offered at the station, noticing the Southern Baptist Convention sign on the station and the vests and hats of the volunteers. “I’m a Baptist … [Read more...]
Broken for Bucha: Southern Baptist response teams overflow with compassion
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains descriptions of war violence that some readers may find disturbing. The descriptions are from one refugee’s account to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team volunteers. We do not have a way to contact him further. BUCHA, Ukraine (IMB) – Overcome with emotion, Iaroslav covered his face and the torrent of tears with one of his hands. His other held a piping-hot cup of coffee. At the border of Romania and Ukraine, Southern Baptist volunteers provided this … [Read more...]
Women in Uganda find escape from brothels, find hope for salvation
KAMPALA, Uganda (IMB) – Women in the slum brothels of Kampala, Uganda, are learning God has not forgotten them, there is hope and redemption in their life stories, and He has given them a new name. IMB missionary Allie White remembers riding in motorcycle taxis past slums housing brothels, and she would look down the alleyways and ask, "What is this place?" Allie told one of her Ugandan national partners, Victoria, that she wanted to go into the area. “I'm not going down that … [Read more...]
Digital strategy brings hope to Ukrainians
MARIUPOL, Ukraine (IMB) – Bombs are falling every 10 minutes in Mariupol, Ukraine, a Ukrainian official reported. As hearts and buildings are broken, International Mission Board missionaries are providing a digital lifeline for Ukrainians. More than five million Ukrainians have seen a Facebook ad developed by missionaries and global partners. The ads guide Ukrainians to The Hope for Ukraine website, a website that provides gospel resources, links to download a digital Bible and the ability … [Read more...]
Panamanian Christians see 42 new believers
An update from the IMB's 2021 Week of Prayer for International Missions PANAMA – The pandemic provided an opportunity for Panamanian believers to truly love their neighbors and show Christ’s love through their actions. Tim Louderback, who serves in Panama with the International Mission Board, said Christians picked up medicine and bought groceries for their non-Christian neighbors who were fearful or unable to leave their homes. Their acts of service led to many inroads to share the … [Read more...]
Missionaries continue carrying torch in Tokyo
TOKYO – A Buddhist priest learned about Jesus through Japanese comics. A worker from the Olympic village heard what is worth more than gold. A Christian woman struggling to find a church learned about ones she can attend. An athletic trainer ran to tell his friend how he could be rid of sin. A 93-year-old woman welcomed prayer from missionaries and Japanese Christians. As athletes soared over high-jump bars, balanced on beams, freestyled to gold medals and climbed to new heights, … [Read more...]
New strategies emerge as Japanese churches face future without pastors
Japan’s population is aging. Almost 30% of its population is 65 years old and older. This statistic is affecting church planting, church health and church growth. International Mission Board missionaries and Japanese Christians must answer the question, “Who will lead the next generation of believers?” Scott Bradford, a missionary in Tokyo, said the average age of local pastors is between 60 and 70 years old. Many pastors are in their 80s and don’t feel they can retire because there is … [Read more...]
Japanese hunger for hope on the horizon
TOKYO, Japan (IMB) – More people died by suicide in Japan in October of 2020 than died from COVID-19 in the previous months of 2020. In 2020, Japan reported 16.7 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Concrete walls enclose home-like prisons where Japanese men and women suffer in silence. Already small apartments became prison cells because of COVID’s sentence of solitary confinement, with the hope of parole like an ever-setting sun on the horizon. Pandemics have no due process and exacerbate … [Read more...]
Christians count the cost and carry their cross
Adam*, a national believer, knew death was coming. He told Jonathan, an International Mission Board worker, he would be killed. His days were numbered, and though he didn’t know the number of days, he knew what God had called him to do. Six months before his death, Adam was in a difficult place in his spiritual life. In one of their Bible studies, Jonathan and Adam read in Luke 14:25-34 how Christians are called to count the cost and carry their crosses. “No one builds a tower without … [Read more...]