BRAZIL – What’s a good way to learn a language? Converse with a native speaker. What’s a good way to advance the gospel? Invest in a missionary. What can catalyze both objectives? A global pandemic, apparently. When COVID-19 grounded IMB missionary Caron Johnson from travel (which had included an intensive English class in another city), she contacted Fernando Brandão, director of the South Brazil Seminary and executive director of the Brazilian Baptist Convention’s National Mission Board … [Read more...]
Thank You to Southern Baptists
Week of Prayer for International Missions: Day 8 Every day is appropriate to say “thank you” to Southern Baptists who give generously so that the gospel spreads to all nations. In this season of giving — the Lottie Moon season in many churches — showing appreciation seems especially meaningful. This year missionaries have met unique challenges, as you also have, from the global pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Even as the world continues to find a new normal, … [Read more...]
IMB missionaries commit to embrace unreached people groups in South Asia
Week of Prayer for International Missions: Day 7 SOUTH ASIA (IMB) – Twenty years is a long time. That’s how long it took to establish a gospel presence among a Muslim unreached people group of 10 million in South Asia. Ministry among the people group stalled for a number of reasons. IMB workers attempted to move to the region but were unsuccessful. Other families moved to the area, but they too had to leave for various reasons. After years of setbacks, Luciano and Sofia Serrano*, a … [Read more...]
Worthys bring hope of the gospel to Italy
Week of Prayer for International Missions: Day 6 ITALY (IMB) –The Worthy family recognizes the importance of investing in relationships in the Italian culture. For more than 17 years, Charlie and Shannon Worthy have invested their lives and ministry in Italy as IMB missionaries. The Worthys have been close partners with the Missouri Baptist Convention, which has a missions partnership in Italy. Missouri Baptists also support the work of the Worthys by giving through the Cooperative … [Read more...]
Gospel fills the airwaves
Week of Prayer for International Missions: Day 2 After living in Croatia for more than 22 years, missionary Eric Maroney understands why some people describe life and ministry as difficult in this part of Europe. He has witnessed the reluctance of people to believe the Truth of the gospel and has endured the skepticism toward evangelical churches. Only one Baptist church stands in western Zagreb—an area of 250,000 people—where Eric’s team lives and works. As a church planter, Maroney, … [Read more...]
Missions on and off the street
Week of Prayer for International Missions: Day 1 Hundreds of thousands of boys sleep on the streets in Kenya. These children are marginalized, beaten, sexually abused and arrested. Many Kenyans regard these children as worthless and not to be trusted. Kenyans call these boys “trash eaters.” International Mission Board missionary Kristen Lowry and the staff at the Naivasha Children’s Shelter in Naivasha, Kenya, see the value and worth in the life of each boy. They seek out these boys … [Read more...]
IMB to host virtual Sending Celebration, Nov. 18
RICHMOND, Va. (IMB) – The International Mission Board will celebrate the appointment of 79 new missionaries from 21 states with a virtual Sending Celebration, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. EST. The missionaries were previously approved for appointment by IMB trustees. The celebration will include an address by IMB President Paul Chitwood, missionary testimonies and a time of prayer. As country borders open, they will depart to serve among eight of IMB’s nine affinities. Viewers can join the … [Read more...]
IMB trustees appoint 80 new missionaries, set budget
RICHMOND, Va. (IMB) – International Mission Board (IMB) trustees unanimously approved the appointment of 80 full-time, fully funded personnel during their Sept. 29-30 meeting. The new missionaries will be sent to eight of IMB’s nine global affinities. A virtual Sending Celebration in November will publicly recognize the new field personnel and their appointments. This was the second trustee meeting of 2020 held virtually, due to continued caution surrounding the spread of COVID-19. … [Read more...]
Believers in Madagascar partner to craft Bible stories in local dialects
MADAGASCAR – In the last ten years, believers in southwest Madagascar have crafted over 100 local dialect Bible stories that are now told over the radio each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Missionaries secured a weekly 20-minute radio segment for the stories when COVID-19 prevented churches from meeting in person. Antonny, one of the local pastors, receives texts after the stories play. More than 15 people have contacted him asking about salvation, discipleship opportunities, local … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon offering exceeds goal at $159.5 million
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The International Mission Board is reporting a 2019-20 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total of $159.5 million, the second highest offering in history. This total exceeds by $4.5 million the 175-year-old organization’s budgeted goal of $155 million. IMB also received $97.2 million from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program for 2019-20. “I’m thrilled to report that the Lottie offering is growing again,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood. “A growing Lottie … [Read more...]
IMB workers in Northern Africa and Middle East say prayer initiative ‘begins with us’
NORTH AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST – In 2012, a church in Texas committed to pray for an unengaged people group in Northern Africa. They knew they would not have access to much, if any, information or updates but they remained committed to pray. Several Christian workers in the Northern Africa region were also burdened to pray for this same people group. In 2015, through a series of events and connections that only God can orchestrate, the gospel was taken to this group by believers from other people … [Read more...]
Persian refugee pastors grow in faithful teaching and partnership
CENTRAL ASIA – How can a persecuted believer trust again after being betrayed by those closest to him? How can a person rightly understand suffering when his culture is awash in prosperity gospel teaching? How can a pastor carry the weight of leading when he doesn’t know how to study Scripture? These are challenges that Christian workers Mary and Andrew Flint* face every day as they seek to encourage growth among Persian refugee churches. Recently as they reflected on the first half of … [Read more...]
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