This year, the Baptist Theological Institute (ITB), in Bucharest, Romania, celebrated 100 years of existence and partnership with Southern Baptists. From vision-casting to sending personnel, Southern Baptists have walked alongside Romanian Baptists. The plot of land the institute sits on and the buildings that house it were purchased with Southern Baptist money, some of which was raised by members of Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) who sold eggs collected on Sunday mornings. That … [Read more...]
Middle Eastern men yield to Christ, an answer to years of prayer
For just a moment, put yourself in the place of IMB missionary Andrew Lee*. Imagine you are on a video call with three men from the Middle East. You lean in toward the grainy screen to hear their collective stories of how they fled their war-torn country and finally made it to Europe in search of a better life. They each tell you of their friendship with a believer named Abraham* who had also been a refugee out of the same area in the Middle East many years before. Abraham had a deep … [Read more...]
Persecution persists as gospel spreads
Kingdom growth is always met with deep spiritual warfare for Aquila*. For him this includes active and imminent threats to his life. “Please pray for us!” Aquila asked the prayer team in a September 2020 message. He had heard that an extremist group was coming to the area where he lived. Because of his gospel witness, Aquila found himself on this group’s “top 10” hit list. He was fearful for his life and his family. He’s been on this list for seven years, yet his gospel witness hasn’t … [Read more...]
Journalist hears the gospel in prison
James*, a pastor in a war-torn country, went to prison for two years. His crime: sharing his faith. But even imprisonment couldn’t stop him from telling the story that had changed his life. Prison in the area where he lives looks a lot different than it does in the U.S. The government isn’t obligated to give its citizens a fair trial. No legitimate reason is even required for taking a citizen to prison; they can hold someone for as long as they want. If no one from the outside meets … [Read more...]
IMB workers in Stockholm to release multimedia Scripture project
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (IMB) – When Eric Haney stepped onto the train platform after a long night of music rehearsal in Stockholm, Sweden, his eyes were drawn to the wall of posters advertising music groups and concerts. It was all black, with what Eric describes as the “saddest looking people I’ve ever seen.” That wall represented the whole reason Eric and his wife, Anissa, came to Stockholm 11 years ago and what has inspired their latest project “Stories of Hope.” Stories of Hope is a … [Read more...]
Missionary kid turned journeyman remains steadfast to task after death of mother
ENGLAND – In March 2020, Sophia Roberts* was scheduled to fly to Southeast Asia to begin her term with IMB’s Journeyman program. As she was signing the contract on the sale of her car, her phone lit up with the news that her next day flights were cancelled. “What do I do, Lord?” Sophia prayed. She got an instant response. “Continue with My last instructions until I tell you otherwise,” she understood the Lord to say. And that is exactly what Sophia has done. After leaving her job … [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...]
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...]
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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