SOUTH ASIA – The imam placed his copy of the Quran carefully on the table and called the men at the memorial service to attention. He opened the book, lifted his hands toward heaven, and began to chant in honor of the man who had died. The Deaf men in the room copied the stance but remained silent, as they couldn’t hear the verbal entreaty. At least the men were able to see the ceremony; the Deaf women in the next room covered their heads and wondered what was happening. One thing was … [Read more...]
Pakistani voices his faith to fellow migrant workers
GREECE (BP) – Waseem* could never be accused of lacking passion. Having grown up in a Christian family in Pakistan, Waseem often defended his faith in heated religious debates with Muslims on the streets of Lahore. He brought his fervor with him to southern Europe where he sought work -- and more arguments about the Gospel with fellow Pakistani migrants. Over time, God used the counsel of other Christians, and even a stint in jail, to redirect Waseem's energies toward a biblical model for … [Read more...]
Singermans see cooperative gospel effort in Sub-Saharan Africa
BENIN, West Africa – In the country that birthed voodoo, Beninese Baptists are working collectively to pray for and support the spread of the gospel. It’s a story IMB missionary Barbara Singerman can’t share without tearing up. “They are investing in missions,” she said. “They are expressing a love and appreciation and oneness —participation in the work. We are completely overwhelmed.” She and her husband, Jeff, lived in the West African country of Benin for 24 years. When they moved to … [Read more...]
Looking for work, Venezuelan refugee finds hope in God’s Word
VENEZUELA – Fernando* felt like a failure. For a month-and-a-half he had been looking for work in Colombia, where he didn’t know anyone. He longed to hold his wife and daughter again, but he couldn’t return to Venezuela without a solution. He and his wife had agreed: if they wanted a better future for their daughter, he needed to go. Although Fernando had maintained a good job in Venezuela, the country’s growing instability — poor schooling, a lack of basic medicine and food, and a … [Read more...]
IMB’s Platt: When we pray, God works
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- No matter what the story is, whether it's a family planting a church in a doctor's office in Japan or a young man sharing truth over coffee with university students in Mexico City, International Mission Board president David Platt says two things are true: God is at work through missionaries around the world and praying for them matters. "This isn't just a rushed or mechanical exercise. God has ordained our prayer as a means to accomplish His purpose in the world," … [Read more...]
Prayerwalking: Reaching a city on foot
INDONESIA (BP) – It started with a map and a book. The map laid out the sprawling city in which International Mission Board worker Howard Brackey* lives. The book challenged Howard to put feet to his prayers for the city. The book hit close to home. In “That None Should Perish: How to Reach Entire Cities for Christ Through Prayer Evangelism,” author Ed Silvoso described undertaking the task of prayerwalking a large South American city. As Howard read the book, he thought about his … [Read more...]
In Indonesia, opportunities for healing abound
INDONESIA (BP) – It wasn’t tropical tourism that first brought Rosemary Brackey* to Indonesia more than a decade ago. It was her desire to offer healing hands to the country after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed an estimated 170,000 Indonesians alone. At the time, Rosemary was a telemetry nurse, monitoring patients’ vital signs for Liberty Hospital in a Kansas City suburb. She and her husband Howard* had felt called to global missions but were waiting for the Lord’s timing. Nearly 88 … [Read more...]
BREAKING: IMB announces final phase of organizational reset
RICHMOND, Va. – The International Mission Board is in a position, financially, where no missionaries will be required to leave the field as the organization wraps up its two-phase reset, IMB President David Platt announced Thursday, Jan. 14. In the second phase of the IMB’s plan to address revenue shortfalls and complete a reset of the organization, leadership also announced details of a Hand Raising Opportunity (HRO) during two town hall meetings. The HRO plan, leaders shared, … [Read more...]
IMB trustees honor leaders, approve budget
NEW ORLEANS (BP) — International Mission Board trustees recognized four key leaders who represent IMB’s global engagement with the Gospel and unanimously approved the organization’s 2016 budget designed to enable IMB’s mission to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached people and places. The business was conducted during trustees’ quarterly business meeting Nov. 5-6. “God is working in all of this for the good of His people and the glory of His name,” IMB President David Platt … [Read more...]
Missouri pastor, church find small congregation can make large Kingdom impact in South Asia
SOUTH ASIA – The Missouri pastor scooted to the edge of his seat in anticipation. He could hardly contain his excitement as the IMB missionary described the unengaged, unreached people group his mission team would visit in South Asia. No known believers. Remote villages. No evangelical work of any kind. The missionary warned that reaching this group with the gospel was going to be hard and require endurance. The young pastor clapped his hands together and proclaimed, “That’s what we’re … [Read more...]
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