ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jonathan Derbyshire grew up as a missionary kid in Thailand. But he never thought the missionary life was for him. His parents have been missionaries for three decades, and they’re still on the field. Even though he saw their calling modeled well, he had other plans for his life. While studying the film industry in college, he heard a sermon from Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Akin said, “Don’t ask, ‘God should I go?’ but instead … [Read more...]
IMB President: EC proposals will cost IMB $4.5 million
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes additional reporting from Scott Barkley of Baptist Press, especially in the final section of the article. See further updates from June 8 here and here: According to International Mission Board (IMB) President Paul Chitwood, these updates have resolved his concerns about the IMB's loss of $4.5 million during the next 15 months. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee’s (EC) proposals for funding abuse reform … [Read more...]
Missionary task passes down three generations
EDITOR'S NOTE: Join IMB in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with stories of those who have answered God’s call to the nations. Crawly things moved all over the rancid slab of off-colored meat. The village leader reverently handed it to the visiting missionary, motioning for him to eat. If the missionary ate the entire thing, he would be granted access to the village and allowed to share about Jesus’ saving grace. Henry Phan watched in amazement as his father … [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...]
Romanian family with Mo. ties opens home to refugees
BUCHAREST, Romania – The Cristi and Michelle Harlea family serving here tripled their household recently by opening their home to Ukrainian refugees. “In our home, we have two (Ukrainian) families. The first family is 10 people, with grandparents, parents, and their six children ranging in age from 24 to six. They left Ukraine hours before a law was enacted that would have prevented their sons from leaving. The second family is a young mother, age 22, and her five-month-old son,” said … [Read more...]
Access to God’s Word proves life changing among UPG
NORTH AFRICA – IMB missionaries Andy and Marie Hoffman served more than 11 years without seeing any fruit among their unreached people group (UPG) in North Africa. During those years, the family and their partners built relationships and shared the gospel with these nomadic farmers and desert horsemen. It wasn’t until the culmination of their hard work was almost complete that they saw nationals come to saving faith. Andy, with the help of national believers, finished a translation of … [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...]
Vision ministries focus on evangelism
ARNOLD – Two Missouri vision ministries, working in partnership, are clearly focused on evangelism through improving sight in their eyeglass clinics in the U.S. and Central America. Steve Smith, director of Focus On Missions, founded the organization about 20 years ago. For a time, he worked with pastors and churches in Mexico on other projects. Ten years ago, Smith—a member at First Baptist Arnold—began focusing exclusively on eyeglass clinics in the United States when he noticed a need … [Read more...]
Missouri DR volunteer team brings hope to refugees on Ukraine-Romania border
ROMANIA – Missouri Baptists Don and Diane Combs crossed the globe late last month to serve as Disaster Relief volunteers in an aid station at Romania's border with Ukraine. They served with Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (MODR), in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention's Send Relief International. Don is a retired pastor and member of the Missouri Baptist Convention executive board. The Combs, attend Anthem Church in Columbia. In an e-mail exchange, March 23, they said they … [Read more...]
Easter opens door for the gospel at schools in Taiwan
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Six small faces pressed up against the window into the fourth-grade classroom in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Their eyes danced with excitement, curious about what was going on inside. IMB workers setting up for a special Easter presentation turned to smile and wave at them, knowing they’d soon have a chance to see for themselves. After the class filed in and settled down, IMB worker Cambell Wood welcomed them and pointed to a vocabulary card with the word “Easter” written … [Read more...]
SEND Relief offers coaching to engage Afghan refugees
AFGHANISTAN – In response to the number of resettled Afghan refugees in communities in the United States, Send Relief, the combined compassion ministry of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, is facilitating coaching to help churches engage their new Afghan neighbors. This coaching is a limited-time project and will only be offered for another five months. The United States has evacuated thousands upon thousands of Afghans to the U.S. The majority have … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- …
- 40
- Next Page »