“As for me, I will always have hope.” (Psalm 71:14a) Hope. Merely reading the word can stir our emotions, inspire positive thoughts and lift our spirit. Hope is what keeps us going, causes us to press forward even in the face of hardship or despair, and prevents us from giving up on ourselves or others regardless of past disappointments or current circumstances. Hope is life-giving and life-sustaining. Human flourishing requires hope. When coupled with the word “eternal,” the two-word … [Read more...]
West Africans take lead in sharing Bible stories
WEST AFRICA – Mrs. Lombena transitions with ease from the standard West African greetings into the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. The Togolese man listening to the story is quickly attentive to her vivid storytelling. What follows is a lively discussion about the truths and implications of the Bible story she had crafted into his native tongue. With sincerity on his face, he asks her to pray for him in the name of Jesus, the One who came not to condemn but to save. Rev. … [Read more...]
Churches grow, multiply in Czech Republic
CZECH REPUBLIC – When Larry and Melissa Lewis and their family moved to Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) in 2009 as IMB church planters, they knew they had a tough job ahead. Only 29% of the population acknowledges the existence of a god and less than 1% choose to follow Jesus. In fact, Czechia is well known for being the most irreligious country in Europe. But trusting God’s call, the Lewises came and began a Bible study in their home in the western Czech city of Plzeň. That … [Read more...]
Prayer, miracles transform hearts in Southeast Asia
SOUTHEAST ASIA – Stephen and Erin Spencer* minister in a region of Southeast Asia where tribal warfare is ongoing, civil unrest is on the rise and foreigners are blacklisted from entering certain regions. However, the good news is entering homes and hearts. One of these hearts is a woman who goes by the name “Momma.” Momma has seen miraculous answers to prayer — a pig raised from the dead, rashes disappeared, and a woman healed from paralysis. The Spencers say prayer transformed Momma’s … [Read more...]
Healthcare team reaches war-torn region with more than medicine
UKRAINE (IMB) – Down Ukrainian roads, cloaked in the golden hues of the vibrant but short-lived autumn, comes help and hope. A caravan of cars following a yellow panel van borrowed from a church carries suitcases and plastic tubs filled with medical supplies. A mission team, including healthcare professionals from both Ukraine and the U.S., prepares each day for the hours of work ahead, sometimes catching a needed nap on the journey to or from the day’s location. The caravan of hope is … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist’s Christmas offering goal set at $4 million
JEFFERSON CITY – The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) is critical to the International Mission Board (IMB) in keeping 4,000 missionaries on the field. Missouri WMU (MWMU) is ready to equip churches in this cause by helping them create an atmosphere and attitude of giving among church members. Collectively, Missouri Baptists are being challenged to reach an offering goal this year of $4 million, which will go toward the national goal set at $185 million. “Let us not grow weary during … [Read more...]
IMB ‘calling in reinforcements’ for mission field Chitwood says at Sending Celebration
COLUMBIA, S.C. (BP) – Sangseo and Yun Na Park met and married in Korea, but they both felt God calling them to the nations. “Once I personally met Jesus, I threw away my goals that I had in the world,” Yun Na said. “I went to a church conference and while we were praising the Lord with a song called ‘I want to be Your joy,’ my soul started to confess the lyric deeply. “After I came back home, I was watching TV, and I saw an African mom holding her child and she looked as if she had no … [Read more...]
God continues miraculous healing of IMB missionary George Smith
RICHMOND, Va. – Southern Baptists heard the story of George and Geraldine Smith this summer when IMB shared about George’s life-threatening ordeal with COVID-19. Many missionary co-workers, IMB staff and family and friends in the U.S. knew the story before it was shared publicly and had been part of God’s miraculous answer to prayer. IMB is pleased to offer this update about George’s continued progress and healing. George and Geraldine are now in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where George … [Read more...]
Sudanese church in KC finds new home
KANSAS CITY – Just north of the river in Kansas City, Randolph Baptist Church (RBC) was dying. Since 2005, it’d lost 80 percent of its membership and split. Twice. When their pastor retired in 2019, the church consisted of only five members. It was essentially a home without a church. A few miles away in Gladstone, Sudanese Community Church had been meeting in Linden Baptist Church, but was looking for a more permanent place to worship and be a gospel light to the northern African … [Read more...]
IMB’s Chitwood: 7,317 people groups remain unreached
BRANSON – Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board (IMB), thanked the Missouri Baptist messengers for their prayers and financial support during their annual meeting, Oct. 25. “We have 3,635 missionaries serving around the world because of this support,” Chitwood said. “This has been the best financial year in the history of the organization. Southern Baptists gave 177 million dollars to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Because churches support the IMB with the … [Read more...]
China asserts more control over clergy through new rules
WASHINGTON (BP) – Regulations issued this year by China have intensified the communist government’s control of clergy among the five state-authorized religious groups and have effectively prohibited the work of pastors and leaders of unregistered churches and other entities, according to a new report. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan panel appointed by the president and congressional leaders, released a fact sheet Oct. 29 on Chinese rules that … [Read more...]
‘Fusion’ spurs young Christians to make disciples
KANSAS CITY (IMB) – The mission of Spurgeon College’s Fusion program is “to equip young believers for a lifetime by providing a directional process from adolescence to biblical adulthood.” Founded in 2005 at Midwestern College (now Spurgeon College), Fusion began to encourage young Christians to grow into biblical manhood and womanhood by embracing the call of the gospel. Those who participate in the Fusion program prepare to take the calculated risk of trusting Jesus to draw people to … [Read more...]
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