IMB (International Mission Board)

IMB missionaries don’t work alone! Local believers and global missionary partners are vital in reaching South Asia with the gospel. From church planters leading new believers to Chinese-speaking missionaries filling critical language gaps, God is building His Church through a global network of workers. imb.world/426DKe5

When Brandon Winkler, associate pastor of student and family ministries at FBC O’Fallon, led worship at a rehab facility in Brasilia, he stepped out of his comfort zone. Leading 50 men in Portuguese, he wasn’t sure what to expect—until they began singing passionately, filling the room with praise. “It was one of the most authentic worship experiences I’ve been a part of,” Winkler shared. Brandon Kiesling, associate pastor of gospel proclamation, shared his testimony of how God rescued him from a life of addiction. As he quoted 2 Corinthians 5:17, the men joined in reciting the verse in Portuguese. This volunteer missions team traveled to Brazil and saw firsthand how God is changing lives and showed the power of long-term partnerships in advancing the gospel. Brandon Kiesling shared that the church is working toward having an ongoing mission partnership on each of the six major continents by the year 2033 with current partnerships in North America, South America, Europe and Africa. “I think every Southern Baptist church should do at least one mission trip a year. God uses these trips to bring the gospel to the lost but also to show Jesus followers the brokenness of the world beyond our own backyards.” — Brandon Kiesling ?? Read more about FBC O’Fallon’s mission trip to Brazil at: https://imb.world/3DSIQkK.

“To be Thai is to be Buddhist.” Buddhism can seem inextricable from Thai culture. This is a deeply held belief in a country that has less than 1% of people that are evangelical Christian. Stephen Cox, IMB team member in northern Thailand, and his team along with Thai believers have been using social media and digital advertising to engage people with meaningful access to the gospel. “The church has always done this kind of broad seed-sowing evangelism. We used to put tracts in people’s mailboxes. But people aren’t going to their mailboxes anymore; they’re going to their social media accounts. So we’re doing the same thing, just in a new way.” — Stephen Cox Response to these ads has exceeded Cox’s expectations! The ads have reached nearly 1 million people with 70,000 people alone have watched the testimony in full. ?? Read more at: imb.world/41rGEdg.

When war forced Danylo “Daniel” Ibrahimov to flee Ukraine, he had no idea how God would use his journey. From there, Daniel went on to study at William Carey University. His passion for missions led him to become a BSU summer missionary through the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. From Germany to Mississippi to Australia, he followed Christ’s call—studying, serving, and sharing the gospel wherever he went. Intense situations have happened in Daniel’s life, but none of these experiences has caused his faith in Jesus Christ to waiver. Instead, he found ways to share the gospel with people in various cultures. Now, Daniel is preparing for full-time ministry, reaching the lost wherever God leads. ?? Read more about Daniel's story at: imb.world/42XScpG.

Starting Feb. 28, millions of Muslims will observe Ramadan. This is a critical time to pray that they encounter the truth of Jesus Christ. Your IMB missionaries recognize that this is a critical time to pray that God will reveal Himself to them. Join Southern Baptists and believers worldwide in covering the month of Ramadan with 24/7 prayer — praying for the salvation of Muslims and for missionaries who live and serve among them. ?? Sign up to pray and receive daily guides with Scripture, prayer prompts, and transformation stories. ?? Read more at: imb.world/41droR9.

For years, missionaries from outside Africa carried the gospel across the continent. Now, God is raising up African believers to reach the nations! The Lead Global Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya, was commissioned on January 26. This training center was created to equip churches with the tools they need to go to unreached people groups to help African Baptist churches reach a point where they can send and support missionaries independently. “Our hope is for African believers to own their part in the Great Commission and for us to equip those who are already called, so they can use their skills for God’s glory throughout the world.” — Miriam Pumpelly, IMB missionary Pasifique, a believer from Burundi, is already embracing this mission. Two years ago, he was trained in the missionary task and discovered a passion for sharing the gospel. Now, he wants to become a trainer himself so he can equip churches in Burundi and other French-speaking countries in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. He is among the participants who will attend the first Lead Global training this February. Here at the IMB, we’ve long had the vision for “African churches sending African missionaries to the ends of the earth.” Lead Global is now a key part of that vision. ?? Read the full story at: imb.world/4hREQj6.

International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 39 new full-time, fully funded missionaries and unanimously elected the next vice president of global engagement at their meeting this week. Those missionaries participated in a Sending Celebration hosted by First Baptist Church Charleston, South Carolina — the “very first” Southern Baptist church in the United States. While reflecting on the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program, President Paul Chitwood said, “The time has come for us not only to recommit ourselves to sacrificial giving through the CP but also for us to ask, ‘What does this generation of Southern Baptists expect from their CP dollars, and how can we best use those dollars to reach a lost world?’” “We’re thankful for the generosity of Southern Baptists and their faithful giving through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions?.” This year’s 2024 Annual Statistical Report included the work of God through IMB missionaries that resulted in: ?? 6 million people having the opportunity to hear the gospel this past year; ?? Half of those who heard the gospel engaged with the message and messenger enough to be challenged to respond; ?? 155,000 professed faith in Jesus; and ?? 68,000 were baptized as believers. ?? Read more about the trustee meeting at: imb.world/3Cvh4uf.

Last night, we gathered with South Carolina Baptists to appoint 39 new IMB missionaries! Within the “very first” Southern Baptist church in the United States, where the first international missions offering for Southern Baptist missionaries was collected, these missionaries shared their testimonies as they prepare to live and serve among unreached peoples. The missionaries continue in the legacy of missionaries who have gone before them, including Lula Whilden who grew up in First Baptist Church, Charleston, South Carolina. Three-year-old Lula stood with her parents and siblings in 1848, when they were commissioned as missionaries to China. Whilden would go back to China at age 25, serving for 45 years among the most vulnerable girls in China. She is known to have reached hundreds of girls, many rescued from human-trafficking, with the gospel and the gift of education. The new missionaries stood on the original floorboards in the First Baptist Church sanctuary where Whilden stood with her family to be sent to the lost. ?? Read more about last night’s Sending Celebration at: imb.world/4132aVc.

Send Network leaders recently met with IMB (International Mission Board) Richmond, Virginia.?Their goal was continued collaboration around growing this partnership between North American church planting and global missions. “When God births a church, He has the nations on His heart.” - Vance Pitman

IMB’s new initiative empowers churches to take a greater role in preparing, sending, and supporting missionaries. Through 8-10 week assessments and intentional partnerships, churches like Birchman Baptist and Travis Avenue Baptist in Texas are helping families like the Kilkennys and Hughes thrive on the mission field. How churches are making a difference: ?? Equipping missionaries with evangelism training and prayer. ?? Sending short-term teams to partner with long-term workers. ?? Providing prayer, financial support, and housing for missionaries on stateside assignments. ?? Missionaries also give back—sharing updates, videos, and prayer requests to keep churches engaged in the Great Commission. ?? Learn how your church can get involved at: imb.world/3Wz891o.