Hundreds of Persian residents in Canada participated in a back-to-school outreach event held at the end of August. Local churches collaborated to organize a carnival featuring games, prizes, food, and a soap bubble pit. The IMB reports that each child received a backpack filled with school supplies and a children’s Bible. This gathering serves as a primary introduction to the Christian faith for many Persian families newly arrived in the country. The organization states the event aims to foster spiritual growth and community engagement among these attendees as the new school year begins.
Students belonging to the Great Commission Christian group at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil are currently sharing their faith and engaging in discipleship. The local Global City Team is considering launching English language clubs to foster relationships with classmates. This initiative aims to create natural opportunities for spiritual conversations on campus. The IMB reports that the group seeks to deepen friendships and share their beliefs with others. The effort highlights ongoing student-led outreach activities within the Brazilian university setting.
Indigenous workers in a West African region have continued to visit scattered believers despite risks from jihadist attacks and political unrest. According to the International Mission Board, two missionaries recently traveled to three villages under difficult circumstances, including unpredictable fuel availability and travel regulations. During a visit to a specific settlement, they learned that jihadists had threatened to destroy the area if residents reported them to authorities. The missionaries taught on maintaining faith during trials. The group highlights the struggles of isolated believers facing persecution from family and villagers in these nations.
An interdenominational event titled 'Velkommen til Oslo' is scheduled for August 20 in Oslo, Norway. The festival-style gathering aims to invite university students to explore various local churches and Christian organizations. Two Baptist churches plan to host stands at the event to engage with both new and returning students. The initiative seeks to help students feel welcome and encourage them to connect with local faith communities. This effort highlights ongoing outreach activities within the Norwegian Christian landscape.
The Dhimba people reside in a remote and rugged area of northwestern Namibia, where daily life involves harsh conditions, limited water, and significant isolation. According to the International Mission Board, while the Dhimba acknowledge a Creator, they view this deity as distant. Consequently, they seek guidance and protection through their ancestors and the sacred village fire. The organization highlights the need for individuals to learn the local language and culture to share their religious message with this isolated community.
The International Mission Board reports that global access to cardiopulmonary resuscitation training is insufficient. By providing this instruction to healthcare providers and laypeople, the organization gains entry into communities that might otherwise be closed. In one unspecified Asian country, these efforts have led to improved community service and facilitated private spiritual conversations. The outlet encourages supporters to thank God for these opportunities and to pray for continued influence on local hearts. This initiative highlights how practical medical skills can serve as a bridge for both humanitarian aid and religious engagement in regions with limited healthcare resources.
According to the International Mission Board, two Christian women have been meeting weekly for years to share biblical teachings with women living and working in a red-light district in Maharashtra, India. The organization describes the ministry as slow and often difficult, noting many setbacks. The IMB encourages supporters to pray for the recipients to understand the gospel and overcome addiction, and for the workers to remain steadfast. This report highlights ongoing evangelistic efforts in a challenging urban environment within the Indian state of Maharashtra.
The Cape Town Metro Evangelism Team is shifting its operational focus from the city of Cape Town to the broader southwestern South Africa region. According to the International Mission Board, this expansion aims to address gaps in gospel influence within the new area. The team is seeking local laborers to engage in evangelism and is encouraging believers to pray for these efforts. The initiative is grounded in biblical teachings regarding the need for workers in the harvest field. This strategic move highlights a growing emphasis on regional outreach beyond the initial urban center.
The Costa Rica Mobilization Team, part of the International Mission Board, has issued a request for prayer regarding their work in Costa Rica. The group asks supporters to intercede for local church leaders, seeking divine guidance for their development. They also pray for partnering pastors to receive strength and wisdom. Additionally, the team requests prayers that congregations would develop a strong commitment to evangelism and discipleship. This appeal highlights the ongoing efforts to engage the nation in religious outreach and community building within the country.
A microenterprise group in the Isaan region of Thailand is sewing ornaments to support low-income families. The work is coordinated by the International Mission Board's Isaan Team, which oversees three such groups. The ornaments are produced for Thai Country Trim, a company based in Central Thailand that distributes the items to souvenir shops in Europe and America. Participants in the program agree to attend weekly Bible studies as part of their engagement with the project. The initiative aims to provide economic support while sharing religious teachings with the workers.
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An IMB team member in Uganda reports that a German woman, while prayerwalking, engaged in a conversation about her spiritual life. The woman, who felt alienated from her family and God due to past choices, responded to evangelism tools by acknowledging her need for a Savior. She confessed her sins, accepted Jesus, and joined a women’s Bible study. The group has embraced her, and she has reconnected with her children, who are welcoming her return to the family and the country. The team member notes her ongoing growth in faith within the local community.
In a Central Asian city, local believers launched a language club with an expectation of 10 to 15 attendees. Two young men who had been sharing the gospel in the area participated in the event. The gathering attracted 26 people, exceeding the initial goal. Attendees enjoyed the session so much that they lingered for an hour afterward. One participant noted that no similar activity had ever occurred in the city. The IMB reports these results as a success for relationship-building and future evangelism opportunities. The organization encourages continued support for hosting such clubs to facilitate further engagement with the community.
In South Asia, an International Mission Board missionary and a local believer met a university student who had left Islam. After weeks of private meetings, the student accepted Christianity and was baptized by a local pastor. Her family pressured her to remain Muslim, but she continues attending church and sharing her faith with peers. The IMB reports that the new believer has brought friends to the congregation, though the missionaries acknowledge the risks of persecution in the region and pray for her steadfastness. This story highlights the IMB's strategy of partnering with local churches to spread the gospel in Muslim-majority areas.
International Mission Board missionaries Jason and Lizzy Davis serve in Rome, Italy, focusing on church planting and community engagement. They partner with local believers to establish evangelical congregations in neighborhoods where Roman Catholicism is culturally dominant. The couple emphasizes building relationships through daily interactions and home gatherings to share Christian teachings. They report seeing spiritual transformations among neighbors, such as a former atheist and a nominal Catholic couple who now actively participate in ministry. The Davises aim to provide a strong gospel witness in an area described as spiritually dark, despite challenges like language barriers and small church numbers.
Rebeca Couto, a professional violinist from Portugal's Azores, serves as a Global Missionary Partner with the International Mission Board in Yokohama, Japan. She uses her musical skills to connect with evangelical musicians through the Euodia Ensemble while supporting a new church plant. Couto moved to Japan after studying music and Japanese language, responding to a call to ministry. The IMB reports that nearly 400 such partners serve worldwide. Her work focuses on building community trust and sharing the gospel in a country where Christians make up less than one percent of the population. This highlights the IMB's strategy of integrating local cultural gifts into evangelism efforts.
International Mission Board missionaries Caleb and Carina Beaty serve in Madrid, Spain, using online platforms like Meetup and home Bible studies to engage locals in spiritual discussions. The couple notes that Spain has become increasingly secular since the 1990s, with many residents unfamiliar with basic Christian tenets despite the country's Catholic heritage. By hosting group conversations in cafes and private apartments, the Beatys address questions about faith, creation, and suffering. Their approach has attracted diverse attendees, including atheists and young people, leading to deeper biblical study groups. The missionaries aim to clarify gospel messages and respond to curiosity about God in a culturally secularized environment.
Southern Baptist churches reported historic giving totals for the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to the International Mission Board. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering reached $212.5 million, supporting IMB missionaries globally, while the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering totaled $73.6 million for North American evangelism and church planting. IMB President Paul Chitwood and NAMB President Kevin Ezell highlighted the generosity as vital for reaching unreached peoples and planting new congregations. The data also shows a five-year streak of increasing baptisms and a surge in missionary applicants, indicating a strong focus on both sending missionaries and local outreach efforts across the United States and Canada.
The International Mission Board hosted a Sending Church Lab at Council Road Baptist Church in Oklahoma City on October 5-6. Nearly 40 representatives from 12 Oklahoma Baptist churches attended the two-day event. The program aimed to help congregations understand their role in supporting international missionaries. Facilitators emphasized that local churches must take ownership of sending, training, and caring for missionaries rather than relying solely on the IMB. Participants engaged in self-assessment and planning to strengthen their missions practices. The initiative seeks to clarify responsibilities and improve long-term support for missionaries serving abroad.
International Mission Board missionaries in Southeast Asia are shifting to digital evangelism to reach island communities. Amanda Clarkston, a veteran missionary, notes that face-to-face ministry is difficult due to cultural suspicion and a preference for online interaction. With 82.4% of the region's population online, the team creates Jesus-focused ads and videos. Users can message responders to discuss faith. This strategy aims to overcome barriers in remote, animistic areas where traditional methods struggle. The IMB reports this approach offers a new entry point for sharing the gospel with locals who are more comfortable communicating via mobile devices.
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