More than 300 Baptist chaplains are serving in over 30 hospitals, prisons, and schools across Kenya. According to the International Mission Board, more than 30,000 people have committed their lives to Christ since 2022. Missionaries Patricia and Ray Woolsey, based in Nairobi, train chaplains alongside the Baptist Convention of Kenya. Reverend Bernard Obuya, the convention's president, advocates for the program. The ministry reports that over 1.5 million people heard the gospel between November 2022 and December 2025. Chaplains provide spiritual support to grieving families, advise patients, and minister to inmates and students. The Interior Minister has praised the work done within the prison system.
In Guinea, where fewer than one percent of the population identifies as evangelical Christian, two young leaders are strengthening the Baptist movement. Christian, a local pastor, established the Stand for Christ fellowship in Conakry to train youth in evangelism and discipleship. Meanwhile, Jacques, a Global Missionary Partner from Benin, focuses on campus ministry in the capital, sharing the gospel with students and discipling new believers. According to IMB missionary Brian, their culturally relevant leadership helps overcome logistical and political challenges. The Baptist Mission in Guinea hopes these efforts will sustain church multiplication in a predominantly Muslim nation.
Christian believers in Southeast Asia utilized social media platforms during Ramadan to share their faith and engage with the local Muslim population. Jacob Stanley, who assists local churches with evangelism strategies, reported receiving up to 80 messages daily. The initiative aimed to generate conversations about spiritual matters, resulting in both challenging and encouraging interactions. According to Stanley, the outreach not only facilitated gospel sharing but also served as a discipleship tool, helping local believers articulate their faith and deepen their biblical understanding while navigating skepticism. Stella McMillian reported the story for the International Mission Board.
Southern Baptist volunteers and International Mission Board missionaries completed their outreach efforts during the Winter Olympics in northern Italy. The team reported holding over 6,750 gospel conversations with spectators and athletes from at least 90 nationalities. More than 20 individuals made professions of faith during the event. Volunteers utilized pin trading and QR codes to facilitate discussions about Christianity. The International Mission Board states that follow-up activities are now beginning to maintain these connections. The outreach aimed to plant seeds of hope that will continue to bear fruit in the region long after the Games concluded. Kristen Sosebee reported on the initiative for the IMB.
The International Mission Board is exploring virtual reality as a strategic tool for evangelism, particularly in Japan. Missionary Daniel Rice, based in Japan, partnered with Matthew Banther at Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, to test this method. They aim to reach groups like the socially withdrawn Hikikomori and busy adults who spend leisure time in VR. The strategy uses virtual spaces for initial gospel conversations, with plans to transition relationships to real-life meetings, such as at the Vket conference in Tokyo. The team reports success in engaging diverse international audiences through this low-cost, accessible approach.
A missionary couple serving in Central Asia has established a local congregation significantly faster than the century-long timeline typically expected for the region. Having served for over a decade, the pair planted a church nearly nine years ago that now has 26 members and established leadership. The missionaries emphasize biblical elder plurality and disciplesing believers transitioning from an Islamic cultural background. They also mentor other local evangelical leaders to promote healthy governance. Their work aims to eventually reach unreached people groups in nearby areas, demonstrating rapid spiritual growth in a challenging environment.
A missionary reports that a low-cost tutoring center in India serves as a conduit for sharing the Christian gospel with Muslim families. The missionary and national partners use the educational hub to build trust with parents through progress reports and home visits. These relationships have led to weekly Bible studies, resulting in behavioral changes and interest in faith among the families. The missionary notes that while local churches often show apathy toward evangelism, sustained relational outreach proves effective. The initiative aims to reach more families beyond mere education. Names were changed for security.
Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, has partnered with the International Mission Board to conduct virtual reality mission trips targeting Japan. The initiative aims to reach Japanese individuals, including those who withdraw from society, by engaging them in digital spaces like the Vket convention. Volunteers from Florida log in to interact with users in Japan, using avatars to facilitate gospel conversations. According to the IMB, this method allows missionaries to connect with people who are difficult to reach through traditional means, such as busy professionals or the Hikikomori. The team has completed three trips, reporting over 130 gospel conversations during the first event.
Southern Baptist missionaries and U.S. volunteers are preparing to share the Christian gospel during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Teams from several American states will collaborate with International Mission Board staff already in the country. Their strategies include distributing Bibles, hosting hospitality points, and using QR codes on Olympic pins to provide digital gospel presentations. Volunteers like Kim Cruse and Jezimar Norberto express excitement about reaching international audiences. The effort aims to connect with athletes and spectators through various outreach methods, including AI-assisted preparation for diverse worldviews. The IMB reports that churches have partnered financially and prayerfully to support this initiative.
Matt and Kayla Searson have arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, to serve with the Liberia Baptist Convention after a thirty-year gap in International Mission Board presence. The couple moved from North Carolina to help multiply healthy churches and teach at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary. Their return follows periods of civil war that previously forced missionaries to evacuate. According to Matt Searson, the local church values this partnership and seeks to clarify gospel understanding among the culturally Christian population. The Searsons aim to strengthen the church by training students like Benjamin Mulbah to lead local discipleship groups.
International Mission Board missionaries Forrest and Paige shared insights from their first year in Central Asia. They noted that religious discussions are common there, unlike in the United States. The couple found that local friends often ask about God early in relationships. This openness allows for direct gospel conversations, though it can also lead to lost friendships. The missionaries support local believers who face cultural persecution. They emphasize that consistent presence and patience are essential for building trust and sharing their faith effectively in the region.
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Women at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Kingston, Tennessee, raised $12,000 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The group produced 1,400 fried pies and other crafts over eight months to support International Mission Board missionaries. Members sold items at markets and bazaars, with families assisting in production. Janice Poland stated the team remained committed despite fatigue, aiming to share the gospel globally. The funds go directly to sending and sustaining IMB missionaries, reflecting the church's dedication to global missions.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics begin on February 6 in Milan, Italy, drawing over 3,500 athletes and millions of spectators. The International Mission Board reports that Southern Baptist missionaries and volunteers are coordinating outreach efforts in Milan and northern Italy. Missionary Charlie Worthy states the team aims to share the gospel with locals and visitors from nations typically closed to missionary work. Activities include pin-trading, distributing Bibles, and hosting hospitality points. The IMB notes that Italy is a historic mission field, and this event offers a unique opportunity to engage people from unreached regions during the Games.
The International Mission Board approved 41 new full-time missionaries during a meeting in Rogers, Arkansas, on February 4-5. IMB President Paul Chitwood presented a five-year report highlighting significant growth in missionary numbers and financial contributions from Southern Baptists. He outlined five strategic priorities for the upcoming term, focusing on deepening church relationships, increasing prayer support, sustaining missionaries, mobilizing global Baptists, and reaching unreached people groups. The board also reviewed an audit confirming strong financial stewardship. The next trustee meeting is scheduled for May in Richmond, Virginia.
On February 4, the International Mission Board held a Sending Celebration at First Baptist Rogers in Arkansas to commission 41 new missionaries. IMB President Paul Chitwood thanked the congregation for raising over $1.3 million for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, a significant increase from the previous year. The missionaries are deploying to various nations, including Thailand, Colombia, and Spain. For example, Austin and Tara Render will use fitness ministries in Chiang Rai, while Brian and Keny Polhamus plan to plant churches among Indigenous communities in Colombia. The event highlighted the cooperative support of Southern Baptist churches for global evangelism efforts.
The International Mission Board hosted its 2026 Missions College in Rockville, Virginia, from January 21 to 24. The event gathered 200 participants from 26 states and 127 local churches to strengthen partnerships and clarify individual roles in global missions. Organizers emphasized training pastors and members to build sustainable pipelines for sending missionaries. Speakers, including IMB President Paul Chitwood and pastor Andrew Hopper, encouraged attendees to view church sending as a core biblical obligation. Attendees reported gaining practical tools for prayer, giving, and supporting missionaries, with many leaving with new plans to engage their congregations in the Great Commission.
IMB missionary Russell Minnick serves as a coach and pastoral care provider for the Belfast Trojans American football team in Northern Ireland. After joining the squad, Minnick identified players struggling with anxiety and grief linked to the region's history of conflict. He now offers spiritual support alongside his coaching duties. Minnick and his wife Tori also volunteer at West Wellbeing, a counseling center in Belfast, providing befriending services and art therapy. Additionally, they plan to launch Shepherd’s Cuppa, a mobile coffee shop on a tricycle, to engage communities in conversation and share Bible studies. The initiative aims to address trauma and build relationships in areas with high suicide rates.
The International Mission Board deployed over 50 workers and volunteers to Tokyo, Japan, during the November 2025 Deaflympics. The team engaged more than 1,500 participants in gospel conversations using sign language. According to the outlet, 13 individuals made professions of faith, 245 expressed interest, and one believer was baptized. Volunteer Alissa Brown noted that many Deaf attendees had never seen the name of Jesus in their native sign language. The effort was supported by 1,742 prayer warriors and donors. Videos documenting the outreach are available for church use.
IMB missionaries Jonathan and Sarah Alexander report on the growth of Christianity in Central Asia over the past thirty years. They highlight significant cultural challenges, particularly the honor-shame dynamic that often discourages conversion due to fear of family disgrace. The Alexanders advise local believers to prioritize forgiveness and navigate complex family hierarchies, such as difficult mother-in-law relationships. They also encourage men to support their wives despite societal pressures. The IMB outlines future goals including theological education and church networking to sustain this rapid expansion in the region.
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