International Mission Board missionaries Edward and Terri Janklow spent nearly two decades in Southeast Asia working among unreached people groups. After five years of labor, 12-year-old Miss Mya became the first person in her village to believe in Christ. The missionaries faced deep resistance and physical challenges during their work. Years later, Miss Mya’s father, Mr. Lin, also accepted the faith after 18 years of exposure to the gospel. Their story highlights the long-term perseverance required in missionary work in this region. The IMB reports that church partners supported the couple through prayer and funding throughout this extended period.
An IMB missionary collaborates with a newly literate Christian woman to teach Bible studies to women in India. The group meets on Saturday nights to avoid scrutiny under strict anti-conversion laws. Despite grueling labor and illiteracy, the women use audio recordings to learn Scripture. Three women, including a local leader, have converted and been baptized. The initiative aims to empower local believers to lead others in understanding the Bible independently. This effort addresses the spiritual needs of women facing significant social and religious pressures in the region.
Jacob Boss, vice president of global engagement at the International Mission Board, discusses the long-term impact of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. He notes that consistent Southern Baptist giving has enabled missionaries to reach unreached people groups, citing over 8 million online contacts during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Boss emphasizes that sustained support allows for language learning, church planting, and crisis response, such as aid efforts in Ukraine and Russia. The article states that this faithfulness has led to local partnerships and new missionary sending by partner churches, aiming to engage all nations by 2026.
Greg Mann, regional leader for the Asia-Pacific Rim at the International Mission Board, reflects on recent ministry achievements while emphasizing the ongoing need for evangelism. He notes that between last October and this October, 151,300 people heard the gospel, resulting in 4,828 professions of faith and 69 new church groups. Despite this growth, Mann points out that 1,140 people groups remain unreached and 2.2 billion people are spiritually lost in the region. Citing biblical examples, he argues that partial success should not lead to complacency, urging missionaries to continue pursuing the goal of reaching every nation.
The International Mission Board reports that Southern Baptists supported approximately 3,600 missionaries and 3,000 missionary children in 2025. The organization sent 182 new long-term missionaries and highlighted the 60th anniversary of its Journeymen program. Activities included short-term trips in Brazil and Tokyo, where volunteers engaged with deaf communities. The IMB also launched the Masters’ Program for retirees and a Missions Residency for young adults. Global partners from Brazil and South Korea attended training in Virginia. The outlet states these efforts aim to share the gospel with unreached populations worldwide through diverse age groups and international cooperation.
A missionary with the International Mission Board leads trauma healing workshops in West Africa to assist survivors of terrorist violence. The program, known as New Hope, utilizes biblical narratives to comfort widows and orphans displaced by attacks in various countries across the region. Participants learn to manage grief and suicidal thoughts by relating their experiences to the resilience of biblical figures. The missionary emphasizes that this training empowers local believers to support their communities and share hope. This initiative is part of a broader, multi-generational effort to train nationals in oral storytelling and ministry methods throughout the area.
Charles Raymond Middleton, a missionary emeritus with the International Mission Board, died on October 31, 2025, at age 86. According to the IMB, he served in Malawi, South Africa, and Lesotho for nearly 32 years. Originally from Louisiana, he was appointed to Malawi in 1968, where he planted churches and trained pastors. He later worked in Transkei and Lesotho, focusing on church development and Bible translation. A funeral service was held on November 15 in Arcadia, Louisiana. He is survived by his second wife and several children.
A missionary emeritus with the International Mission Board died at age 92 in a city in Missouri. He spent 35 years serving in Thailand, working as a pastor and professor at a theological seminary. Appointed to the field in 1963 alongside his wife, he dedicated his life to sharing the Gospel in regions with limited Christian presence. A funeral service was held in Missouri. He is survived by his daughter and other family members. The IMB reports his significant contribution to spreading faith in areas with few believers.
The International Mission Board featured Fresta Aziz in its 2025 Week of Prayer coverage on Day 5. Aziz ministers to refugee women from Central Asia who have experienced trauma while traveling to Europe. The article connects her work to the Nowruz festival, which symbolizes renewal and resistance against oppression for Central Asians. Aziz shares the hope found in God and the strength provided to His people. This report highlights the spiritual support offered to displaced women in Europe during a time of cultural celebration and personal struggle.
During the fourth day of the 2025 Week of Prayer, IMB missionary Landon Williams and Chilean pastor Carlos Carrasco prayed for Rodrigo Dörner, a Baptist church leader on a Chilean island. According to the International Mission Board, the missionaries observed spiritual movement in Dörner’s life as he began to understand his divine calling. Carrasco emphasized that raising up national missionaries is crucial for effectively reaching island communities. The prayer initiative highlights the importance of local leadership in evangelism efforts within Chile.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Dámaris Azócar on UnsplashGood news
The International Mission Board’s Project 3000 initiative has identified 337 previously unengaged people groups and engaged 121 with the gospel. According to global coordinator Kelly Zbinden, removal from the unengaged list occurs when a group no longer exists due to assimilation, already has a sustained Christian presence, or has a specific ministry strategy developed. Missionary explorers like John Pratt and June Estes conduct research in regions such as South Asia and West Africa to verify these statuses. The effort aims to ensure local ownership of evangelism efforts for the remaining 2,700 groups. The IMB notes that definitions require sustained presence rather than brief visits.
More than 50 volunteers from eight countries partnered with International Mission Board workers to share the gospel at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. The team used specially designed pins and digital resources to engage thousands of athletes and spectators from over 80 nations. According to IMB leader Hank Greene, the event offered rare opportunities to connect with Deaf communities globally. Outreach teams reported sharing the message more than 200 times and engaging with over 500 people. The initiative aims to identify long-term missionaries for the 80 million Deaf people worldwide. The games continue through November 26.
Katee Sheppard, a missionary with the International Mission Board, is featured in the third day of the 2025 Week of Prayer. She collaborates with Christian believers across several West African nations to create Bible narratives in their native heart languages. The International Mission Board shared this update to highlight her ongoing efforts to make scripture accessible to local communities. This work supports broader evangelistic goals by ensuring religious texts are understood in the primary languages of the people they serve.
A missionary in South Asia transformed his initial goal of reaching ten million people into a strategy focused on multiplying disciple-makers. Working with national partners in India, he expanded his vision to reach 100 million people by training local leaders. According to the IMB, this approach resulted in over 3,000 new fellowships and exposed nearly 25,000 individuals to the Bible. An IMB executive praised the missionary’s ability to work with national partners and train leaders. He now holds a broader role helping missionaries worldwide cultivate strong partnerships. The article highlights the importance of spousal commitment to mission longevity.
Walter and Mary Norvell, a retired American couple from Arkansas, have moved to Lesotho to serve as International Mission Board missionaries. They joined the Masters program, designed for individuals aged 55 and older, to reach university students with the gospel. After initial visits starting in 2018, they committed to full-time service in October 2024. Despite Walter’s recent cancer diagnosis, the couple views this as their final opportunity to serve. The IMB states their work focuses on gospel transformation among unreached populations through fully funded missions.
The International Mission Board hosted its inaugural Mission School for Lay Leaders of Korean Baptists on November 11 and 12 in Richmond, Virginia. Fifty-four Korean American pastors and lay leaders from eight U.S. churches attended the event to learn about the IMB's history, global engagement, and partnership opportunities. Ezra Bae, the IMB’s Asian network strategist, stated the goal was to strengthen collaboration between local Korean churches and the IMB. Participants toured the IMB headquarters and heard from senior leaders, including President Paul Chitwood. The group aims to deepen understanding of missionary sending and increase active involvement from Korean churches in global missions.
Jeffrey and Theresa Stafford, missionaries with the International Mission Board, live with their four children in a remote Amazonian town. They serve an unreached indigenous people group that blends ancestor worship with biblical beliefs. Despite past hardships like isolation and lack of infrastructure, the couple reports recent spiritual interest. Community members have shared dreams about God, prompting questions about the Bible. Jeffrey is learning the local language to share scripture, and several individuals have expressed interest in baptism. The Staffords attribute these developments to divine intervention after years of prayer in this isolated region.
The International Mission Board is sending volunteers to the Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, from November 15 to 26. Hannah Walker, a NextGen strategist based in Thailand, will coordinate teams from more than 20 U.S. churches and partners in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. The group aims to share the gospel with over 70 countries' athletes using specialized trading pins and follow-up cards. Walker notes that many participants come from nations closed to missionary work. Researchers will also collect data to help future strategies for reaching the global Deaf community. This marks the first time the IMB has mobilized such a large volunteer effort for the event.
A new Christian in Southeast Asia faced violence from her family after converting, as animistic traditions viewed her baptism as bad luck. Her discipler, an International Mission Board worker, coordinated prayer efforts with partners in the United States. Although the family planned a ritual involving restraint and rocks, the ceremony was interrupted by local Christians who shared the gospel. The believer endured the abuse while continuing to witness to her relatives. Her faith strengthened through the ordeal, and she now assists in leading Bible studies. The IMB notes that such persecution is common in the region for converts from non-Christian backgrounds.
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
