In October, twenty-six women from twelve U.S. states traveled to Lima, Peru, for a week-long mission trip organized by the International Mission Board. The volunteers served alongside local missionaries and Peruvian church partners at sites including Iglesia Bautista Victoria Total and Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer. Activities included health fairs, counseling for domestic violence survivors, and sharing faith with community members. Participants such as Melissa Hanberry and Naomi Fowler shared personal testimonies to encourage local believers. IMB leaders stated the initiative aims to equip national partners and strengthen long-term evangelism strategies in the Americas. The group emphasized supporting local churches in meeting community needs.
The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention hosted a Sending Celebration in Lubbock, Texas, on October 27, 2025. The event marked the fourth such gathering in 2025, where 31 newly appointed International Mission Board missionaries were commissioned. These fully funded missionaries represent seven states and various Southern Baptist churches. Leaders including SBTC president Danny Forshee and IMB executive vice president Todd Lafferty highlighted the partnership between the convention and the IMB. The missionaries will serve in diverse locations, including London, Peru, and Tokyo, with some operating in areas resistant to the gospel. IMB president Paul Chitwood urged continued financial and prayer support for international missions.
Sota, a retired Japanese man living in the United States, serves as a digital engagement responder for the International Mission Board. He connects with people in Japan who respond to online gospel ads, answering questions and sharing resources. Although he is thousands of miles from his homeland, Sota feels a deep burden for his countrymen. He works with team leaders Peyton and Evie Garrett to support seekers in finding local churches. This ministry allows him to continue serving from home during retirement. The IMB notes that native speakers are needed to reach people in their heart language across the Asia-Pacific region. Sota spends one to two hours daily on this work, trusting in its eternal impact.
Southern Baptists raised over $278 million for international and North American missions during the 2024-25 fiscal year ending September 30. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering reached $207.2 million, while the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering totaled $71.1 million, marking the second-highest amount ever recorded. IMB President Paul Chitwood and NAMB President Kevin Ezell praised the generosity, noting that funds support nearly 7,200 missionaries. The contributions cover salaries, housing, and church planting efforts across the United States and globally, with a new goal of $210 million set for the upcoming year.
Thomas Barron, a missionary emeritus with the International Mission Board, died at age 91 in the United States. According to the IMB, he served in South and Southeast Asia for 34 years after being appointed in 1967. Born in Louisiana, Barron served in the U.S. Army before pastoring churches in Mississippi and Tennessee. He and his wife moved to Asia to reach hard-to-reach people groups. He is survived by his wife and two children. A funeral was held in Tennessee.
A US seminary recently hosted a reunion for the first cohort of its 2+2 missions program, celebrating its 30th anniversary. Eight of the original nine alumni gathered to honor the initiative, which allows students to spend two years studying theology and two years serving overseas. The first group served in Sub-Saharan Africa starting in 1995. The event highlighted the program's lasting impact on global missions and theological education pathways. The ninth alumnus joined via video call while still serving abroad. The initiative was created by a former professor in partnership with the International Mission Board, emphasizing long-term commitment to international ministry and theological training.
In a small town in Northeast Thailand, two neighbors, Yep and Sam, came to faith in Christ through the persistent witness of local believers. IMB missionaries Ross and Shirley Mackin report that Yep, previously struggling with alcoholism, and his niece were reached through weekly Bible studies held outside their home. After Yep’s transformation, his neighbor Sam secretly listened to the gatherings and eventually sought out the church. Sam was baptized in March 2025 and now actively shares the gospel. The IMB notes that names were changed for security reasons. This story highlights the impact of consistent community engagement on spiritual conversion in Thailand. (Source: IMB)
The International Mission Board has launched its new Missions Residency program, replacing the previous Hands On initiative. In the inaugural cohort, 45 young adults aged 18 to 29 received training near Richmond, Virginia, before being deployed globally. Participants like Marlee Jenkins are spending four months in Thailand working alongside IMB missionaries. The program provides mentoring, biblical instruction, and practical evangelism skills. Andy Pettigrew, manager of NextGen mobilization, stated the goal is to equip residents for long-term service. Jacob Boss, the new vice president of global engagement, also advised the group. The initiative aims to prepare young believers for sustained cross-cultural ministry.
The International Mission Board in the United States invited representatives from Korea and Brazil to participate in a seven-week field personnel orientation near Richmond, Virginia. The program aimed to foster collaboration among global Baptist agencies by sharing training methods and cultural insights. Participants included leaders from the Korean Foreign Mission Board and Brazil's Junta de Missões Nacionais. Officials stated that such partnerships are essential for reaching unreached people groups worldwide. The training involved hands-on evangelism exercises and strategic planning sessions. Both international teams expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from American counterparts and adapt these methods for their own future missionary efforts.
A Shina man from Pakistan converted to Christianity after years of searching for spiritual peace. Initially raised Muslim, he explored Buddhism and atheism without finding satisfaction. Local believers shared the Bible with him, leading to his study of the Book of Romans. He declared his faith in Jesus to his father, who accepted his choice. He was baptized and continues to grow in his new faith. The International Mission Board reported this story as an example of gospel impact in South Asia.
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Julia Spelter, a former International Mission Board Journeyman, shared her experiences serving in Madagascar during a MedAdvance 2025 event in the United States. The nurse explained that her initial medical work involved building trust through social interactions rather than clinical procedures. She stated that establishing relationships with local healthcare workers was essential for long-term ministry impact. Spelter taught medical terminology in English and focused on discipleship. She now resides in upstate New York and plans to attend seminary. The IMB reports that her approach emphasizes foundational trust over immediate measurable results.
Larry McCallon, an 86-year-old retired mayor from California, has completed his 107th short-term mission trip with the International Mission Board. His first trip occurred in 2002, with his most recent journey taking place in August. McCallon has visited over 30 countries and volunteered at 52 IMB meetings, focusing primarily on mentoring missionary kids in Europe. According to the outlet, he has accumulated over one million frequent flyer miles to support this work. McCallon states that his consistent presence helps retain missionaries by providing crucial spiritual support for their teenagers during difficult developmental years. The IMB highlights his dedication as a key example of short-term volunteer service.
Nine volunteers from Chinese churches in Paris traveled to Sebikhotane, Senegal, to engage in cross-cultural missions alongside International Mission Board workers. Led by IMB missionaries Eric Kuykendall, Robert McMillan, and Kelsey Dye, the team worked in French-speaking Senegal from August 3 to August 17. The group reported significant spiritual engagement, including a local woman accepting Christ after initial prayer walking. Kuykendall stated the initiative demonstrates how local churches can transition from receiving support to sending missionaries. The local Senegalese church has since followed up with families the volunteers met during the trip.
The International Mission Board appointed 54 new missionaries during a meeting near Richmond, Virginia, on September 24-25. Trustees also approved a total balanced budget of over $314 million for 2025-26. President Paul Chitwood reported that the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering exceeded $200 million, though he warned of a 30% decline in Cooperative Program receipts when adjusted for inflation. The board honored retiring staff member Gayle Stanley and remembered 111 colleagues who died in 2024. New trustees from various states joined the board, which continues to integrate artificial intelligence to support mission work.
Fifty-four new missionaries were appointed by the International Mission Board during a Sending Celebration on September 24 at Ironbridge Baptist Church in Chester, Virginia. The event highlighted diverse assignments, including Vlad and Ella Prizhbilov returning to Spain to serve Slavic communities, Sean and Pam Keith traveling to Sub-Saharan Africa to disciple university students, and Drew Hawthorne returning to Peru as a church planter. IMB President Paul Chitwood and other leaders encouraged the group to share the gospel in hard-to-reach areas. The missionaries are supported by Southern Baptist churches across multiple states.
On September 23, Lifeway Christian Resources presented checks totaling $697,891.19 to the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board. The donation came from more than 120,000 campers and staff at Lifeway’s summer camps across the United States. This amount represents the highest missions offering recorded since 2017. Joe Walker, Lifeway’s interim president, stated that the funds allow young people to support global missionary work instead of purchasing personal items. The money will help missionaries reach unreached people groups in regions such as Northern Africa and the Middle East, as well as support church planting efforts in areas like Provo, Utah. Lifeway integrated missions education into camp activities to encourage this generosity.
Eric Reese, a missionary with the International Mission Board in São Paulo, Brazil, established a Bible study in a favela controlled by a powerful drug cartel. The group initially allowed meetings but later banned them as drug use declined, reducing cartel profits. Eric adapted by continuing as a Bible study. A local woman named Maria, who struggled with substance abuse and aggressive behavior, attended the sessions. She reported feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit to stop swearing and using drugs. Maria eventually committed her life to Christ, changed her lifestyle, and began sharing her testimony with others in the community. Ministry activities have since halted due to ongoing violence in the area. According to Eric, Maria now serves as a positive influence in her neighborhood.
International Mission Board workers in the Philippines are training local missionaries to use basic healthcare strategies in rural villages with limited gospel access. Tyrel and Nita Kilkenny, who have served for over three decades, encouraged Filipino Baptist churches to address physical needs like clean water and hygiene among Muslim ethnic groups. This holistic approach helps build trust and break down barriers in communities where outsiders are often viewed with suspicion. The initiative aims to create opportunities for believers to share their faith by demonstrating care for the community's well-being. The IMB reports that this method has successfully opened doors for ministry in previously isolated areas.
Missionary reports indicate that AI-generated social media advertisements in Germany have facilitated Bible studies and baptisms among Muslim background refugees. A creative team leader explained that the campaign targeted Arabic-speaking refugees dispersed across small villages, a demographic difficult to reach physically. Trained digital responders, including a Middle Eastern pastor, engaged with interested individuals online. These digital conversations often transitioned to local in-person meetings or Zoom sessions. One refugee, who had been out of contact since 2022, recently called to report his baptism. The initiative aims to connect seekers with local believers despite physical barriers.
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