Reaching India from Indiana

Although the country of India no longer welcomes foreign missionaries, Immanuel and Hannah Jebaraj are finding a ripe mission field right here in the US. More than five million Indians live in the US, most of whom need to hear the gospel. 

While living in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1996, Immanuel and Hannah developed a passion to disciple a group of Indian Christians. The Lord later led the Jebaraj family into an overseas ministry in 2010. When they returned for a furlough in 2022, they found the original group had grown, and multiple Indian Bible study fellowships had formed in Indiana. A few of them asked for the Jebarajes’ help in Bible teaching and discipleship. As these groups continue to grow, the Jebarajes are also reaching Hindus and Muslims with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Immanuel and Hannah minister to groups in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Hannah also has a Whatsapp group for counseling women in the US, Canada, and India. 

Standing Alone for Christ

In parts of the world where Christianity is a minority religion, believers can pay a price for following Christ. In Mike and Michelle Freezes’ ministry in Cambodia, Veasna is willing to pay that price. The Freezes first met him at a local market where Mike witnessed to him. Years later, Veasna began attending the Freezes’s prayer meeting and eventually received Christ. One day his wife came to the meeting with a bag of his clothes and told him, “If you worship Christ, stay here and don’t come home!” His parents also stand against his newfound faith

Despite persecution, Veasna has become one of the strongest believers at the church. He was baptized this year on Easter Sunday and gave a clear testimony to neighbors he invited to the service. Following Christ has been challenging for Veasna, but his life gives witness to the resurrection power of Christ who changed his life and who gives him strength to stand alone for Him. 

Points of Interest

What do knitting, hockey, coffee, orchids, and English have in common? In Argentina, Andrew and Romina Self hold classes and clubs on these topics to interest people who would not otherwise take interest in the gospel.

Most community members fervently practice Catholicism. They think that Andrew and Romina’s church (Florida Missionary Baptist Church) teaches essentially the same things as their churches, and they don’t easily recognize their spiritual need. Classes and clubs draw the Selfs’ neighbors, leading to clear opportunities to share God’s true message of salvation.

In May, Andrew and Romina got an added boost from a Faith Baptist Bible College student team that came to hold English clubs and perform community concerts. Church planting in this area takes patience, but by meeting people at their points of interest, the Selfs are seeing people added to their church one by one.

Veterinary Clinic Outreach

May 26–29, 2025, marked the third annual veterinary clinic outreach for Carlene Piper’s ministry in Ecuador. The need for animal care in Ecuador’s rural Yunguilla Valley gave Carlene and her Ecuadorian coworkers the idea for this unique outreach. Veterinarian doctors and students come from the US and hold small- and large-animal clinics. Every pet owner and farmer hears the gospel while they wait. In the three years that the clinics have been held, more than 20 people have received Christ and have been introduced to a local church. Next year Carlene and her team hope to expand the ministry with a soccer clinic and a New Testament distribution.   

Happy Anniversary!

Baptist Mid-Missions has a long history, and that means the joy of celebrating ministry milestones. Our field of Chad, Africa, celebrated its 100th anniversary this year (see p. 12). 

BMM Brazil celebrated 90 years of building Christ’s church in their nation. Eighty past and present missionaries, plus MKs, attended an enriching time of celebrating God’s faithfulness. Our first missionaries endured intense persecution as they shared Christ, but today Brazilians are sending out their own church planters and missionaries (see p. 10). 

In February, Dominican Republic (DR) Baptist churches celebrated 75 years of ministry. These churches continue their partnership with BMM through the ¡Playball! evangelistic baseball ministry and a missionary/national seminary partnership.