GOSPEL GROWTH IN A HOSTILE AREA

It is the only Baptist seminary in a region increasingly hostile to Christians, and all its students intend to plant churches in this region. Some of its graduates have been attacked and imprisoned for leading people to Christ. And yet each year, the seminary’s enrollment increases. How can we explain this other than that God is at work in this Creative Access Nation.

Founded and led by BMM missionaries, the seminary is at full capacity with 52 students taking classes in person, and 80 studying online. Each student is dedicated and eager to learn.

In May, 20 students graduated. Sixteen received master’s degrees in biblical studies and four earned bachelor’s degrees in theology. Graduates have fanned out into 33 cities and towns to establish churches among their own people. In a culture hostile to the gospel, these church planters report significant church growth. Many of their church members bravely requested baptism during Easter week.

The seminary’s leaders hold triannual gatherings for their graduates to safely share ministry ideas and to encourage one another. The missionaries also meet daily with them through online prayer meetings lasting an hour and a half. To meet the increased admission requests, the seminary seeks to move from its rented facilities into a permanent home that could house up to 200 students. Pray that God will give seminary leaders and graduates great courage to continue proclaiming Christ’s gospel in this region.

CELEBRATION OF A CENTURY

In the Central African Republic (BMM’s original mission field), BMM and African leaders held a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime celebration of 100+ years of BMM ministry in CAR. The celebration, held November 13–17, 2023, brought thousands to CAR’s capital of Bangui for an event so large it took several years to plan (delayed from our actual 100th anniversary in 2020). Even CAR’s president, a born-again believer, attended.

Unlike a smaller, earlier celebration held in 2021, this event was a farther-reaching celebration of all that God has done through ministries connected to BMM. Custom-printed clothing was given to BMM leaders as a symbol of unity. A highlight was the dedication of the newly revised Sango Bible, now with topical index and accompanying app. BMM’s founder, William Haas, planted the seeds of that Bible through his Scripture translations.

Before the first day of celebration kicked off, it began to rain. As the members of a combined church choir continued preparing, they sang “There Shall Be Showers of Blessings” (translated into Sango long ago by BMM missionaries). Truly, God has showered his blessings on this nation whose souls were precious enough that 237 BMM missionaries surrendered their lives to reach them for Christ. And every soul in CAR continues to be precious to the Lord as each new generation proclaims Him.

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GOD’S GRACE IN GHANA

Rob and Penny Whitty can’t explain how their Christian school in Ghana keeps expanding. In their efforts to develop and operate the school, the Whittys have weathered a pandemic, global economic downturns, and now shortages in construction materials.

Humanly speaking, it’s a project greater than they could accomplish themselves, but God’s goodness and grace keeps it moving forward. This year, the Lord brought in funds and materials to renovate existing buildings and to complete a junior high wing. Hundreds of students attend the school, which regularly exposes them and their families to life-changing biblical truths that cut through false teachings prevalent in Ghana.

MARRIAGE/MK SEMINAR

In late May, Independent Baptist Church in Neumarkt, Germany, held a four-day marriage seminar led by Mark and Leslie Boyd. Their goal was to strengthen marriages, but it also turned into an evangelistic outreach to three unsaved spouses.

At church that Sunday, a woman mentioned to Mark that her unsaved husband was very positive about what he learned and was encouraged that “God must know what he is talking about when it comes to marriage.”

During the seminar, the Boyds’ coworkers Russ and Bianca McCrocklin and a team from their sending church led an MK program, in cooperation with another supporting church. They provided refreshment to encourage MKs who live in the difficult spiritual environment of Germany’s secular school system.

VICTORY THROUGH PRAYER

Joel and Beverly Shoaf (New Zealand) experienced a roller coaster year for Food4Thought, their longtime outreach in their local high school (photo in banner). In February, the Shoafs were informed that religious groups would no longer be invited to hold ministries on campus. For 13 years, Food4Thought has offered the hope of the gospel to teens who desperately need it.

The Shoafs enlisted prayer from their supporters. Although Joel and Beverly’s requests for lunchtime visits with students were flatly refused, the Lord was working behind the scenes. In August, their requests were brought before the school board, which reinstated the Shoafs’ permission to hold Food4Thought. Joel and Beverly wrote, “Thank you everyone for battling with us in prayer!”