Caleb Sprinkle - Baptist State Convention of North Carolina · Caleb is also a trainer with...

N.C. MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: January 5, 2020

Caleb SprinkleF I R S T B A P T I S T C H A R LOT T E | C H A R LOT T E , N . C .

Located near central North Carolina’s southern border, Charlotte is the largest city in the state. It’s home to nine of its top 10 pockets of lostness, which are geographic regions with a concentrated amount of people who do not know Christ personally. In an area as large as metro Charlotte, where those claiming no religious affiliation outnumber evangelicals two-to-one, it is crucial that believers encourage one another to emerge as missionaries in their own neighborhoods, workplaces and other circles of influence.

For Caleb Sprinkle, pastor of mobilization at First Baptist Charlotte, that primarily means introducing college students to Christ and discipling them in their faith. He seeks to help Christian students on campuses across Charlotte share the gospel in the context of their existing relationships. Caleb is also a trainer with DiscipleNC, a ministry of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, which partners with churches to train, equip and send out believers to share the gospel and make disciples.

Pray for more churches in Charlotte to engage with those who are lost, broken, indifferent or overlooked, and proclaim Christ to them. Also, pray for local pastors and leaders to catch the vision of DiscipleNC, receive training and multiply their outreach throughout the city. Lift up Caleb as he disciples the next generation of believers to demonstrate a life-changing gospel presence on each college campus.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: January 12, 2020

L isa & John OsbourneN O RT H A F R I C A

Religion permeates the daily life experiences of the people in North Africa and the Middle East. Although Christianity was birthed here, the truth of the gospel is often overshadowed by other religions. With millions of refugees displaced by war, famine, oppression or poverty living in these countries, the church has an unprecedented opportunity to share Christ’s hope to those who are searching for an anchor amid the upheaval of their lives.

The *Osbournes, serving with the International Mission Board in North Africa, seek out opportunities to spend time with locals in their own homes. They are currently learning the cultures and languages of the people they serve. Many people in the region experience a heightened spiritual awareness during Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer practiced by Muslims. Daily life will change significantly during Ramadan; for example, all the restaurants and many businesses will close during the day, reopening late at night once the daily fast is ended. The Osbournes have had multiple opportunities to break the fast with families and gain a deeper understanding of the worldviews around them.

Let’s uplift the Osbournes as they continue to learn the local language and for opportunities to open up for them to clearly share the good news in their community. Pray for God to open the hearts of North Africans, like the Osbournes’ friend *Nashea, and that many would put their faith in Jesus. Pray for believers in the region to share Christ with the more than 500 unengaged, unreached people groups in North Africa and the Middle East.

*Names have been changed for security purposes.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: January 19, 2020

WIlson MooreC RO S S P O I N T E W E S T C H U RC H | C O N C O R D, N C

When the local textile mill closed in an older part of Concord, North Carolina, it unfortunately opened the door to increased poverty and other challenges. In this area of the city, sometimes called “The Bottoms” gangs and drug use afflict many families. And despite a great need for the light of the gospel to shine Christ’s hope, at least eight churches in the area have closed or moved away.

Wilson Moore and his wife, Tess, wanted to lift up the people living in “The Bottoms” and lead them to a new life in Christ. They started Crosspointe West Church, and Wilson is now one of the only pastors some of the congregants have ever known. Trust did not come quickly. Even though Wilson is now seen by many as a community pastor, it took a couple of years of knocking on doors, visiting on the front porch and talking with locals to develop lasting relationships. This small church visited residents in more than 1,700 homes in a year. God is growing their ministry through their faithfulness.

Wilson is a graduate of Fruitland Baptist Bible College, as is the church leader Bob Merrill. Our church supports Wilson’s church planting ministry through our Cooperative Program giving.

Today, let’s pray for Wilson and Tess and this new church as they take the light of Jesus into dark places.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: January 26, 2020

Rob & L isa WarrenM A D I S O N , W I

Rob and Lisa Warren have served in Madison, Wisconsin, since fall 2018 when they planted Doxa Church. Their primary ministry is reaching out to a field of over 40,000 college students with the gospel. Most of the students they serve attend the University of Wisconsin.

The students they meet often do not have a relationship with Christ, but they are open to discussing spiritual issues. When the students accept Christ as Savior, it is a life-changing event for them. Most of the students reached with the gospel will not stay in Madison but will move to other parts of the country, especially in the Midwest.

That’s why Rob and Lisa are preparing the students to help plant new churches in communities, which too often do not even have one.

Our church supports Rob and Lisa through our Cooperative Program giving, so we have an indirect part in every student who comes to faith in Christ.

Let’s pray now for our missionaries, and ask the Lord to bless their ministry as they reach their city and beyond.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: February 2, 2020

Stephanie SchellS O U T H E A S T A S I A

Did you know even with decades of focused missionary efforts there are still around 600 unreached people groups in Southeast Asia alone? There are countless souls who do not know the good news of Christ’s redemptive work. That’s why Stephanie Schell, International Mission Board missionary, and her team are serving in Indonesia. They are focusing on 10 unreached people groups — totaling about 4.6 million people — in a certain province to the north of the city where they live. The majority of Indonesians in this province practice Islam and are well known in their country for their religious devotion. But along with their piety, many still show signs of rampant corruption, immorality, drug use and reliance on witch doctors for healing.

One of the most challenging issues Stephanie faces is the people group’s apathy toward sinfulness. Many believe they will eventually go to heaven, even if it means spending some time in hell first.

Around 50,000 people from the province live in Stephanie’s city of 3 million people. Her team travels into various areas of the city to encourage national partners, do survey work and share the gospel. The team members are also involved in local churches, encouraging national believers to share the hope of Christ with those around them.

Our church’s faithful support of the Cooperative Program enables missionaries to live out their faith in obedience to God’s call to make disciples of all nations. Pray for Stephanie and others on her team to remain focused on the work they have been called to do, and that through them God would bring more of the unreached peoples in their area to faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s also pray for the local church to boldly lead the charge to reach out to their fellow Indonesians.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: February 9, 2020

Samuel RushomboT H E P O I N T C H U RC H E A S T A F R I C A N | D U R H A M , N .C .

North Carolina is home to many immigrants from Africa. One of them, Samuel Rushombo, is a church planter who our church supports through Cooperative Program giving. Samuel was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1994, he and his family moved to Rwanda, where he planted 10 new churches.

In 2012, Samuel and his wife moved to the United States, along with one of their four children, while the others stayed in Africa. In 2016, he planted The Point Church East African in Durham. Members are from the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

They meet on Sundays in a Christian school in Durham, and Samuel preaches in Kinyarwanda, the African language the members speak. All afternoon, they can speak their own language, praise God with their own music and some of the women wear their best African dresses!

Samuel says the church is important for their Christian faith but that community is also integral in helping newcomers adjust to living in the United States. Let’s pray for Samuel and this new church as they reach out to their East African friends and neighbors in Durham.

N.C. Ministry HIGHLIGHT: February 16, 2020

Jay & Kim SmithB A P T I S T C H I L D R E N ’ S H O M E S O F N O RT H C A RO L I N A

In communities across this state, countless children and families are in desperate crises or facing challenges. That’s why Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) provide caring cottage homes, family foster homes and a variety of ministries from locations in 23 communities statewide. In addition to caring for families in need, BCH also offers group homes for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults and services for aging adults. As 70% of the children and families served are unreached, the generosity of BCH and local churches introduces the people they serve to the Gospel and reminds them they are loved.

One of the couples showing Christ’s love within their community is Jay and Kim Smith. The Smiths previously spent 26 years with the International Mission Board, building relationships and sharing the gospel in West African villages. Several years ago, however, unexpected changes on the field and in the ministry provided the opportunity for the Smiths to follow God’s leading, receive additional training and embrace new roles as BCH cottage parents. They care for as many as 10 girls at the Mills Home in Thomasville, the oldest and largest location operated by BCH, and introduce them to Jesus through devotions, prayer and personal conversations.

Because of your generosity, our church is able to give to the Cooperative Program that supports BCH. Let’s pray for the many children and families that are in need. Lift up the couples like Jay and Kim who are following God’s calling as BCH cottage parents. Let’s also thank God for the many people BCH is able to serve.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: February 23, 2020

Josh & Melinda TuranskyB A LT I M O R E , M D

Josh and Melinda Turansky have served in Baltimore, Maryland, as church planters since 2015. Our church supports Josh and Melinda by giving to the Cooperative Program.

Josh and Melinda were living life on the opposite end of the coast in southern California when God called them to the Fells Point section of southeastern Baltimore. Together they have started Haven City Church but that’s just half their ministry.

They also help operate Compassion Center, which ministers to needy people in their community by distributing clothes, household items and food to help needy and homeless people.

Helping meet physical needs opens the door to share the gospel and meet the spiritual needs people have. Hundreds of churches are needed in Baltimore, and through the Cooperative Program, we not only support Josh and Melinda but dozens of other missionaries who are reaching the lost there.

Now, let’s pray for Josh and Melinda and their three children as they serve in Baltimore. Let’s ask God to keep them safe and to reward their ministry with many people responding to the gospel message they proclaim.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: March 1, 2020

Mike & Kathy ShipmanS O U T H E A S T A S I A

Would it surprise you to learn that more Muslims live in Asia than in the Middle East? In fact, the region is home to nearly two-thirds of all those who practice Islam, and three Southeast Asian countries have majority Muslim populations.

Mike and Kathy Shipman, International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries, have engaged and discipled Muslims in Southeast Asia for more than 20 years. Generally, Mike says, many who practice the religion often live in fear of God’s judgment, so they perform rituals in an attempt to be received by Him and one day be allowed to enter heaven. In a culture that is at odds with the grace-filled message of eternal hope in Christ, Mike looks to Jesus’ example with the Samaritan woman to share the gospel with others in a relational way. Over the past few decades, thousands of churches have been formed and multiplied because when people come to faith, the first thing they are taught is to start churches in their homes.

Your church’s giving to the Cooperative Program enables the IMB to send and support missionaries like the Shipmans to share Christ across the globe. Pray that the Muslim-background churches in Southeast Asia will continue to multiply and grow deep in God’s Word. Please also lift up Mike and Kathy while they are on temporary assignment in the United States, and that they will have opportunities for training believers and churches to reach internationals in the U.S. Pray especially for endurance and healing for Kathy as she receives treatment for cancer.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: March 8, 2020

Quintell HillM U LT I P LY C O M M U N I T Y C H U RC H | M O N RO E , N .C .

Just south of Charlotte sits the city of Monroe, where housing developments and shopping centers have multiplied in recent years. Monroe is part of the greater Charlotte area’s rapid growth, and the population will continue to increase even more, due to a new multi lane expressway that recently opened. Now rural areas across Union County are easier to reach. Along with these new roads, homes and businesses, many new churches need to be planted to meet the residents’ spiritual needs.

That’s why Quintell Hill has planted Multiply Community Church in Monroe. Quintell is a long-time Southern Baptist who grew up in Alabama. He remained in North Carolina after his studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest because he felt called to plant a new church. He and his wife, Christie, have two children.

After months of training for a core group of members, Multiply Community Church launched in September 2019, meeting in Union Baptist Association’s building just off of U.S. 74. Multiply intends to reach as many in Monroe’s diverse population as possible, uniting its multiethnic community in a common goal to multiply Christ’s mission to make disciples.

Quintell is one of many church planters in our state that our church supports through our Cooperative Program giving. Let’s pray for Quintell, his family and Multiply Community Church now.


J immy & Julie SteeleS A N D I E G O, C A

Oftentimes we talk about people being born again. Today in our prayer time, we are going to focus on a church that was born again.

For many years Windsor Hills Community Church was strong and active. They were involved in the community and had a thriving membership. Slowly, the community around and within the church changed, members got older and the church stopped growing.

In 2017 two North American Mission Board missionaries, Jimmy and Julie Steele, were hoping to plant a new church in La Mesa, the west of San Diego, and visited Windsor Hills. After talking with pastor Sam Calhoun, the three felt led to restart the church with Jimmy as pastor. Out of that conversation, The Hill Church was born again, revitalized and ready to fit the needs of a community ready for the gospel.

Only a year later the membership doubled, with a strong church community that focuses on evangelism outreach. Now, with a healthy, thriving church, The Hill Church’s members can once again impact their community with the powerful message of the gospel.

Through our Cooperative Program giving, our church is supporting Jimmy and Julie in their ministry in La Mesa. They’re helping a born again church to tell many people they can be born again through Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for them now.


Joseph GordyE A S T A F R I C A

Joseph Gordy and his family serve as missionaries with the International Mission Board in Nairobi, Kenya. He views East Africa as a rich harvest field because when the gospel is shared, people are fairly receptive. While the harvest is plentiful, discipleship is hard. Many people across Africa, for example, have embraced tenants of a prosperity-based gospel and need godly counsel to stay true to biblical doctrine.

That’s why the training center in Nairobi is so vital. Joseph says East African leaders are trained in theology, evangelism, discipleship, church planting and leadership development with an ultimate goal for them to return home and use that knowledge to disciple others.

Our church’s donation to the Cooperative Program helps support the Gordy family while they serve in Nairobi. Joseph says more than 1,000 churches have started since they went to the field over a decade ago — churches that would not be here today if not for your faithful giving.

Please pray for the believers who come to the training center. Pray that God would empower them to do His work by discipling others and spurring on new church plants across East Africa. Uplift Joseph, his wife and their seven children as they minister, live and homeschool in Nairobi.


Brian O’DayT H E P R A E TO R I A N P RO J E C T | N O RT H C A RO L I N A

Life for United States military families brings many unique challenges. Frequent moves and lengthy separation of family members during regular deployments can contribute extra stress to already complex family dynamics.

Drawing inspiration from the apostle Paul’s witness to the elite military force known as the Praetorian Guard while in Rome, church leaders from the Praetorian Project are eager to introduce military families and their surrounding communities to the gospel and encourage them to draw strength from Christ. Current locations of these Pillar Churches include Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., eastern North Carolina, Southern California and Okinawa, Japan.

Brian O’Day, pastor of the Pillar Church of Jacksonville in North Carolina, takes discipleship very seriously. Many of the Pillar Church of Jacksonville’s members are active-duty service members, veterans, retirees or reservists, giving them experience to help walk alongside others. Some leaders of the Pillar Churches are also beginning counseling centers within their church ministries.

Many of the Pillar church plants have received funding through the SEND Network and the North American Mission Board. Our church is supporting Brian by giving financially to the Cooperative Program. Today, let’s pray for him and other Pillar Church pastors and their families as they minister to an ever-changing body of church members and attenders. Uplift service members as they deploy to difficult places, and pray for military families as they work to love one another and honor God in difficult circumstances.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: April 5, 2020

Patrick WarutereN O RT H R A L E I G H I N T E R N AT I O N A L C H U RC H | R A L E I G H , N .C .

Bay Leaf Baptist Church wanted to reach Africans living in North Raleigh, but needed someone to lead the way. Patrick Warutere (WAR-oo-tere) and his wife, Pauline, are from Kenya. They came to Raleigh to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, but felt led to also plant a church to reach immigrants from Africa.

As only God can, He brought Bay Leaf Baptist and the Waruteres together. Today, North Raleigh International Church meets in Patrick and Pauline’s apartment. They work with people from the African nations of Kenya, Nigeria, Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are also some people from Guyana, South America. Patrick preaches in Swahili with English translation.

Our church supports Patrick and Pauline, as well as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, through the Cooperative Program.

One hundred years ago, Southern Baptist missionaries moved to Kenya to start churches. They reached many of the Kikuyu people, which is Patrick’s tribe. Patrick proudly admits that he is the fruit of the labor from Southern Baptist missionaries.

Our missions dollars have been sharing the gospel for a long time. Let’s pray now for Patrick and Pauline and their new church in North Raleigh.

Seminary HIGHLIGHT: April 12, 2020

Steven KunkelS O U T H E R N B A P T I S T T H E O LO G I C A L S E M I N A R Y | JA PA N

God speaks to us and calls us in many ways. For Steven Kunkel, God called him to serve in Japan when he was only 15 years old.

Steven prepared for the mission field at Boyce College, part of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Eventually, Steven found himself living as a missionary in Japan. He saw the spiritual needs of the Japanese people and was burdened for them. The spiritual darkness is very heavy. Of the 127 million people there, only about 1% are Christian. Steven’s missionary calling is for the other 99% percent of Japanese people who do not know God as their Lord and Savior.

The Japanese language is extremely difficult for outsiders to learn. For example, the Japanese don’t use letters to write; they use symbols. To read a newspaper, you would have to know about 1,200 different symbols. Steven has a learning disability, which makes it hard to focus on one or two things at a time. While Steven could look at his disability as a hindrance, he doesn’t. Not being able to focus on many things at once has made Steven tune in and focus on retaining the Japanese language.

Through our Cooperative Program giving, our church supports both Steven in Japan and the school he attended, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Today let’s ask God to bless and guide Steven as he serves in Japan, as well as equip the many other students who attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for God’s work.

N.C. Ministry HIGHLIGHT: April 19, 2020

Joshua HernandezFA I T H AT H O M E | N O RT H C A RO L I N A

When God called the Hernandez family to ministry about a year ago, they knew it was according to His will. Throughout the years their home has been a regular place of worship, family ministry and discipleship.

For this reason, they felt confident that this ministry would find favor and bear fruit. However, they were unsure how to engage parents and call them back to their role as the primary disciple-makers within their home. They wanted them to practice and live out the commands in Deuteronomy six where God calls parents to “teach their children diligently,” but they were unsure how.

They were introduced to the Faith at Home ministry of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and were met with materials, encouragement and a family-oriented curriculum. Faith at Home met with Joshua for six weeks and delved deep into the commands for parents found in God’s word. Together, Joshua and his family grew and are now able to encourage other parents to be the primary disciple-makers in their kids’ lives

Because of the Cooperative Program, Joshua has the resources and encouragement to not only disciple his family, but to also disciple countless other families to do the same. Let us join in a time of prayer for this family and the work of Faith at Home.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: April 26, 2020

Jeremy & Crystal NelsonM A D R I D, S PA I N

For our prayer time today we are going to pray for Jeremy and Crystal Nelson, who serve as International Mission Board missionaries in Madrid, which is the capital of Spain.

We can call Jeremy and Crystal our missionaries because we support them through our church’s Cooperative Program giving.

Spain is a large mission field. There are about 46 million people who live in Spain and fewer than 1% of them are saved. While the task seems daunting, Jeremy and Crystal have an interesting approach to evangelism.

Thousands of immigrants from South America have settled in Spain in recent years and many of them are Christians. So Jeremy and Crystal reach out to these people and teach them the Bible and how to share their faith with Spaniards who do not know Christ as their Savior. Essentially, Jeremy and Crystal are raising up disciples to go reach out to the 99% of Spaniards who do not know Jesus Christ.

Jeremy grew up as a missionary kid in Venezuela, and he and Crystal served as missionaries in South America for several years before moving to Spain. Because of their ministry, new church plants are being established in the parts of Madrid that have no evangelical witnesses.

Let’s pray now for Jeremy and Crystal and their multi-national approach to missions. Let’s ask God to show our missionaries how to how to lead thousands of Spaniards to faith in Christ.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: May 3, 2020

Will & T iffany ForrestI S S AQ UA H , WA

While churches are needed all over North America, some areas need more churches than others. Today we’re going to pray for our missionaries Will and Tiffany Forrest, who are planting a church in the Pacific Northwest, just east of Seattle, Washington, in the city of Issaquah.

Our church supports them through our Cooperative Program giving. Issaquah is one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, and with the Pacific Northwest as one of the least-evangelized areas in the nation, new church plants are greatly needed. Hostility toward churches and a hardness to the gospel is not an uncommon thing.

Will was serving a church in Idaho when he became aware of the need for churches in the Pacific Northwest. He studied church planting for two years at a church in South Carolina before he and Tiffany moved with their four children to Issaquah and planted Summit Life Church. Their new church meets in a public school on Sunday and is growing steadily.

They have been delighted to see lives impacted by the gospel. Will has gotten to know community leaders in the area, which will help multiply the church’s impact. Let’s pray now for Will and Tiffany and ask God to bless their ministry as they take the living water of the gospel to a dry and thirsty land.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: May 10, 2020

Miguel TantasT H E P O I N T H I S PA N I C C H U RC H | C H A P E L H I L L , N .C .

When I say “Chapel Hill” many people immediately conjure images of a university there — footballs flying through the air or epic slam dunks on a basketball court. But today, imagine the people of Chapel Hill. In particular, think about those in the town who do not know Christ.

Miguel Tantas is from Peru, in western South America, but came to the United States to be a software engineer. He studied in New York City and moved to Research Triangle Park in North Carolina to work for a large company.

But God called him to plant a church, and that’s what he did in 2019. Now the government counts him as a missionary from Peru to the U.S. — it even says that on his visa!

Miguel’s new church plant is called The Point Hispanic because it is part of a network of Point Churches in and around the Triangle. Miguel and his core group of members often walk through Hispanic neighborhoods around Chapel Hill. They talk to people and hand out flyers in an effort to reach out to the many Hispanics who live in the area. The goal of Point Churches is for every town, community and urban area across the Triangle to have a thriving Point Church actively pointing people to Jesus.

Our church is supporting this new church through our Cooperative Program giving. Let’s pray for Miguel and ask that many will come to faith in Christ through the The Point Hispanic Church.


David & Regina WhiteG UAT E M A L A

Today, we are going to pray for David and Regina White, two International Mission Board missionaries serving in Guatemala, a small country that is just south of Mexico. Our church supports them through our giving to the Cooperative Program.

Every year, teams of short-term volunteers come from Southern Baptist churches in the United States to serve in Guatemala. David and Regina help the volunteers coordinate places to stay and set up evangelism opportunities and training conferences.

Not long ago, David and Regina enlisted a man named Miguel as a translator. He spoke English well, but he was not comfortable talking about Jesus. Still, Miguel translated for mission teams over and over as the Americans shared the gospel and discipled local believers in many ways. Over time, Miguel himself was discipled. He grew strong in his faith and began ministering with passion and commitment.

Let’s pray together and ask God to bless our missionaries, David and Regina, in their ministry in Guatemala. Pray that many will become committed followers of Christ, just like Miguel.


Brett PorterTO RO N TO, O N TA R I O, C A N A DA

Brett Porter, North American Mission Board Send City coordinator, believes that you can reach the world from just one city, and he’s made his one city Toronto. It’s the capital of the Ontario province in Canada and home to nearly 6.5 million people, more than 50% of whom are foreign-born. With an immigrant population of more than 200 ethnic groups speaking 160 languages, ministry opportunities among unreached, unengaged people groups abound. Evangelical Christians make up less than 4% of the population.

Brett believes that the only way to successfully plant a church in a post-Christian, highly dense and diverse city like Toronto is to make disciples who make disciples. Urban isolation and loneliness are significant felt needs, so relationships become paramount in sharing Christ. God is raising up partners and planters to reach these communities across the greater Toronto area, and because our church supports the Cooperative Program, we are helping Toronto churches reach out to their communities with the hope of Christ.

Pray for the new churches that are less than five years old to plant more churches in the greater Toronto area. Pray also for the continuation of micro-networks being built across the city and for leadership development in the churches.


Daniel & Madison LeeP H I L I P P I N E S

Working with young people helps shape the future. Today, let’s pray for two International Mission Board missionaries who are shaping the future of the Philippines.

*Daniel and *Madison Lee serve in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. We are able to partner and support them through our church’s giving to the Cooperative Program. The Lee’s serve with students at three major universities in metro Manila, reaching students for Christ and discipling them in their walk with Him.

Most of these students have, at most, only heard of the name Jesus — not the gospel itself. They do not know Him personally or even know that a relationship with Jesus is a possibility.

One young man named *Amihan was not a Christian, so every time he had a problem, he got angry and blamed God. Another student shared the gospel with Amihan and took him to church, where he met Daniel and Madison. They discipled Amihan and his life turned around.

As we pray today, let’s ask God to give Daniel and Madison wisdom as they work with students. One day the students will shape the future of their country, the Philippines. Let’s pray that the future includes Jesus Christ.


N.C. Ministry HIGHLIGHT: June 7, 2020

Janet SmithVAC AT I O N B I B L E S C H O O L | N O RT H C A RO L I N A

Like clockwork every summer, signs pop up on church landscapes across North Carolina that say, “Register for Vacation Bible School!” Even after 100-plus years, this week-long tradition remains an effective evangelism strategy that brings children in the community together to play, learn and seek biblical truths.

But is there a way to extend the reach of VBS once the week has come to a close? Janet Smith leads the preschool and children’s ministry at First Baptist Church in Asheboro, and she thinks so. She says that every year, a couple of weeks after the church’s VBS, they reuse the materials at the Growing Place Childcare Center managed by the church. The preschool teachers lead their age groups, while Janet and other church members teach school-age children.

When a child from the church demonstrated how to find books throughout the Bible, Janet noticed that the child’s eyes grew wide and their jaws were slacked. So, she offered to teach them. Other children started to pick it up, and one girl learned all the Bible books and divisions in two-and-a-half weeks.

While our church prepares for its VBS or other summer outreach, pray not only for our church’s volunteers, but others in the community as we all seek the common goal of introducing our community’s children to Jesus. Let’s thank God for the opportunity to serve Him by teaching the next generation, and ask Him to show our church how to extend the outreach of our program beyond the week of VBS.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: June 14, 2020

Lorna BiusC L A R K S TO N , G A

If we are talking about refugees, the state of Georgia is probably not the first location that comes to mind. However, today in our prayer time we are going to pray for Lorna Bius who serves in Clarkston, Georgia.

Clarkston is a city east of Atlanta, just outside of the 285 beltway, which has one of the highest concentrations of refugees in North America. They have come to America from many different parts of the world. Many of the refugees will stay in Georgia, while some will move on to other states.

Lorna ministers to these refugees by welcoming them and making sure they have food, a place to live and other basic needs. Along the way, she shares the gospel with them. Lorna also helps arrange for volunteer teams from around the country to come serve in Clarkston and minister to the refugees.

Our church is involved in Lorna’s ministry because of our giving through the Cooperative Program. Our giving helps pay for her salary and provide funds, so she can meet the physical needs of the refugees around her.

Let’s pray together and ask God to bless her ministry. Pray that the refugees will long remember her ministry of kindness and that the truth of the gospel will stay with them forever.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: June 21, 2020

Daniel & Tara RiceTO K YO, JA PA N

This summer, millions of people from across the globe will flock to the world’s largest metropolitan city as it hosts the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Already home to 38 million, Tokyo, Japan, will welcome countless athletes and spectators. With less than .5 percent of Japanese professing to be an evangelical Christian, this global capital city is already primed for the message of Christ’s hope.

Missionaries Daniel and Tara Rice have been helping coordinate the International Mission Board’s (IMB) presence and outreach in Tokyo for the Olympic Games. Months of preparation have given birth to the Connect 2020 Campaign, which aims to help Japanese churches, IMB missionaries and American volunteers share the love of Christ with millions during the Games. Free family-oriented community festivals, Olympic viewing parties, coffee and tea houses and other evangelistic efforts all enable the local Japanese church to demonstrate their faith and connect with nonbelievers of all nations.

Pray for the hundreds of Japanese believers to become trained in evangelism, prayer and discipleship so they can connect with unbelievers during and after the Olympics. Pray for local churches to work together in unprecedented ways to share the gospel in their communities, the country of Japan and the world. Uplift the hundreds of volunteers and missionaries, like Daniel and Tara, and ask God to strengthen them in their calling to reach the nations during this unique opportunity and beyond.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: June 28, 2020

Mark PlayerS A F E H A R B O R B A P T I S T C H U RC H | D E LC O, N .C .

Some people might look at a church with just 12 members left and believe it should simply close its doors. But with God at work, a 12 people is just the beginning. Mark Player was led to pastor a group of 12 believers, and with the help and training from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, they relaunched as a church plant called Safe Harbor Baptist Church. The church baptized more than 20 new believers in their first year and have steadily grown.

Safe Harbor meets in a school building in Delco, a small rural community northwest of Wilmington. Many of the coastal towns around Wilmington have been growing as the city expands. New housing developments and shopping centers are already in nearby Leland, just 11 miles from Delco. It’s likely the Delco community will also experience an increase in population. Those new residents will find a friendly, Bible-teaching Baptist church just waiting to be their safe harbor. When families in Delco and the surrounding area need a guiding light, Safe Harbor Baptist Church is there to share the gospel, disciple them and encourage them to shine for Christ in their homes and neighborhoods.

Our church supports Mark and this new church through our Cooperative Program giving. Let’s thank the Lord for the blessing of His new beginnings. Pray for Mark and ask God to guide people to Him through Safe Harbor Baptist Church.

Seminary HIGHLIGHT: July 5, 2020

DJ JenkinsG AT E WAY S E M I N A R Y | LO S A N G E L E S , C A

DJ Jenkins prepared for ministry at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Gateway Seminary, whose main campus is in Ontario, California. Since we give to the Cooperative Program, we support the seminary and the many students who prepare for ministry there.

In 2014, DJ planted a new church called Anthology Church. It meets in Studio City, which is part of Los Angeles. Films and TV shows have been produced in LA for many years. About 40,000 people live in Studio City and many of them work on the films and TV programs watched by millions of Americans. Anthology church wants to reach these storytellers.

Anthology Church is right in the heart of an extremely influential, culture-shaping city. Through our Cooperative Program giving, we have been able to support DJ’s ministry preparation and now partner with him as he pastors Anthology Church and seeks to impact the city of Los Angeles with the gospel.

Let’s pray for DJ and the growing church he leads in LA. Pray that the church will reach many, so one day the stories they tell to millions will reflect Jesus Christ.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: JuLy 12, 2020

Lynn ParsonsDAY 3 C H U RC H | G R A N I T E FA L L S , N .C .

Today in our prayer time, we want to focus on a church plant that’s not so new anymore. Cooperative Program dollars from churches like ours across the state helped start Day3 Church back in 2002.

Pastor Lynn Parsons and associate Daryl Triplett, plus around 40 members of Harris Chapel Baptist in Hudson, North Carolina., helped launch the new work in Granite Falls, North Carolina. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s Church Planting Team provided training and support for the first two years. After a modest start in an old paint factory with paint splotches everywhere, they moved on to meeting in a metal building.

Today, Day3 has its own church building on U.S. 321 in Granite Falls — and it’s paid for. Their attendance averages between 300 and 350, way above the average for our state. Day3 focuses on reaching people in two nearby pockets of lostness.

Now Lynn consults with groups wanting to start new churches. He teaches a lot about partnership, because he saw how it helped his own church get started.

Today, let’s thank the Lord for faithful folks like Lynn, Daryl and the many others who helped start Day3 Church, and let’s ask for more of them!

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: July 19, 2020

Jamie & Lauren BuckleyS O U T H A S I A

International Mission Board missionaries Jamie and Lauren Buckley, who our church has the privilege to support through the Cooperative Program, are currently learning to navigate these times of fluctuating needs during their service in South Asia. The Buckley’s were recently in a busy season where they traveled to seven cities in five different countries to cast vision and seek out an unengaged, unreached people group in the state where they live.

When they got back to their home city, Jamie took the time to develop a friendship with a local tea shop owner, *Robert, who eventually asked the couple to come to his home to study with him. The couple started meeting with him once a week to study Bible stories, and he is now very engaged and interested in the gospel. Lauren is also exploring ways to connect with women in their city by training believers and engaging nonbelievers with the truth of the gospel.

Let’s uplift Jamie and Lauren, and missionaries like them as they seek a healthy balance between focused ministry work and physical and spiritual rest while serving on their field. Pray for the Lord to direct the Buckleys to make contacts within the people group they are serving, so they can begin to proclaim truth to those who are unreached. Pray that God would save Robert and other locals the Buckleys have built relationships with.

*Some names have been changed for security.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: July 26, 2020

Chad & Jodi HartisDA RT M O U T H , M A

Chad and Jodi Hartis are church planters in Massachusetts with the North American Mission Board. They left their native North Carolina home and moved to Dartmouth, Massachusetts, after they learned sad facts about the gospel’s presence in there.

Although the early church was strong in New England, that history is long gone. Now days only about 1% of the people in Massachusetts are part of an evangelical church.

A high percentage of the city’s 35,000 people have present or past ties to Roman Catholicism, with many people from Portugal settling there. New evangelical churches are needed in Massachusetts and all throughout New England.

In 2015 Chad and Jodi planted SouthCoast Church. They meet just north of the Dartmouth campus of the University of Massachusetts. Currently, Chad and Jodi are focusing their efforts on getting to know their community and building relationships, so that they can share the gospel with the people around them. They are also teaching the Bible and creating a welcoming environment for anyone who decides they want to check out SouthCoast Church.

Our church supports church planters like Chad and Jodi through giving to the Cooperative Program. Let’s pray now for Chad and Jodi and their ministry at SouthCoast Church.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: August 2, 2020

Lee CallicutG R AC E H I L L C H U RC H | P I T T S B O RO, N .C .

In the heart of the Piedmont, the town of Pittsboro in Chatham County sits about midway between Raleigh and Asheboro. Drive down the main street there and you might think you’re in TV’s Mayberry, where Andy and Barney used to live. Stroll along the sidewalk and window shop its row of lively stores, then grab a soda at the old-time drug store or meet a friend for a bite to eat in a hometown restaurant. It’s southern small town charm at its best.

But talk to Lee Callicutt and he will tell you another side to the story: this area, in the middle of North Carolina, is one of the top pockets of lostness in our state. That means there’s a large concentration of people who are not involved in any church. In fact, the county’s experienced a steady decline in the number of professing Christians over the last decade. That sad reality, coupled with an expected significant population growth over the next several years, has prompted Lee to help plant a new church called Grace Hill Church.

The Grace Hill Church worshipers meet in an old agriculture building near the middle of Pittsboro, where they seek the glory of God and the good of their neighbors by sharing the gospel in the heart of the community. Our church is supporting Lee and this new church through our Cooperative Program giving. That’s also how we support the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, which has provided training and support to Lee through their Church Planting Team.

As we pray now for Lee and this new church, let’s ask God to help us see lostness as He does.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: August 9, 2020

Matt & Julie EspelandM A DAG A S C A R

Being a missionary is not easy work. Oftentimes, the fruit of the labor is not always seen. On a small island in the Indian Ocean, the Tanala people live their daily lives in the middle of a thick forest range. While they’re a happy and content people group, they desperately need the gospel.

More than 1 million of them live in the mountains in Tanula, Madagascar, spread over about 4,500 square miles. With only one paved road, they are a hard people group to reach. Matt and Julie Espeland, International Mission Board missionaries, spend lots of time hiking the paths along the rough, dangerous forest of Tanula as they seek to share the saving truth of the gospel.

Many villages where they serve have no electricity. The people they minister to live in thatch huts and are very poor. Once the Espeland’s arrive at their destination and preach, people oftentimes do not want to hear.

The Espeland’s missionary journey might sound a little bit like a movie script, but it is very real and a part of their daily lives. Fortunately, some of the Tanala people have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and are very eager to learn more about the Bible. Churches are being planted and lives are being changed off the coast of Africa.

Through our Cooperative Program, we support Matt and Julie. Today, let’s pray for them and their ministry in Tanala, Madagascar. Pray for the gospel to be received where it is preached and for many new churches to be planted.

N.C. Ministry HIGHLIGHT: August 16, 2020

Neeko WilliamsM E RC Y H I L L C H U RC H | G R E E N S B O RO, N .C .

When four North Carolina A&T University (NCAT) students started a movement of sit-ins at segregated restaurants across the Southeast, the university rose to national prominence during the civil rights movement. Since then, NCAT, the largest historically black university in the United States, has become an economic and educational force in the region. While students are being prepared for academic and career success, however, less than 10% of the university’s students are followers of Jesus.

To address this need, Mercy Hill Church in Greensboro has a goal of engaging 15% of NCAT’s student body. That means they are taking steps toward seeing 1,600 NCAT students involved in spiritual leadership, attend college worship gatherings and be discipled in small groups.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s Collegiate Partnerships Team helped resource the launch of this ministry and, through ongoing coaching, aided Mercy Hill Church in understanding the unique spiritual needs on NCAT’s campus. They also assisted with training for Neeko Williams and introduced Neeko and his team to other church leaders that are engaging students in historically black colleges and universities.

Pray that North Carolina A&T University students will be open to the transformative power of the gospel and become spiritual influencers for Christ’s redemptive work. Additionally, pray for Neeko Williams and Mercy Hill Church’s ministry by asking God to increase the number of students on their student leadership team and on their summer missions projects.

Seminary HIGHLIGHT: August 23, 2020

Noah & Tarin MaddenN E W O R L E A N S B A P T I S T T H E O LO G I C A L S E M I N A R Y

Noah and Tarin Madden are students at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). Noah is working on his master of divinity, and Tarin is working on her master’s in counseling. Together, they will be a great team. Thanks to NOBTS, the Madden’s will be equipped for a lifetime of ministry.

We’re supporting them as they prepare for ministry because our church supports NOBTS through our Cooperative Program giving. The Cooperative Program works to lower costs for students, so they can stay out of student debt and focus on the ministry ahead of them.

NOBTS is one of six Southern Baptist seminaries we support in the U.S. — together they have more than 18,000 students. These 18,000 students are being equipped to take the gospel and teach God’s word wherever they are led.

But Noah and Tarin aren’t just in seminary; they are already helping to plant a new church in New Orleans by discipling young adults who have come to faith in Christ.

After they graduate, Noah and Tarin will move to Boston as missionaries with the North American Mission Board. While in Boston, they will be a part of a new church plant that will be a safe place for the over six million lost people in Boston.

Through the Cooperative Program, we will support them as they move to Boston, as well. Let’s ask God to bless their studies and their ministry. Let’s also pray for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the students who are being equipped for ministry there.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: August 30, 2020

Jacob KirchnerE A S T E R N E U RO P E

With its cities filled with towering cathedrals and a history of famous Bible scholars, Europe might appear as a continent already reached with the good news. But in this day and age, centuries of shifting religious ideology has led to mistrust of organized religion, and generations of Europeans who grew up with little or no true gospel influence are apathetic or antagonistic toward Christianity. With only 1% identifying as evangelical Christians, countless Europeans don’t have an authentic relationship with Jesus.

Jacob Kirchner, who serves in Eastern Europe with the International Mission Board, says that most people he interacts with are either culturally Christian or atheistic.

Jacob’s team works with nationals in Eastern Europe to develop a culture of evangelism, especially among those ages 18 to 35. Along with the local church, they also disciple believers and train them to effectively reach their communities for Christ. By supporting the Cooperative Program, our church enables Jacob’s team to purchase Bibles and other ministry resources.

Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will stir the hearts of Europeans to desire a genuine relationship with Jesus. Pray for Jacob’s team as they disciple new believers. Pray for the team to experience unity as a group and with national European workers. Ask God to bring clarity of vision for a potential new church plant and to guide the team’s further strategic decisions.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: September 6, 2020

Robert & Sharon PinkstonQ U E B E C , C A N A DA

Two North American Mission Board church planters, Robert and Sharon Pinkston, serve in Quebec, a province in Canada. Quebec is home to 8 million French speakers, and with only about 40,000 of them following Christ, there is a major need for new churches.

Hundreds of towns in Quebec do not have any kind of evangelical church. Robert and Sharon are witnessing to a huge, challenging mission field. While our church supports them financially through our Cooperative Program giving, they need our prayers, as well.

Robert believes that if the people of Quebec could hear the gospel, they would believe it. Many people are searching for solutions to fill their spiritually empty hearts. When Robert and Sharon share the gospel many Canadians respond with, “That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!”

Let’s pray that Robert and Sharon can plant many new churches that will share the gospel with those who have not heard it. Ask God to call out hundreds of more missionaries to Canada. Let’s also pray for God to soften Southern Baptist’s hearts toward the spiritual depravity in Quebec.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: September 13, 2020

Joel SmelleyV E RT I C A L C H U RC H | C H A R LOT T E , N .C .

As the biggest city in our state, Charlotte is also one of our largest mission fields. South Charlotte is one of the fastest growing areas, which made it ideal for a new church plant. It was there that Joel Smelley helped start Vertical Church.

Initially gathering in a rented church building, Vertical Church then met for a time in a movie theater before moving to a public school building near I-77 in 2019. Nearly 100 people attend services each week. With its new location, between two pockets of lostness that the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has identified, Vertical Church is poised to be a light to so many in need of the hope of the gospel.

Joel prepared for ministry by attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, which we help support through the Cooperative Program. Through our continued giving to the Cooperative Program, our church has enabled the convention’s Church Planting Team to train and support Joel as Vertical Church began.

Let’s pray for Joel, his wife and their three children as they serve in Charlotte. Let’s ask God to help Vertical Church grow and reach thousands of people for Christ in South Charlotte and beyond.


James & Carrie LewisE A S T A S I A

Growing up, *James Lewis’ family served as missionaries in Africa with the International Mission Board (IMB). Today, he carries on as a second-generation IMB missionary with his wife, *Carrie, and their infant daughter. The young family lives and ministers in Asia, where religious temples built in the 800s still stand today — a testament to amazing architecture and craftsmanship, but also to the darkness of idolatry that sadly holds many in the region in its grip.

A new continent means new language learning opportunities, and the Lewis’ have been diligently studying the local language in their home country. With their recently-developed language, James and Carrie already started communicating and forming deeper relationships with new friends. Now they are seeking God to direct them toward others in their community who have had little exposure to the gospel.

Our church’s generous support to the Cooperative Program enables IMB missionaries, from long-standing veterans to brand-new short-termers, to remain committed to their calling and share the good news of Jesus Christ with lost and hurting people around the world every day. Please pray that God will continue to raise up a new generation of young people who desire to serve Him and others in the least-reached places of the globe. Lift up James and Carrie as they develop relationships with their Asian neighbors and that many will come to know and worship the true God of the Bible.



Bryan & Marci CobleC H I C AG O, I L

Today we’re going to pray for Bryan and Marci Coble who are planting a new church called Sow Chicago Community Church in the northwest portion of Chicago. The three biggest ethnic groups around their church are Hispanics, Serbians and Poles, making the area truly diverse. Sadly, most people in northwest Chicago have one thing in common — they do not have a relationship with Jesus. Only about 2% of people in the area attend Bible-based churches.

Bryan and Marci have been helping in local schools, working with community councils and holding block parties in order to build relationships in their community. Slowly but surely, they have begun to be accepted as locals, just like the many other newcomers.

As we support Bryan and Marci through giving to the Cooperative Program, let’s pray that God would give them the ability to lead their church to reach many for Christ. Pray for many deep, rich relationships to flourish in their community and that God would continue to open doors for Sow Chicago Community Church as they share the gospel throughout Chicago.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: October 4, 2020

T. J . & Dena OdomS C OT L A N D

Today, we are praying for T.J. and Dena Odom who serve in Glasgow, Scotland. Oftentimes, Scotland brings to mind images of kilts and bagpipes, and while those things are important to their heritage, the most important thing in Scotland is soccer. People follow it religiously. Sadly, the news that God sent a Savior into our world to save mankind is of little interest to many Scottish people. Only about 2% of Scottish people are Christians.

Scotland is indeed a great place to visit, but it’s also a mission field that desperately needs the gospel. That’s why, through our giving to the Cooperative Program giving, our church is supporting T.J. and Dena as they serve through the International Mission Board as missionaries in Glasgow.

Together, they have started a church and are now discipling their church members to be strong in their faith and share the gospel with others. Thousands of new churches are needed across Scotland to reach 5.5 million people for Christ.

Let’s pray for T.J. and Dena as they serve in Glasgow with their two young children. Pray that God will give them wisdom and endurance and that God will save bold new believers who will continue to reach the people of Scotland.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: October 11, 2020

Jean MunyambabaziU N I T E D AWA K E N I N G B A P T I S T C H U RC H | JA M E S TO W N , N .C .

Jean Munyambabazi, a North Carolina Baptist church planter, left his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo because of continual war and related challenges. Before coming to North Carolina in 2016, he lived in refugee camps in Uganda for 17 years where he started several churches.

When Jean moved to the High Point area, he met Africans from the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya, all of whom struggled with English. Jean speaks five African languages as well as English. He saw that a church for these Africans was needed. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina helped train and support him in this and, because of you, we are able to support the Cooperative Program, which in turn helps plant new churches here in our state.

Now, about 75 people attend services each week at the United Awakening Baptist Church that Jean started. They currently meet in a rented church in Jamestown, where Jean preaches in the African language of Swahili. Let’s pray now for Jean and this growing new church that is reaching people in a language they can understand.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: October 18, 2020

Muche & Diamone UkebuM I A M I , F L

Muche and Diamone Ukegbu (oh-KAY-bo) planted a new church called The Brook Church on the north side of Miami. The north side of Miami is extremely diverse, and the Ukebus are partnering with the North American Mission Board in order to reach immigrants who have come from Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking nations.

Over the past 30 years, the neighborhood surrounding The Brook Church has changed as newcomers have moved in. A number of Anglo churches have closed or moved. In their place, many new churches are needed to reach the growing community.

Reaching internationals is difficult, but The Brook Church is growing steadily. Muche grew up in inner-city Houston, Texas, where his brother was tragically killed at the age of 21. Because of what Muche and Diamone have experienced, they feel especially called to inner-city ministry.

Our church has helped send Muche and Diamone to Miami and supported their ministry by giving to the Cooperative Program. Let’s pray for Muche and Diamone. Pray for their inner-city ministry of helping bring people to faith in Jesus Christ in north Miami.

N.C. Ministry HIGHLIGHT: October 25, 2020

Naw BawkL I F E C O M M U N I T Y M YA N M A R | G R E E N S B O RO, N .C .

According to the Center for New North Carolinians, Guilford and Mecklenburg counties become home to about half of all new refugees in the state each year. A large percentage of the most recent arrivals to the Greensboro area are people groups from Myanmar in Southeast Asia.

Bawk Naw, Burmese coordinator for the N.C. Asian Ministries Team of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and Life Community Myanmar Church regularly reach out to those in the Burmese community. Many of their Burmese neighbors are Buddhists, and they do not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

One creative way that Bawk and his church introduce those in their community to the new hope in Jesus is during the Christmas season. They stroll through Burmese neighborhoods, singing Christmas carols, sharing the good news of Christ’s birth and distributing Burmese Bibles.

Our church is supporting Bawk through the Cooperative Program. Today, let’s pray for him as he trains and disciples his church members to be effective in reaching their neighbors with the gospel of Christ. Pray that God will open doors for more Burmese churches to be planted, and that current churches are equipped through Christ-centered teaching and sound doctrine.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: November 1, 2020

Todd & Katie MillerT H A I L A N D

Todd and Katie Miller are International Mission Board missionaries serving in eastern Thailand, near the border of Myanmar, once called Burma. Their ministry seeks to witness to the Shan people. This people group makes up a sizeable 10% of the country of Myanmar’s population. In recent years they have clashed with the Myanmar government, resulting in thousands of people moving to Thailand. The Shan people are often living in refugee camps, searching for jobs and better conditions.

Our church supports the Millers through our Cooperative Program giving. Most Shan people are Buddhists, and Todd and Katie often see them visiting temples to ask for blessings. Thankfully, some of the Shans have started to hear the gospel through the work of missionaries like Todd and Katie. When the Millers drove into a village recently, a man flagged them down and asked them to stop. He pleaded with them to come to his home and tell him about Jesus. They shared the gospel with him, and he prayed to receive Christ!

Today let’s ask God to keep Todd and Katie and their three children safe as they serve in Thailand and that they will reach many of the Shan people with the good news of the gospel.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: November 8, 2020

Chris Rodriguezi C H U RC H | C H A R LOT T E , N .C .

Chris Rodriguez was just 19 years old when he planted a new church in Charlotte, although he didn’t start it all by himself. Chris’ father, Carlos Rodriguez, is originally from Puerto Rico and is the lead pastor of iChurch, a large and successful Hispanic church in Hickory, North Carolina. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina provided support and training for iChurch’s new work in Charlotte. Carlos preaches at the Charlotte campus most Sundays, and members from the iChurch Hickory also helped establish the new church plant.

Chris says they prayed a lot and worked hard to grow the church — meeting people in homes, stores and even along sidewalks. By mid-2019, iChurch Charlotte had an average attendance of 130 people and was growing steadily. Latinos from many Central and South American countries who have settled in this part of the state attend the church. While Chris is still a leader at iChurch Charlotte, the church called Jesus Figueroa, (HAY-soos feeg-ah-ROE-ah), whom everyone calls “Pastor Chu” from Hickory as campus pastor.

Our church has helped get this new church started because we support church planting through the Cooperative Program. Let’s pray now for Chris and the others at iChurch as they share the gospel and help bring many Hispanics in Charlotte to faith in Christ.


Doug & Dana RobertsM E X I C O

Doug and Dana Roberts are North American Mission Board missionaries who serve in Mexico. There are many missionaries who are reaching Spanish-speaking Mexicans in Mexico, but Doug and Dana serve in central Mexico among the Central Nahuatl (nah-WAT-ul) people. The Nahuatl are descendants of the Aztec Native Americans who ruled what is now called Mexico long before Europeans arrived.

The Nahuatl people have their own language and culture. Most of them operate small family farms or raise livestock, while some of the men do construction work in other parts of Mexico. Sadly, there are few missionaries serving the Nahuatl people. Oftentimes their towns have no church and little to no gospel presence.

Doug and Dana are pioneers by starting a church among the Nahuatl people. Recently, four new believers were baptized at Doug and Dana’s new church. Let’s pray for our missionaries. Pray that Doug and Dana will lead the many lost people to faith in Christ and that God will call many more missionaries to central Mexico so that all the Nahuatl people can hear the gospel.


Phil & Becca BartuskaE U RO P E

Often, some of the most effective evangelism takes place within the context of relationships, something Phil and Becca Bartuska have intentionally sought out in Austria as International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries. Once they officially transitioned out of language school, Phil and Becca desired to become even more deliberate in developing relationships with those God put in their sphere of influence, so they could ultimately present the good news of Christ.

Phil is an IMB church planting facilitator in Austria, and he spends his days seeking avenues where relationships can be built and the community can be served. In addition to preaching in local churches, Phil visits with students on university campuses and recently began mentoring men after visiting a refugee support organization. Becca meets up with other mom friends to attend playgroups and a book club as well as hosts ladies’ nights in her home. Our church is supporting Phil, Becca and their sons through the Cooperative Program. Today, let’s pray for them and the work they’re doing in Austria.

Ask God to give them spiritual, mental and physical strength as they serve Him. Pray that He would give them a vision for church planting in Vienna, as well as direction in the possibility of starting a church planting training center in the city. Pray for wisdom and courage as the Bartuskas seek more God-given opportunities to share the good news with those around them.


Jeremiah BrinkmanN E W YO R K , N Y

Today in our prayer time, let’s pray for a North American Mission Board missionary who serves in New York City. His name is Jeremiah Brinkman and his ministry is telling new immigrants about Jesus. New York has many immigrants who have come from all over the world. Most of them are walking through similar problems — they usually have little money. Figuring out how to make a living and provide for their families is a daily struggle. They may speak little to no English, making their life even more difficult.

Jeremiah welcomes these immigrants, provides meals and even helps them learn their way around the city. However, his first priority is to befriend the immigrants in New York City. After that, he is able to tell newcomers about the love of Jesus and how they can follow Him.

Jeremiah is helping plant new churches all across the city because thousands of new, Bible-believing churches are needed there. Our church supports Jeremiah and his ministry by giving to the Cooperative Program.

Many immigrants who come to New York City are from countries where churches are forbidden. Now that they can hear the gospel without fear of persecution, it is imperative that the saving message of Jesus Christ is shared with them. Let’s pray for Jeremiah as he serves in New York City and tells his new friends about Jesus Christ.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: December 6, 2020

Alan & Beth LockeG H A N A

Alan and Beth Locke are International Mission Board missionaries serving in Africa — specifically in the nation of Ghana, located in West Africa. Their ministry is a little unusual. Across Ghana, many churches have been planted over the years. Unfortunately, many of those churches preach a prosperity gospel that encourages people to become Christians simply so that they may become rich. Some groups call themselves churches, even though they’ve essentially made up their own theology. Many members of these churches have never seen the Bible, much less read it.

Alan often visits these groups, teaches them what the Bible really says and how they can truly be saved. He then disciples them in Bible-based Christian faith. He tries to shift their perspective from earthly riches, to heavenly ones.

Our church is supporting Alan and Beth in Africa by giving to the Cooperative Program. Let’s ask God to bless their ministry as they show people how to have a personal relationship with Christ and encourage churches to focus on the true gospel of Christ, not a false prosperity gospel.

Missionary HIGHLIGHT: December 13, 2020

Matt LawsonC A L I F O R N I A

In a city where some of the world’s greatest stories are birthed, it is difficult for some to believe the greatest story of them all – the story of Jesus Christ. Matt Lawson, pastor and church planter of Story City Church, is passionate about serving the people who live and work in the heart of Burbank, California. Matt works to share Christ where the vast majority of those he connects with are shaping culture through storytelling. Our church is supporting Matt through the Cooperative Program. Today, let’s pray for him and Story City Church.

The desire for fame and significance impacts the daily lives of those in the entertainment industry — those who live and work in Burbank, California. As Matt invests in a community of writers, directors, actors, singers and producers, he seeks to encourage them to personally consider the message of the gospel and find their value in Christ.

With one church for every 23,000 people, there’s a long way to go to introduce Christ to the 19 million people of the Greater Los Angeles area, but Story City Church and the North American Mission Board are partnering together to make a difference in the heart of Hollywood.

Let’s lift up Matt and his family as they work and live in Burbank, and pray for protection and endurance as they engage in another year of ministry in Los Angeles. Pray for Story City Church to be effective in reaching people from its original Burbank location, as well as a newer church plant that began near the end of 2019.

N.C. Church planting HIGHLIGHT: December 20, 2020

Brandon MeadowsV E RT I C A L C H U RC H B L A D E N | E L I Z A B E T H TO W N , N .C .

If you drive down Highway 87 from Fayetteville, you will find yourself in Elizabethtown, North Carolina., in Bladen County. Then, if you turn onto West Broad street, you’ll see an old car showroom — while you can’t upgrade your vehicle here anymore, you might just find a whole new perspective for your life.

This converted building that once housed shiny new cars is now home to Vertical Church Bladen. The passion of this body of believers is to encourage people to look vertically to God in the midst of their own cluttered lives and ask Him to transform them.

Today, let’s pray for Brandon Meadows, who planted Vertical Church Bladen. Brandon is one of the church planters our church supports here in North Carolina through our Cooperative Program giving. As we lift up Brandon and his family, we can also thank God for blessing Vertical Church and its community. Attendance there has grown so quickly, they had to start having two Sunday services soon after they moved in — the best kind of problem for a church to have.

Brandon’s church in Bladen County is one of several church plants that have blossomed from Vertical Church in Lumberton, a church started by Mike Pittman. Mike now heads the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s church planting team and helps lead the effort to establish new churches.

New churches are needed in other communities around Elizabethtown and Brandon is eager to see new churches planted by the Baptist State Convention in those pockets of lostness. Today, let’s thank God for Brandon and Vertical Church and ask for His help in starting more churches like it.

Seminary HIGHLIGHT: December 27, 2020

Jeremiah & Joy FarmerS O U T H W E S T E R N B A P T I S T T H E O LO G I C A L S E M I N A R Y | E A S T A S I A

*Jeremiah and *Joy Farmer have been missionaries in East Asia for 15 years. Because they serve in a dangerous area, their names have been hidden for safety reasons. Our church supports them through our Cooperative Program giving.

When the Farmers were called to East Asia, the population in their area consisted of over 650 million people and 80% of them had never heard of Jesus. The Farmers were overwhelmed with where to start. To prepare, Jeremiah attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. This is one of the six seminaries our church supports through the Cooperative Program.

Over the last 15 years, Jeremiah and Joy have seen more than 700 churches planted. The gospel has been shared with 2.5 million people, and 45,000 people have come to faith in Christ. In addition, more than 2,500 leaders have been trained as disciple-makers. Thanks to the grace of God, the Farmers have come a long way from where they started, but there is still much to be done among the people of East Asia.

Now, let’s pray together and thank God for the Farmers. Thank Him for the ways the Cooperative Program has enabled them to learn and serve. Let’s ask for more missionaries to leverage their lives to go and share the good news of Jesus Christ.


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