International Missions Update: Fall 2016
NAB international missions continues to pursue two broad goals on behalf of our conference. We send missionaries on behalf of our churches, and we equip churches for international partnerships. We have seen a lot of activity in both of these areas, and we want to invite the entire NAB family to take advantage of these ministry opportunities.
NAB Missionaries
Lee and Beta Taylor completed their year of service teaching at the Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, Cameroon. While there, Beta connected with the women’s national volleyball team and was subsequently invited to serve as the team’s official interpreter at the Olympic Games in Rio. They completed their term as NAB missionaries in August.
Jeff and Sonya Kilmartin were appointed to serve as missionaries in Cameroon. Jeff will teach at the seminary in Ndu, Sonya will dive into the work of children’s education.
Vern and Gloria Wagner have breached the 50% mark in the support they have raised. This is a significant milestone that creates momentum toward our goal. The long-awaited development permits for the construction of Camp Falcon Rock are now in hand—Praise the Lord!—so we want to have the Wagners in Romania as soon as possible.
Ken and Rachelle Johnson packed up their family and moved to Japan in August. They are helping lead the Komyo Christian Church while Paul and Melissa Ewing are on Home Assignment. The Johnsons are new to the NAB, and we are thrilled that God has sent them to us. You will want to get to know the Johnsons!
God has already connected us with additional couples that we anticipate will be approved to begin missionary support raising by this fall. We are encouraged that God would entrust so many great people to serve on our team, but we can only do this as the larger NAB family comes together to support this work. If your church is not supporting any NAB missionaries at this time, I encourage you to join with our NAB family in this work. Take time to explore our current opportunities to support international missionaries.
Equipping Churches
Global Missions Summit. In May of 2016, we gathered twelve NAB missionaries and four international office staff together in Hungary for three days of strategic planning. We recognize that churches are participating directly in international missions in increasing numbers, and with new expectations of partnership. We are shaping our fields in such a way that our churches can participate in the work. We are equipping our missionaries to act as hosts and identifying opportunities for our NAB churches to develop partnerships under the guidance of our field staff.
NAB Gateway. As we have reshaped what Gateway looks like, we are still committed to equipping teams, but only in the context of informed partnerships. Randy Schmor has reworked training materials and added new resources that are designed to help your church participate in international partnerships effectively and with excellence.
Cross Cultural Ministry at Home. Equipping churches for international missions is no longer just about sending teams across oceans or to other countries. Many of our churches are recognizing opportunities to reach across cultures right in their own neighborhood. The NAB is committed to equipping churches for this unique setting, and we have hired Bud Fuchs to help churches navigate this new opportunity.
At the NAB, we continue to hold international missions as a high value, and we want to continue to pursue the growing edge of equipping missionaries and churches to serve as God directs.