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Ann and Bruce serve as regional missionaries with partner Baptist conventions in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines. They work alongside national leaders to build capacity in servant leader-ship, church-based community and economic development (including social entrepreneurship) and cross-cultural missionary training. Ann and Bruce have served since 1987 in the Philippines, the U.S. and Brazil. Most recently, they have worked with the National Baptist Convention of Brazil as co-coordinators of the Integral Mission Network and the office of Leadership and Ministry Develop-ment. They also have helped equip Brazilian missionaries to share the good news of Jesus Christ in Brazil and around the world.

Ann & Bruce Borquist | Southeast Asia

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 51-borquist

Impact Areas: Evangelism, Economic Development, From Everywhere to Everyone and Training & Capacity Building

Adult children: Elena and Asa

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. EPHESIANS 4:15-16

We have served as American Baptist missionaries for 29 years, and this gives us the

unique opportunity to travel the U.S. every three to four years to visit our partner churches. We are extremely encouraged every time we meet with a church that is rediscovering its iden-tity as an island of the kingdom of

Birthdays: Ann-Jan 11; Bruce-Sept 11

Ann &

Bruce BorquistSoutheast A

sia

Integral Evangelism training in our U.S. partner churches

Location: Southeast AsiaLanguages used in ministry: English, Portuguese,

Burmese and Bahasa Indonesian

God in a sea of hurting and hopeless people—a congregation that sees itself as a lighthouse in a dark and stormy night. But some churches break our hearts. They have shrunk down to shells of their former selves, with dwindling congregations of increas-ingly older members. They have forgotten their identities and roles in God’s mission, and have become social clubs of nice people who do nice things. They are so irrelevant to their neighborhoods that, when they finally close and sell their buildings, no one in the community mourns their death—if they even notice the church is gone. This isn’t God’s will for your church. It doesn’t have to be this way. We believe that cross-cultural mis-sionaries are still relevant in today’s world because they are the only bridge that many North American churches have to the vibrant, grow-ing young churches of the Global

¨ For yourself and your church. Ask God to kindle in you a passion to declare and be the good news of Jesus to those who need it in your community and your world.

¨ For us as we adjust to a new ministry in a new place. Leaving Brazil after 11 years was hard, but we are excited to see what God will do in and through us in SE Asia.

¨ That God will use us to build up the part-ner conventions of SE Asia that invited us to strengthen their programs in servant leadership training, evangelism and discipleship, church-based community development and cross-cultural ministry.

PLEASE PRAY

South. They may be the only link that many have to what is the “new normal” of the Christian faith—to the 70% of the worldwide body of Christ that lives in Asia, Africa and Latin America. When you identify missionaries that you or your church can partner with, be sure they represent what you are passionate about right in your own community. When you welcome back the missionaries you partner with, ask them to help build up your church “over here” with what they learned and did to build up churches

“over there.”

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HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED

¨ Join their Mission Partnership Network

¨ Share information about their ministry with others

¨ Go on a mission work team to their country

¨ Give to their ministry individually or through your church

¨ Send emails and birthday and Christmas cards

¨ Pray for their ministry

To learn how to join their network or to give to their ministryvisit www.internationalministries.org today!

You’ll also find the latest stories, journals, videos and prayer needs.

www.internationalministries.org/teams/51-borquist

Kim works with the Integrated Min-istries for Ethnic Minorities Founda-tion to oversee three ministries for tribal people: The House of Love is a home for women and children, including women who had been sold into prostitution, AIDS orphans and children taken out of their homes by the Social Welfare Department because of abuse. The Christian Center for the De-velopment of People with Disabili-ties reaches out to families who are caring for disabled people in tribal villages. This project is designed to help the disabled reach their full potential and be accepted within their families and communities. The House of Blessing Day Care Center provides a safe place for chil-dren who live in the slums to come during the day. It prepares children to enter Thai schools and also works to strengthen their families.

Kim Brown | Thailand

Email: [email protected]: www.internationalministries.org/teams/

52-brownImpact Area: Education, Health & Wellness and

Training & Capacity Building

Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. PSALM 21:6

Jumnong was referred to our min-istry to people with disabilities by the local evangelist. He had fallen

off his roof and was left paralyzed from his waist down. At that time, he was totally dependent on his wife and six children to care for him. He could not move around or get in and out of the house, so he laid in one place. He was very depressed; he had no hope for the future, and no way to support his family.

Birthday: Nov 3

Kim Brow

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Jumnong now has hope and is able to interact with his family and neighbors

Jumnong lives in a very remote village. This made it almost impos-sible to get the medical care and therapy that he needed. But our team was able to visit him and teach the family how to do therapy with Jumnong. They also helped to adapt his house so that he could become more independent. They built rooms for him on the ground level and built a bathroom that was accessible by wheelchair. Jumnong was able to come and stay at our center so that he could have daily therapy. He is now more active, is up and about in a wheel-chair and hopes to open a shop in his village as a way to make an income

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¨ That the staff of the Christian Center for the development of People with Disabili-ties will continue to serve in a manner that demonstrates the love of God and draws others into a relationship with Jesus.

¨ That the children and teens at the House of Love will grow in their knowledge and understanding of God and his love for them, and that they will seek to follow God’s will as they make decisions about their futures.

¨ That the children attending the House of Blessing Day Care Center will remain inter-ested in learning and be able to complete their education, and that they learn how to cope with the problems they face daily that are caused by living in poverty.

¨ That God give me the wisdom and patience needed to minister to children living in such a variety of difficult circum-stances.

PLEASE PRAY

and support his family. While he was at the center, Jumnong was able to learn more about Jesus, and now he and his entire family have accepted Christ as their Savior. Jumnong has more work to do, but he now has hope and plans for the future.

Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand Language used in ministry: Thai

To learn how to join her network or to give to her ministryvisit www.internationalministries.org today!

You’ll also find the latest stories, journals, videos and prayer needs. B


¨ Join her Mission Partnership Network

¨ Share information about her ministry with others

¨ Go on a mission work team to her country

¨ Give to her ministry individually or through your church


¨ Pray for her ministry

www.internationalministries.org/teams/52-brown

Dan works with International Min-istries missionaries and partners around the world to deal construc-tively with conflict situations. These conflicts may be social or political conflicts within a country, or they may be conflicts within the national church bodies that negatively im-pact Christian witness. Dan trains church and commu-nity leaders in conflict transforma-tion skills, utilizing experiential education methodologies and Bible study. He consults with church leaders about conflicts plaguing them, and in some situations he may participate in mediation teams between conflicted parties. Dan also explores ways for people interested in conflict transformation to accom-pany him and develop training and facilitation skills alongside him.

Dan Buttry | Global


110-buttry-danImpact Area: Peace & JusticeSpouse: SharonAdult children: Christopher, Jonathan and Janelle

One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press

Birthday: Sept 26

Dan Buttry

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Dan and Manal acting out the story of Rizpah from 2 Samuel 21 at the Ukraine training

on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14

“Stretch forward” is a theme thatevokes an athletic image—a run-ner stretching out to break the

finish line tape. I met such a runner by divine appointment in Lebanon. Sharon and I were teaching at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, and we visited a local Baptist church ministering to the Syrian refugees. Among the 300 or so people in the two services, I “just happened” to sit next to a certain young Lebanese

¨ For the emerging generation of Christian peacemakers as they seek to use their pas-sions and skills to heal their lands.

¨ That Christians in conflicted lands will be faithful witnesses to Jesus as the Prince of Peace.

¨ For traveling mercies and Spirit-anointed wisdom as my wife, Sharon, and I teach together in conflicted areas.

¨ That traumatized victims of violence will experience God’s healing and even be agents of Christ’s healing in their situations.

PLEASE PRAY

woman. When the time came to greet people, we introduced ourselves. When the young woman, Manal El Tayer, found out that I was teaching conflict transformation, she got so excited—she was studying conflict transformation at school. The more we talked, the more we discovered our common passion for Christian peacemaking. Manal visited one of our classes. A few months later, she attended the 10-day Training of Conflict Transfor-mation Trainers that I led in Ukraine,an advanced “university of the streets” program in peace-building. Manal’sleadership abilities dramaticallyemerged, and she stretched forwardamong activists and leaders mucholder than she is.

Manal has returned to Lebanon to use her peacemaking skills in reconciliation through athletics. She co-founded an organization to develop world-class athletes crossing the religious and sectarian divisions in

Lebanese society to develop a com-mon bond and shared vision for ath-letic excellence and peace. A life-long calling is emerging for Manal. She is one member of the rising generation of Christian peacemakers I have been privileged to train and mentor.

Location: Global Language used in ministry: English

To learn how to join his network or to give to his ministryvisit www.internationalministries.org today!

You’ll also find the latest stories, journals, videos and prayer needs. B


¨ Join his Mission Partnership Network

¨ Share information about his ministry with others

¨ Do a short-term mission team experience with him

¨ Give to his ministry individually or through your church


¨ Pray for his ministry

www.internationalministries.org/teams/101-buttry-dan

As International Ministries global consultant for community transfor-mation, Sharon provides consulta-tion and training of community and conflict transformation at the request of International Ministries global partners, primarily in coor-dination with and complementing the work of her husband, Dan But-try (global consultant for peace and justice).

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 TIMOTHY 2:2

Sharon Buttry | Global


629-buttry-sharonImpact Area: Peace & JusticeSpouse: DanAdult children: Christopher, Jonathan and Janelle

Dan and I have never conducted two 10-day trainings back to back, but that is exactly what will hap-

pen, God willing, in the Philippines. That’s a “Stretch Forward!” When we opened the registration for a 10-day training for early 2016,

Birthday: Aug 14

Sharon ButtryG

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Sharon at CT training in Egypt, praying with a pastor from an area where churches have experienced persecution and martyrdom

HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED ¨ Join her Mission Partnership Network


¨ Do a short-term mission team experience with her




We decided to step out in faith and we asked our network to step up and join us. We also asked two former 10-day training participants to stretch forward and join us in facilitation, giving Dan and me a little breathing room for the long haul. They both said “yes” and we commit-

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the names just kept coming. We are very discerning about who should attend. The spaces are reserved for those who have a significant ministry portfolio of conflict transformation, trauma awareness training or rec-onciliation ministries. I asked Dan if we should consider doing a second training immediately after the first one, though I knew that would really stretch us in every way. Ten-day train-ings are very demanding physically and emotionally, as each day involves 10 or more hours of actual training, debriefing and re-strategizing. A sec-ond training would also cost about another $10,000, mostly for travel and scholarships for those in need of financial assistance to be able to attend.

ted our task to the Lord for a blessing. We are excited that God is raising a generation of people to continue the work of peacemaking in Asia. We look forward to sending you our reports as our “peacemaking children” share the gospel of peace in their own contexts.

Location: Global Language used in ministry: English



¨ For God to raise up local leaders to take on the ministry of conflict transformation, especially in Asia for 2016.

¨ For healing of conflicts that involve the persecution of the church.

¨ For my husband, Dan, and me as we travel—for safety, for the favor of the local authorities and that we will have no dif-ficulties with visas.

PLEASE PRAY

www.internationalministries.org/teams/629-buttry-sharon

The Reverend Deliris Carrión-Joseph uses her pastoral as well as occupa-tional therapy skills to work at Deb-orah’s House, a ministry that works with women and children who are victims of domestic violence in Ti-juana, Mexico. Deliris affirms that it is through Jesus, who heals the bro-ken hearts and restores the afflicted souls, that women and children find refuge, healing and freedom at Deborah’s House. She believes that by strengthening their faith, im-proving their self-esteem, offering good education and helping them to find their vocational paths, these families will be able to leave the house with hope for a better future.

Deliris Carrión-Joseph | Mexico

Email: [email protected]

Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 54-carrion-joseph

Impact Areas: Peace & Justice and Health & WellnessSpouse: Moise Joseph

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. ROMANS 1:16

Birthday: Aug 21

Deliris Carrión-Joseph

Mexico

Moise and one of the volunteers working on the roof of our new building

nies about how they had held on to the Lord in order to survive and get out of the harmful relationships. They were bold and brave in sharing with tears of joy about how God can make the difference in the lives of those who trust that God can deliver us from evil. This was a powerful experi-ence, and the Holy Spirit was clearly leading the conversation to let the

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In August 2015, a work group came to serve at the shelter. The men worked on the roof of a new building.

The women worked at the sewing workshop and also spent time listen-ing and ministering to the women and children living at the center. On Sunday morning, we had a power-ful experience as we worshiped and listened to God’s word. We could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in a very special way. Monday was the group’s last day with us. That morning, three of the women visiting asked to share their stories with the women at the shelter. All three had been victims of domes-tic violence. They gave their testimo-

women know that Deborah’s House was a place where they could find a path of hope and joy. There is always a way we can serve others. Sometimes all we need is to be obedient to God’s voice when he calls us to stretch forward so we can reach others with the love of Christ.

Location: Mexico Language used in ministry: Spanish


You’ll also find the latest stories, journals, videos and prayer needs. C








¨ That God gives me wisdom and courage to fulfill this new ministry.

¨ For the women and children living at Deborah’s House.

¨ For God’s provision of finances, psycho-logical strength and adequate education.

¨ For God to provide me with a car.

PLEASE PRAY

www.internationalministries.org/teams/54-carrion-joseph

Glen and Rita have been instrumen-tal in moving the Kikongo pastoral training school up to university level. The new university has three majors: theology, agriculture and teacher training. Glen is the academic dean of the school of theology and teaches Old Testament, Hebrew and Baptist distinctives. Rita is in charge of the li-brary, teaches English and works with the wives of theology students. In his Powered Parachute minis-try, Glen has helped transport audio-visual equipment to villages to show evangelistic and educational films. The Chapmans are also active in conservation and environmental ministries. They are known for their work with the very rare and endan-gered Congo clawless otter. To pro-mote economic development, they have introduced beekeeping, raised rabbits for agricultural training and planted trees for reforestation, lum-ber, firewood, charcoal and fruit.

Glen & Rita Chapman | Democratic Republic of the Congo


Webpage: http://internationalministries.org/teams/ 55-chapman

Impact Areas: Evangelism, Discipleship, Theological Education, Economic Development and Education

Adult children: Marcie, Tim and Elena

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. PROVERBS 1:7

Kikongo has been known since 1950 as the place where pastors are trained. For many years, the

level of training had remained the same. The certificate offered was specialized, but not considered post-high-school. Any high school gradu-ates who wanted to pursue higher education would move to the city, where there are several universities. And once someone has migrated to the city, it is difficult to move back into a rural setting. With the educated and ambitious young people moving to the cities, Congo is experiencing a real rural exodus.

Birthdays: Glen-Oct 29; Rita-June 26

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Kikongo has never seen such pomp and ceremony as it did on the day of the inauguration of the University

For many years, the youth have asked us if we could help them get a higher education here at Kikongo. We were comfortable with our routine of training pastors, but the enrollment kept going down. We realized that we needed to respond to the need around us in order to stay relevant. In 2015, we made a big stretch forward by inaugurating the first university in this area. The school has three majors: theology, agriculture and teacher training. Our enrollment

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immediately jumped tenfold. The average age of the students became much younger, too. One gets the impression that we are working with the brightest and best that this part of rural Africa has to offer. Stretching forward has been and continues to be a real challenge for us. Having heard the cry of those around us, and responding to their need, the result has been a whole new spirit of enthusiasm and hope for the future of rural Africa.

Location: Kikongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Languages used in ministry: French, Kikongo,

Lingala and Kituba










¨ That education at the University would not be treated an end in itself, but that we would be dedicated to training biblically grounded Christian leaders for a new generation.

¨ That we have the discipline to prepare a curriculum that is relevant to rural pastoral ministry for both men and women.

¨ For a new understanding of our Christian role in the care and management of our environment.

PLEASE PRAY

www.internationalministries.org/teams/55-chapman

Dan and Sarah Chetti have been serving in Lebanon for over a decade. Dan works at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Beirut, preparing leaders for ministry in the Middle East and North Africa. There he is an adjunct professor, a member of the Faculty Council and a student mentor and does research and writing on contemporary Chris-tianity. Dan is currently promoting a strategic ministry concept called

“Arab World Initiative.” Sarah’s main ministry is among foreign migrant women working as maids in Leba-non. She founded Insaaf, an inte-grated center for domestic workers, and makes prison visits to women who have been arrested for lack of identification documents. Dan and Sarah are active members of the International Church in Beirut. They host small groups and Dan is a member of the Ministry Leadership Team, through which he preaches and coordinates mission outreach.

Dan & Sarah Chetti | Lebanon


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 56-chetti

Impact Areas: Evangelism, Theological Education, Education and Immigrants & Refugees

Adult child: Rachel

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. PROVERBS 3:5

As members of the prison ministry team, Elma and I make regular visits to Adlieh Detention Center.

Below the ground with no direct sun-light are four large cells, each hous-ing 40 to 60 women with a single toilet. This is where Migrant Domestic Workers, or “maids,” are held by the Lebanese authorities before they are deported. Maids are brought into the coun-try, whether willingly or by force, on temporary work visas. When the visas

Birthdays: Dan-April 29; Sarah-Dec 17

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Chastened in prison and desiring to serve prisoners

expire, many employers fail to renew them and the women become illegal immigrants. If they are caught, they are treated to sloppy police work and the antiquated Franco-Arabic legal system, which give little consider-ation to their basic human rights. When we first met Wilma, she openly shared that she ran a small restaurant for maids in a poor neigh-borhood, where some local people accused her of running a brothel. She vehemently swore that she was innocent. Elma spent several weeks praying and counselling Wilma. We shared with Wilma the biblical story of Joseph, who was falsely accused of rape and thrown in prison. The only Advocate he had was God. In the end, it was God who wonderfully worked out a release from prison.

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After many prayers, God came through for Wilma as well—she was cleared of charges and released from prison! And having seen the condi-tions of the prison and experienced how much the women missed not having hot cooked meals, Wilma now sends food from her restaurant to the women in the Adlieh prison every week.

Location: Mansourieh-Metn, Lebanon Languages used in ministry: English and Arabic










PLEASE PRAY

Dan & Sarah Chetti | Lebanon

¨ For the Insaaf Center and the ministry for the maids both inside and outside the prison.

¨ For Social Workers Elma and Aime, who minister with me at Insaaf.

¨ That our advocacy on behalf of the suffer-ing maids will bear fruit.

¨ That my Lebanese Residency Permit will come through without too much hassle.

¨ For financial support so that we can continue to pay for the rental of the Insaaf Center and pay the salaries of the social workers.

www.internationalministries.org/teams/56-chetti

Bill and Ann Clemmer serve in South Sudan, the world’s newest nation. Prior to South Sudan, the Clemmers served in Haiti for two years and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 16 years. Bill’s work has involved training South Sudanese health care workers and establishing health centers, while Ann is involved in lit-eracy and helped establish a Chris-tian school in the nation’s capital. The Clemmers returned to the U.S. in mid-2015 for their first year of U.S. and Puerto Rico Assignment in nine years and look forward to returning to the field in 2016.

Ann & Bill Clemmer | South Sudan


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 57-clemmer

Impact Areas: Education and Health & WellnessAdult children: Jasmine, Eli, Joel and Cassie

The past few years have been extremely challenging for South Sudan, which since the end of

2013 has been embroiled in a dev-astating civil war that has left over 200,000 dead and over 2,000,000 seeking refuge. Less than a month after the war started, Bill visited the regional capital, where government and rebel forces had fought a fierce battle two weeks earlier. A hundred thousand persons had fled the city, including health care workers. Clinics and hos-pitals had been pillaged or burned to the ground. The dead still lay where they had fallen. How many times had we seen such violence during our 30 years

Birthdays: Ann-Dec 2; Bill-Dec 15

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Assessing community health conditions in rural Burundi

serving in foreign lands? Where were the fruits of our labors? Was it time to seek an alternate calling? But God had not called us to South Sudan to quit when things became difficult. Jesus acknowledges that we will face difficulties, but reminds us that he has overcome the world. We elected to remain in South Sudan, and are so glad we did. Our work has transitioned. With our partner, IMA World Health, Bill has recruited eight teams of doctors and nurses from within the refugee camps and equipped them to pro-vide health services to fellow refu-gees. Meanwhile, the Christian school in the capital of South Sudan has moved forward. The school has re-mained open and is growing despite the conflict. In all such endeavors, we acknowl-edge the power of God and trust in

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him alone for our needs. God does not ask us to be successful, only obedient. And, as we have seen, he is more than able to bring to comple-tion all that he has begun.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

Location: South Sudan Language used in ministry: English










¨ For a true and lasting peace in South Sudan and the eventual and safe return home for the millions who have been internally displaced.

¨ That the Lord will send workers to this land, where the harvest is ready … yet the workers are so few.

¨ That we would be effective messengers of the gospel in both action and word to a people who need renewal and hope.

¨ That our presence in U.S. churches in 2016 will raise an awareness of needs in places such as South Sudan, and bring glory and honor to God in all that we say and do.

PLEASE PRAY

www.internationalministries.org/teams/57-clemmer

Aphiwan (Tan) and Scott are jointly appointed missionaries of Interna-tional Ministries and HOPE Interna-tional Development Agency. From their home in Chiang Rai, Thailand, they support Thai nationals in their own ministries as they seek to im-pact the lives of the ethnic minority peoples who inhabit the hills of northern Thailand, the Eastern Shan State of Myanmar and neighboring countries. These partner organiza-tions empower communities to organize for social, economic and spiritual change.

Aphiwan & Scott Coats | Thailand


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 58-coats

Impact Areas: Abolition of Trafficking in Persons and Global Slavery, Economic Development, Education and Training & Capacity Building

Adult children: Alisa, Silas and Sam

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

We met Mijum in 2004. Our friend Misaw had asked us to provide shelter for the young

Akha woman as she was being pur-sued by a violent former boyfriend. Mijum had crossed the border into Thailand about five years earlier at the age of 18 in search of a better life. She’d heard a rumor that someone was helping to teach uneducated girls how to read and write. Mijum found the New Life Center, where she learned not only to read and write but also sewing and beautician skills. After she graduated, she got a job and her future was looking bright.

Birthdays: Aphiwan-Feb 16; Scott-Aug 22

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A group of villagers in Northern Myanmar sharing their story of hope with visitors from Thailand

Unfortunately, a life-threatening crisis brought her to our home seek-ing refuge. After almost a year of being with us, when it was safe for her to go out again, Mijum decided to attend Bible school. Ten years later, after having graduated from the Bible school, pastored, taught, led a home for children, married and

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given birth to two children, Mijum is now answering a call from the Lord. She has moved back to Eastern Myanmar (Burma) with her family. We visited her in her new home recently. Though it took a great deal of con-vincing from the Lord, she knows she is obeying him. And knowing that we will be coming to serve in the area has given her resolve that she and her husband won’t be alone.

Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand Languages used in ministry: Thai, English and

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¨ For Mijum, her family and more like her to be courageous, follow the call and make that step to stretch forward across the borders to those in need in the Mekong Subregion.

¨ That we will be an encouragement and a support to others to help bring trans-formed lives of hope in the hills of Eastern Shan State in Myanmar and the hills of Thailand.

¨ That our three children—Alisa, Silas and Sammy—all of whom are studying in university, will seek to grow in Christ and lead lives of service to the Lord.

PLEASE PRAY

www.internationalministries.org/teams/58-coats

Jorge and Hermelinda serve through the Amigos Project in the Dereham region of the United Kingdom. They assist churches of the Baptist Union of Great Britain in reaching out to the communities of Portuguese-speak-ing migrant workers in the region. They are jointly appointed by Inter-national Ministries and JAMI, the cross-cultural mission agency of the National Baptist Convention in Brazil. The Damascenos’ ministry in-volves visiting migrant workers, assessing needs and working with churches to develop strategies to welcome and provide services for the migrants so that they may grow in the understanding of God’s love, truth and justice. Together with the churches, they serve the Portuguese-speaking community by holding ser-vices and Bible studies in Portuguese, offering a listening ear, providing food for those with urgent and im-mediate need, and giving classes in English as a second language.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give your-selves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Hermelinda & Jorge Damasceno | United Kingdom


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 60-damasceno

Impact Area: DiscipleshipChildren: Vinicius and Isabelle

Birthdays: Hermelinda-May 20; Jorge-Aug 30; Vinicius-Aug 28;

Isabelle-Feb 9

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The Immigrant International Club—more than nine nations represented

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Sometimes it is very easy in min-istry to just to sit around and moan about the people or the

country we have been called to serve. Things like, “It is too difficult to talk to them and create new relationships. They’re too remote to reach. They are too disinterested for us to invest our time and energy,” and so on. Yes, even though we are people of faith, thoughts like these still creep in. In September 2015, Mel and I de-cided to take a stand against this kind of negative thinking. About 10 miles northwest of where we live is the small village of Litcham. This village is the hub for at least another six surrounding vil-lages. There isn’t much of a church life in these villages, so we decided to start an Alpha Course, a discipleship program used by most of the evan-gelical churches in the U.K. The result is that we are now discipling three local people! They are so enthusiastic

about it that, in March of 2016, we are going to run a massive Alpha Course not only for Litcham but also for all the other surrounding villages. Mel and I have learned that, unless we stretch forward in what we want to achieve for Christ, nothing will hap-pen. We still have a lot of stretching to do, but this little stretch has made us realize that we constantly need to make a stand for the gospel of Jesus, even in times we do not feel like it.

Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom Languages used in ministry: Portuguese and

English


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¨ For the Alpha Courses we will be holding in Litcham village. We want to reach out to as many people as possible.

¨ For the Immigrant International Club we are running, which includes people of more than nine different nationalities. We need wisdom to share the love of Jesus in a nonthreatening way.

¨ For our family. For Vinie, who is in his second year of university, and for Isabelle, who is starting university next year.

¨ For our health. We have been under a lot of attack in this area.

PLEASE PRAY

www.internationalministries.org/teams/60-damasceno










¨ For Pub’s continue growth.

¨ As Pub has already begun to give testi-mony to his colleagues.

¨ For other men in our church to stretch forward like Pub and believe.

PLEASE PRAY

Annie and Jeff Dieselberg serve in Bangkok, Thailand, a bustling metropolis of more than 10 million people. Annie is the founding CEO of NightLight International, a global organization compelled by love to reach out to, rescue and restore all those negatively affected by sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. NightLight Bangkok has assisted over 160 Thai women through employment and repatriat-ed over 95 trafficked women to their countries in Africa, Asia, Central Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. Jeff teaches urban transformation with a team of adjunct faculty mem-bers at local seminaries and serves as a chaplain at NightLight and as senior pastor of Song Sawang Church. This church was created with women from NightLight who

Annie & Jeff Dieselberg | Thailand


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 62-dieselberg

Information: www.nightlightinternational.comImpact Areas: Evangelism and Abolition of Trafficking

in Persons & Global SlaveryAdult children: Jordan, Kristina and SkylerChild: Chandler

had come to follow Jesus, and now it continues to grow as they actively invite family members, friends and people in the community.

Birthdays: Annie-March 2; Jeff-June 18; Chandler-Nov 30

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ieselbergThailand

Stretching forward in faith, Pub receives baptism

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” MATTHEW 19:26

“Stretching forward” is exactlywhat happened to a young man named Pub. Pub came to Song

Sawang Church every Sunday with his fiancée. And every Sunday I could see in his eyes that he was stretch-ing forward toward faith. When our church held its second annual men’s retreat, it was obvious to all the men how much he had grown. It begged the question from all of us, “Pub, are you ready to accept Christ?” And that’s when he told us, with tears, “I can’t. I am the only son in my family. And according to Buddhist tradition I must enter the Buddhist monkhood at a temple so that my mom can go to heaven.” This is what many Buddhists in Thailand believe. We vowed to pray for him and encouraged him, saying,

“All things are possible with God.” Three weeks later, Pub grabbed me after church and said, “I have too much God inside me already. I can’t go into the Buddhist monkhood. I

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talked to my parents and they re-leased me to decide on my own.” Both of us in tears, I hugged him and led him in prayer to receive Christ. Forsak-ing Buddhist tradition, Pub stretched forward into faith in Christ. Three months later, he stretched further and received baptism at our annual church camp. It will be an honor to of-ficiate the wedding of this outstand-ing young man and his fiancée!

Location: Bangkok,Thailand Language used in ministry: Thai

www.internationalministries.org/teams/62-dieselberg

Dwayne and Janet are associate development workers serving in Central Asia. The nations of this region became independent fol-lowing the collapse of the Soviet Union around 1991. Many of these republics have a dominant reli-gious population and have suffered from civil war, revolution, ethnic conflict, corruption and religious persecution. Dwayne works in a village at a facility connected to an orphanage, where boys ages 7—21 participate in a year-round sports club. Janet teaches English in the same village at a language center and runs an English club at a 1st—11th grade school. Dwayne and Janet are working toward starting home fel-lowship groups among an indige-nous unreached people group. The Doyles have two children, Andrew and Sarah, who attend a private international school. Janet and Dwayne also work at this school as volunteers. Please pray for the people of Central Asia.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. MATTHEW 13:45-46

Dwayne & Janet Doyle | Development Workers


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 675-doyle

Impact Areas: Evangelism and EducationChildren: Andrew and Sarah

December 25, 2015, will be a day our family will remember be-cause it was the first time our

traditional Christmas was disrupted. Being from America, we celebrate Christmas on December 25. In Central Asia, however, Christmas is not a public holiday until January 7, based on the Orthodox calendar. On this particular Christmas we found out that one of my students, only 18, had died the day before. Muslims normally bury the dead within 24 hours of their death. This meant that I would have to attend his funeral on our traditional Christ-mas day. Normally we open gifts early Christmas morning, but this day we would have to wait until the afternoon. The good news was that my student had come to Christ, even though the funeral service would be

Birthdays: Dwayne-Sept 29; Janet-Sept 9; Andrew-April 3; Sarah-Aug 5

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conducted in a Muslim setting. This was a Christmas day we won’t soon forget. My morning was used up preparing a special folder with pictures of the student I had taken while at school. I also created a writ-

Dwayne (far right) refereeing boys at the sports center where he works, in the local village outside of the capital city

ten biography of the student based on his own testimony. I presented the folder to his grieving mother at the funeral. This was my gift to his family, but a sacrifice of my own family’s pre-cious time on Christmas. Sometimes interruptions to our traditions help us to see the Savior more clearly. But this is why we came to Central Asia—to serve the people here.









¨ For major future decisions regarding our work in Central Asia.

¨ For wisdom regarding our evangelism among Muslim people groups.

¨ That God would make our vision clear for the next phase of our work.

¨ That God would give us peace regarding the kind of work we are doing or if we should pursue other forms of outreach.

¨ That God would use my work at the college level and Janet’s work at the in-ternational school and our church to help mentor young believers.

PLEASE PRAY

Dwayne & Janet Doyle | Central Asia

www.internationalministries.org/teams/675-doyle


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¨ Share information about her mission work with others

¨ Join her by serving on a mission work team

¨ Give to her mission work individually or through your church


¨ Pray for her mission work

¨ For discernment about future project development.

¨ For safety when I travel to places of unrest.

¨ For relationship development with local leaders to continue, even when I am not able to visit with them more often than once a year.

¨ That I will maintain my health while I travel.

PLEASE PRAY

Kristy Engel is a global consultant with a focus on health care issues. She is trained as a pediatric nurse practitioner and holds a Masters Certificate in international nutri-tion. Kristy served for 12 years in the Dominican Republic, leading mobile medical clinics and Interna-tional Ministries relief efforts follow-ing the 2010 Haiti earthquake. As a global consultant, Kristy is able to visit countries in need of health assessments, ongoing education, health team visits or other forms of collaboration during crisis and non-crisis situations. Her goals are to empower local leaders, to help com-munities recognize their strengths and understand how to make better use of their resources and to build relationships that increase the health of populations around the world through innovation, network-ing and encouragement.

Kristy Engel | Global


63-engelImpact Area: Health & Wellness

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. HEBREWS 10:24

As we look around the world today and watch tragedy after tragedy unfold, it is easy to get

discouraged and believe that noth-ing we do can make a difference. I have the unique privilege as your global consultant for health to meet leaders in some of these desperate places who are truly making a differ-ence. Their stories, unfortunately, do not often get told. But these leaders, frequently coming from the poorest and most oppressed people groups, have risen above. I met one such woman in Thai-land. She helped to give rights to the disabled when no rights were afforded to them. She has continued

Birthday: March 19

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Kristy helping with a children’s ministry in Bolivia

to champion children who have no voice and to make a way for others when culture and society said it was a fruitless endeavor. This woman began a school for children with disabilities and a program to teach the seeing impaired how to do massage therapy, and she trains teachers about modi-fied classrooms. Her skills, passion and improvisation in the face of trials are a testament to be shared with the world.

Sharing stories of the work of such leaders is just one way that my role can help other countries battle the challenges they face. As I continue to travel and meet these champions around the world, I will continue to find ways to encourage other minis-tries by introducing them to global health advocates through collabora-tive visits and education.

Location: Global Languages used in ministry: Spanish and Haitian

Creole

www.internationalministries.org/teams/63-engel


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¨ For safety, health, wisdom, provision and guidance for my ministry in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

¨ For the many communities in poverty that lack basic needs like water, electricity, food and medicine.

¨ That new teams will accept the challenge of a short-term mission trip and come and bless many families and communities.

PLEASE PRAY

It is a time of great hope, joy and faith when volunteers come to the Dominican Republic and Cuba! Madeline serves as mission coor-dinator for volunteers from the U.S. and Puerto Rico. She helps identify teams’ strengths and passions and then matches them with service op-portunities in which they can make an impact while also learning from the experience and growing in their own faith. Much of the mission work that Madeline organizes takes place in the severely impoverished bateyes (bah-tays) communities. Teams meet local needs by bringing supplies such as food, clothes and bedding; setting up medical clinics; or offering training in hygiene, birth control or domestic violence prevention. Some teams lead Vacation Bible School programs for children or do evange-listic work with families. In Cuba, Madeline works di-rectly with the Eastern Cuba Baptist Convention and the churches in the Jiguani district in Granma. Vaca-tion Bible Schools and pastoral care training are two of the most requested local needs.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

MATTHEW 21:22

Madeline Flores-López | Dominican Republic

Email: [email protected]

Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 64-flores-lopez

Impact Area: Short-Term Mission Engagement

Birthday: July 11

Madeline Flores-López

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inican Republic

Gift distribution on Three Kings’ Day

For many years I have been visiting very poor Dominican and Haitian communities here in the Domini-

can Republic. All of these communi-ties have been blessed at some point

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with visits from teams from the U.S. and Puerto Rico. These teams do out-reach through projects like Vacation Bible School, medical clinics, con-struction, evangelism and Christmas visits. From these visits, many people have come to Christ and now serve with their families in churches. Short-term mission teams are a blessing and really help us stretch forward in our ministry. Through their work, many families have been fed and dressed, others have been able to send their children to school be-cause they have their backpacks and uniforms, some have discovered they are diabetic or hypertensive and are now receiving treatment, some chil-dren have received Christmas gifts for the first time, many families have had a Christmas Eve dinner to share and so much more. I use my blue Nissan truck to pick up teams at the airport and carry their luggage. Whenever I’m driving to a village, as I come close enough for people to see my truck, they all start

running behind me, singing “here comes la Americana” (the American) or “here comes la rubia” (the blondie). They know that my truck will bring them something. They do not know what it is, but can be sure that is something they need. My heart feels very excited knowing that God uses teams and me to bless many.

Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Language used in ministry: Spanish

www.internationalministries.org/teams/64-flores-lopez

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¨ For the ongoing ministries of the ACT under national leadership.

¨ For the Akha people as they are faced with the many challenges of globalization.

¨ For us as we stretch forward into new areas of ministry.

¨ That the establishment of ASEAN will provide new opportunities to engage with the Akha from other Southeast Asian countries.

¨ For the ongoing development and growth of the Chiang Rai International Christian School.

PLEASE PRAY

Chuck and Ruth Fox work with the approximately 100,000 Akha hill tribe people living in Northern Thailand, as well as with the Chiang Rai International Christian School (CRICS). Their ministry focuses on evangelism, pastoral care, educa-tion, leadership development and women’s ministries. Chuck focuses on pastoral training, evangelism and development, including micro-enterprise, drug rehabilitation and building projects. Ruth works with CRICS as a teacher, in volunteer services and in development. She also ministers to Akha women as a consultant to Akha craft programs and women’s ministries, and she helps children receive an education through STEP funds.

Chuck & Ruth Fox | Thailand


Webpage: www.internationalministries.org/teams/ 65-fox

Impact Areas: Discipleship, Theological Education, Education and Training & Capacity Building

Adult children: Rachel, Becca and Kenny

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giv-ing thanks to God the Father through him. COLOSSIANS 3:17

After 16 years spent in Thailand, we are stretching forward into new areas of ministry! The men-

toring of national Akha Christians in the Akha Churches of Thailand (ACT) has allowed for the successful transi-tion of leadership in many areas of ministry to these partners. This is great news!

Bible trainings are being led by Akha Christian leaders, villages are managing their own coffee produc-tion, most villages have clean water systems now and about 295 of the 300 Akha villages in Thailand have a

Birthdays: Chuck-April 15; Ruth-Nov 24

Chuck & Ruth Fox

Thailand

Pastor Pedru, vice president of the Akha Churches of Thailand, and his wife Apeh—our partners and our good friends

Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand Languages used in ministry: Thai and Akha

church or some Christian presence. Additionally, Akha Crafts is now run by the four full-time employees as an independent business, while still providing the village women the op-portunity for much-needed income. These developments allow us to focus our time and energies on new vistas. Ruth has been involved for some time in the development of the Chiang Rai International Christian School (CRICS), and she can be more

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fully present to help meet the needs there. Chuck’s focus is on develop-ing deeper relationships with Akha pastors, creating curricula for focused study in discipleship and serving as a liaison between the various Akha Christian groups. With the creation of the Asso-ciation of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), we are also exploring ways to expand our ministry to the Akha people outside Thai borders. In every-thing we do, we give thanks to God!



www.internationalministries.org/teams/65-fox

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