BUILDING BRIDGES TO CONNECT MORE PEOPLE TO CHRIST
“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” – Romans 15:20 I started my missionary journey with people in other countries 40 years ago. Romans 15:20 inspired me to understand what God was doing and how I could help Him reach others. I wanted to go to the darkest areas of the world, to the places that needed God the most, but had the least opportunity to hear His message. People in many countries have never heard the story of Jesus, and I knew He called me to fill that gap. So my wife Julie and I raised our family in several other countries as we told and enabled others to share Christ. We moved 15 different times and encouraged hundreds of missionaries on at least 50 different church-planting teams. God even allowed us to live in one of the world’s most restricted and isolated communist countries and share His message with the community. We spent time with the impoverished and starving and learned a foreign language to speak with the hearts of those that had never heard. Explaining the immense lack of resources to my western friends and families is difficult. The work does not just seem hard but impossible.
I began to notice another gap. Although I continuously built bridges to assist others in discovering Jesus in their lives, I wanted to help them impact their communities. These new believers often had no way to provide for themselves or their families, and they didn’t have the means to spread the Good News. This gap deeply disturbed me, and I wanted to find a way to build another bridge. I suddenly knew what was missing: How could I share God’s message but also assist indigenous people while they shared God’s love with others? Thirteen years ago we began building business strategies into disciple making called individuals. iBAM has the best of both worlds. Not only are they reaching people who don’t know God, but they are also equipping people to create businesses. iBAM has been filling in the gaps by sharing the gospel and giving locals an avenue to impact their communities. God called me to work alongside them and build the organization. Now, I’m using my global partnerships, disciplemaking experience, and business training to aid board members, trainers, and alliances as they provide training and resources to the most needed areas in the world. Building bridges and being able to do what God called me to do by working with iBAM has been one of the biggest blessings. In the near future, we launch our next program in the largest Muslim nation in the world. Very economically poor believers risk their lives daily to love their neighbors and proclaim forgiveness of their sins through Christ. There is still work to be done. So please keep iBAM, our
During my time in these places, I faced many challenges and adversities. I’ve been arrested, followed by government agencies, and separated from my family because of my work for extended periods. Most people would think it’s unnerving and stressful to live your life knowing that people are out to get you for sharing God’s true words — but it’s all worth it. God has done so much for us, and I want to help others feel His love and worship Him so they can experience life’s hardships not with regret, but with great hope. Despite the years of service among these peoples, sometimes I felt like I was not doing enough. I felt like something was missing.
trainers, students, and future disciples in your prayers. I’m looking forward to what God has in store for everyone — especially in the countries that His presence will soon touch.
-JS
2 703-652-iBAM (4226)
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator