Missions Update

In early February 2026, I had the privilege of visiting Fellowship International missionary Timothy's field for nine days. "Timothy" has served faithfully for decades and has invested deeply in the training and encouragement of many leaders. He began his ministry at Carey Baptist Church, where the lasting fruit of William Carey's gospel labour remains evident to this day. From teaching at the seminary to pastoring at the church, to now equipping and encouraging leaders for the plentiful harvest, Timothy's ministry reflects a long and faithful commitment to strengthening the local church.

While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet many leaders from different villages. Timothy is primarily invested in four key leaders who serve as zone leaders, and under each of them is a growing network of pastors and churches. I also had the privilege of serving as the keynote speaker for their annual retreat, where each zone leader brought around 10 to 15 leaders from his network. In total, more than 52 leaders attended, each representing one house church. With each house church consisting of roughly 20 to 30 members, the network represents well over 1,200 believers. To witness the fruit of one faithful man multiplied into so many churches and believers was both humbling and deeply encouraging.

One of the zone leaders — named "A" — shared with me his experience of persecution in his village from both Hindu and Muslim neighbours. He lost friends. He lost his job. He lost many of the ordinary comforts we might easily take for granted. Yet he remained fervent and faithful. He told me, "This is what it means to be a Christian in my village, and my wife and I are committed to seeing the gospel shared here and more people come to saving grace." Today, that man's church continues to gather in his home, proclaiming the gospel week by week, baptizing new believers in his backyard, and faithfully practising the ordinances as Scripture commands. It was a glorious work to witness.

During my time there, I was reminded of the enduring witness of Carey Baptist Church. Established in the early 1800s through the labours of William Carey, it still stands as a testimony to God's faithfulness. For over 200 years, its pulpit has proclaimed God's Word week by week, new believers have been baptized, and the Lord's Supper has been faithfully observed. Through it all, this local church has continued in the worthy work of the gospel. From the beginning of Carey's church-planting work, the goal was not to build something temporary but to plant a healthy local church that would endure and bear lasting fruit for generations to come. That vision continues today as the church gathers believers, trains seminary students, and sends workers to the villages.

I am deeply grateful for my visit to Timothy's ministry. Seeing Timothy in action was another testimony to God's faithfulness in missions. Personally, this trip was a tremendous encouragement and added much value to me. Spending time at Carey Baptist Church and Serampore College was a powerful reminder that God works through the local church. It was remarkable to see that the same vision which gripped William Carey's heart continues to shape ministry today through faithful preaching, theological training, church planting, and sending out qualified workers for missions.

May God continue to raise up qualified workers for the plentiful harvest. And may he grip our hearts with what gripped that missionary's heart long ago — that we would expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.

To God Alone be the Glory Forever.

"Maaqtusiis" is the Nuu-chah-nulth name for one of the principal villages of the Ahousaht First Nation on Flores Island, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC. In their language, the name reflects a deep, enduring connection to the land, which is a reminder that places are not merely locations but stories of people, history, and belonging.

It is in this place, where the hope of the gospel and Christ-centred reconciliation are so greatly needed, that Fellowship International missionaries Jacob and Rachel Hwang have been faithfully serving since 2016. Their journey began as itinerant missionaries in Port Alberni, BC, which is about three hours away from Ahousaht Island. Then, in God's providence, a woman from an Ahousaht family invited them to move into her home in 2018. Since then, the Lord has blessed them with four more children, and they now raise their six children on the island — a family living out the gospel in both word and deed.

Through their ministry, God has been pleased to bring gospel transformation to lives within the Ahousaht community. In partnership with Fellowship Pacific, and through much prayer and spiritual battle, a new church — Maaqtusiis Community Church — was born in 2024. It stands as a testimony to Christ's promise: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18).

When I had the privilege of preaching the Word there, I was deeply moved — not only by Jacob and Rachel's faithful labour but by the evidence of God's work. In this small but growing congregation, people are gathering to pray, to study the Word, and to learn to obey the Word as disciples of Jesus. From this church, three young people are now preparing to attend Northwest Baptist College & Seminary in Fall 2026, a visible sign that God is raising up the next generation of leaders for His glory.

As God invited us to co-labour for the gospel, would you prayerfully consider partnering with what God is doing through Jacob and Rachel Hwang in their missionary efforts among the Ahousaht First Nation?

For his glory!

Jonathan Edwards, in his book Religious Affections, described revival as a sovereign work of God and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit marked by deep repentance, earnest prayer, devotion to the Word, gospel proclamation, and obedience to Christ's commands.

One Sunday in Indonesia, as I joined a local church to bring the Word, I found myself weeping and grieving over my own unrepented sin. In the moment of repentance, I experienced a renewal of heart unlike anything I had experienced in the past — a renewal that led me to genuine worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, proclaiming His goodness as I sang.

Perhaps what I experienced during worship was just a foretaste of what is yet to come: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Indonesia.

Edwin and Helmi Karwur, Fellowship International missionaries to Indonesia, have been leading a team of nine national partners who are faithfully obeying Christ's commands in reaching the unreached people groups. They go into villages, share the gospel, baptize new believers, and make disciples. For them, this is not a program. It is the mission of God being lived out through obedience to the Word. As I listened to the reports from Edwin and his national team, I became convinced that what I witnessed in Indonesia reflects the very marks of revival Jonathan Edwards described.

As we continue to pray and wait patiently for God to bring revival to this country of many islands, I invite you to join me in prayer — praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Indonesia, that she would experience a spiritual awakening for His glory.

Until All Have Heard.

Ed and I flew into Poland and were met by Pierre, who took us to a camp that churches use for retreats — a facility that had been repurposed to house Ukrainian refugees. There were at least 20 rooms for families. They housed refugees there for several months, and all have since moved on to their own homes or returned to Ukraine. Some of our finances were used to help these families as they built a new life.

Pierre also showed us two apartments that we still rent for refugees, and took us to a church in Łódź with whom they partnered by purchasing an apartment building — it was cheaper to buy than to continue renting individual units. They are now planning to sell the building, return the church's portion, and reinvest the proceeds into ministry in Ukraine. This church is located in the poorest part of Warsaw.

We then travelled by train to Wrocław, where we met with Ben and Krista Taylor. They hosted us for meals and showed us the area, including a neighbourhood where Ben is making inroads through door-to-door ministry. Ben also connected us with Karol, the pastor of the church he attends. Karol was trained in Australia and planted an evangelistic church two years ago that has now grown to over 70 people. They are currently looking to move into a permanent facility.

Ben Taylor then introduced us to Jacek, a paramedic by day and a relief worker and chaplain on weekends — entirely on his own initiative and his own dime. Every two months, Jacek travels to the eastern war zone of Ukraine with care packages of food, clothing, and other supplies for soldiers. He has also established a day centre behind the front lines for women and children suffering from the mental and emotional impact of loss and displacement.

We then flew to Seville, Spain, where we met and stayed with Ricardo and Ingrid Castro. Together with other missionaries to Spain, they have formed the "1700 Coalition" — named for the 17 provinces of Spain and their goal of planting 100 evangelistic discipleship groups in each province. They offered to host any teams we wish to send for their "In the Harvest" prayer and evangelism walks, which take place at specific times throughout the year.

This trip was a profound reminder that God is using different people to do incredible work all over the world. Church planting can take a traditional form — hiring a church planter to enter an area and start a congregation — or a non-traditional form, where people build discipleship groups through natural relationships, continually training and developing others to reproduce disciples. These groups may become churches, or they may continue as multiplying groups that keep growing without a formal structure.

I was also reminded that our missionaries on the field are facing significant challenges that can take them out of ministry: loneliness, bitterness, lack of funding, overwhelming obstacles, insufficient resources, and limited opportunities for ongoing learning and development. I was grateful to be able to show genuine care for our missionaries and encourage them in their work.

Hearing how the impact of Ken Jolley's ministry in Venezuela is now reaching unreached peoples in Spain was a remarkable encouragement — a testimony to the full-circle fruit of faithful gospel labour. I came away with a clearer sense of how to serve our missionaries better and help develop our mission fields with greater intentionality.

Until All Have Heard.