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Celebrating Dr. Mary Wilder NewsFeaturesPress Releases

Celebrating Dr. Mary Wilder

The Christian Medical & Dental Association honored Dr. Mary Wilder with their 2025 Servant of Christ Award! In addition to her years as a neurosurgeon and seminary professor, Dr. Wilder served with WorldVenture (CBI) at Shikarpur Christian Hospital in Pakistan for two decades, providing life-saving care among unreached people and least-reached communities. That compassion was driven by her strong faith in Jesus. And her impact was felt far and wide, including on WorldVenture president, Dr. Jeff Denlinger, and vice president of Global Initiatives, Dr. Marty Shaw. "Dr. Mary is a hero of faith to many, many CBFMS-CBI-WV alumni and partners,…
May 14, 2025
We Remember – February 23 Ukraine

We Remember – February 23

"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." Matthew 4:16 (NLT). At the time of Jesus’ birth and throughout His ministry, Rome held Jesus’ homeland - the land of Israel - in the shadow of death. Every teaching our Lord gave, every act of compassion He modeled, and every miracle He performed - all happened under the tyranny of Rome. But even the most powerful empire the world had ever known could not stop the Kingdom from coming. Three years…
February 23, 2025
Incarnation – Fathom The Unfathomable Uncategorized

Incarnation – Fathom The Unfathomable

Hope was heard in a baby's cry when the Creator entered His creation. Of all the mysterious activities of God, the incarnation of Jesus, when the second Person of the Trinity took on flesh and bone to live among us as one of us, is one of the greatest surprises ever foretold. That the Messiah would one day rescue Israel was a dimly lit beacon of hope guiding the people of God through many dark days. But, that God Himself would be born a baby to a virgin, and the Messiah would die as a sacrifice for sin—our sin?! Unfathomable!…
December 12, 2024
Faithfully Walking Forward: The Story of the Brown Family FeaturesBBrowns

Faithfully Walking Forward: The Story of the Brown Family

If you’d like to hear more of the Brown’s story in their own words, join us for a special LIVE STREAMING event on Thursday, February 24th at 7pm (Central Time). Click here to learn more! If you’ve ever had the world turned upside-down on you and wondered “how do I faithfully follow God and walk forward now?” this story is for you. This is the story of the Brown family – Bobby, Brianna, Killian, Titus, Leo and Layla – and how God brings beauty from ashes. Even before they said “I DO” at their wedding, the idea of serving together…
February 8, 2022
What Are My Next Steps In Following Jesus? Features

What Are My Next Steps In Following Jesus?

Answering the question "what are my next steps in following Jesus" is unique to every individual follower of Jesus. But there are specific steps you can take. The famous command from Jesus about what it means to become his disciples offers three categories of steps that we should look to as we answer the question. The New Living Translation render's Jesus words in Matthew 16:24 this way: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me." Other translations follow similar phrase patterns. Another way to describe…
April 4, 2021
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Open Letter From Jeff Denlinger To The WorldVenture Family Regarding COVID-19 NewsPress Releases

Open Letter From Jeff Denlinger To The WorldVenture Family Regarding COVID-19

To The Extended WorldVenture Family, All of us are acutely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In the midst of the challenges to adapt to the new realities in which we find ourselves, I find great peace in the anchoring truth that God alone is sovereign. He always has been, he always will be, and he is sovereign today. The virus is not sovereign though it covers nearly the whole earth; nor is the accompanying fear of the virus sovereign; there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. It is to him we turn regardless of our circumstances. It is because of…
March 18, 2020
News

Coronavirus Can’t Stop The Great Commission

The following is from an email sent recently to our partners: Well, 2020 has been quite unexpected, hasn't it?  COVID-19, the "Coronavirus," is impacting and disrupting our lives and plans, locally and globally.  It's good at these times to remember that God is not disrupted; He is sovereign and even this will be worked out for His glory and our good.  All praise to Him! With hundreds of WorldVenture workers throughout Asia and across the world, we've been monitoring the situation for several weeks.  You'll be pleased to know that we have leaders and protocols in place to provide information…
March 13, 2020
Has God Called You To Be A Missionary? M

Has God Called You To Be A Missionary?

Every follower of Jesus is called to make disciples.  A better translation of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, normally rendered "Go and make disciples...," is probably:  "In your goings, make disciples..."  But like the apostles, some disciples are called to a "greater going," one that involves leaving your home, your people, your way of life, and becoming one with others for the sake of taking the good news to them.  For hundreds of years, Christians have used the term "Missionary" to describe that type of person, that type of calling.  Is that you? If that's something you'd like to…
January 1, 2020
Broken Before Him Features

Broken Before Him

Photo image Credit: WT (picture from Bolivia) by Ed Eby Ps. 51:17 “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Matthew 5:2 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Who are the poor in spirit? These are people, like the psalmist, who realize that they’re messed up and need God’s mercy and grace. They’re people who rely on God for every decision and perhaps even for their daily bread. Our culture rewards independent, confident, self-sufficient people who have all the answers to their problems.…
October 2, 2019
How Oral Storytelling Brought Me Deeper into Scripture Features

How Oral Storytelling Brought Me Deeper into Scripture

About a year ago, I was off to Orlando, Florida to a Bible Story workshop called “Simply the Story.” I wanted to know how I could share God’s Word effectively in a culture that prefers oral modes of communicating. I was growing discouraged at a lack of connection between my style of teaching (Western, literate) and my community’s style of learning (African, oral). In other words, I wanted to know how to teach people to understand the Bible even when they aren’t comfortable reading the Bible.
September 28, 2019
How Peter in Africa Came to Know the Lord Features

How Peter in Africa Came to Know the Lord

by Nikole Hahn “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” – Psalm 95:1-2  Jan’et and Lloyd Chinn met Peter in 2010 when they returned to Ghana after their first Home Assignment. The mission house and leadership center were under construction. Peter approached the Chinn’s about a job. “We hired him to maintain the property, to use his machete to keep things from growing too tall. His job was to make sure the things that…
September 19, 2019
Restoration in Madagascar Features

Restoration in Madagascar

An Interview with Jamie Shattenberg of Eden Projects by Nikole Hahn Deforestation is a constant threat to the environment and the people living in it. The world loses about 8.3 million hectares per year of forest, often spurred by increasing poverty in developing countries like Madagascar. In 2015, we shared how Eden Projects doesn’t just replant the forests, but also helps Malagasy families combat poverty. Today, stories of hope continue and the forest is growing! Eden Reforestation Projects is an organization that started in Ethiopia in 2004. Dr. Stephen Fitch understood the “third world culture” and the cycle of poverty.…
September 5, 2019
The Gift of Business Features

The Gift of Business

By Bruce Swanson While in Kenya in June 2014, we were reminded of some very important truths. One of these reminders came during a seminar on starting a business we led the first Sunday we were there. These seminars were offered to the members of a church we partner with who are in or interested in business. About forty-five men and women joined us for the seminar. As we began to make our way through the curriculum, we were impressed by the interaction of the participants. They had many great ideas and thoughts and were quickly able to apply the curriculum's principles to their business.  One particular…
August 30, 2019
What You Should Know Before Your Short-Term Trip Features

What You Should Know Before Your Short-Term Trip

By Emily Roth So you’re preparing to go on a short-term mission. Maybe you’re visiting missionaries that you support. Maybe you’re going with a team from a church. Short-term missions can have many different goals and plans. Our WorldVenture colleagues host short-term mission teams every year in locations around the world. As you are packing your toiletries and checking the dress code, there are certain pieces of advice that will help you prepare for your trip. Five of our colleagues have shared from their years of experience what you need to know before you go. POLANDLinda Thomas: “I'd advise people…
August 21, 2019
“I Hold My OWN Hand!” Features

“I Hold My OWN Hand!”

By Grace Sandeno There she stood in the parking lot—my remarkably stubborn oldest child who was, indeed, holding her own hand. She did not want to hold my hand because she was three, independent and tired of getting dragged around where I wanted to go. What is more remarkable is that my youngest child did exactly the same thing when she was three. I have two adopted children sandwiched between two biological children. My adopted children have a great genetic benefit in that they are not the result of cross-breeding between a German and a Norwegian, creating what may be…
August 13, 2019
Missions in Reverse Features

Missions in Reverse

In Poland, many people share the common dream of going to the United States someday. WorldVenture colleagues Bruce and Linda Thomas first moved to Poland in 2010, and right away they began to meet locals who wanted to see America.
August 9, 2019
Prayer Around The World Features

Prayer Around The World

By WT "The reality is, my prayers don't change God.  But, I am convinced prayer changes me.  Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself." - Lysa TerKeurst A pastor at one of the churches I attended believed that an effective and healthy church prays on its knees. When he helped design the new building, the pastor put in kneelers. I remember using them a few times. They seemed like a thing for special occasions. It created a full-body posture and atmosphere for prayer. Eventually, that church moved again and…
August 8, 2019
How to Ask The Right Questions Features

How to Ask The Right Questions

...And other information to ponder as you seek God's direction in ministry and for the right missionary organization to partner with. Choosing a mission agency can be a difficult task to navigate. Not only are you looking for a group with the same beliefs and ideology as you, but you also need to be with an organization that meets your needs practically and encourages you to follow the call that God has put on your life. So how do you choose? Below are some helpful tips for choosing the mission agency that is right for you. From team chemistry to…
July 27, 2019
RAY BUKER, JR., PASSIONATE CHAMPION FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS, ENTERS GLORY News

RAY BUKER, JR., PASSIONATE CHAMPION FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS, ENTERS GLORY

(Denver, CO) - WorldVenture announces the bittersweet news that Ray Buker, Jr., missionary to South Asia and well-known leader with WorldVenture, died Friday morning, July 5, 2019. He was 93. Buker was a celebrated, well-loved leader in WorldVenture and beyond.  He was passionate about global missions and recruited workers with the same passion.  More importantly, Buker modeled the WorldVenture vision of being compelled by the love of God. “The joy of the Lord was always on Ray’s face whenever he greeted people” reminisced Dennis Vogan, Vice President of Organizational Solutions for WorldVenture.  Buker was known for his joy, his encouragement, and his love.   …
July 11, 2019
WorldVenture Introduces New Global Initiatives Leader News

WorldVenture Introduces New Global Initiatives Leader

As part of a global strategy to increase gospel impact among unreached people groups (UPG’s), WorldVenture is excited to announce that a new role coordinating Global Muslim Initiatives has been filled.  This position will provide training, resourcing, and strategy development to WorldVenture workers engaged in ministry among Muslim unreached people groups (MUPG’s).  The name of the individual overseeing this important work has been redacted for security purposes. “Every Muslim should have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus,” shared.  “It’s hard to fathom that in today’s modern, globalized age, there remain who have not been given that opportunity.” With a…
July 10, 2019
The Best Way to Learn a Language? Features

The Best Way to Learn a Language?

By Emily Roth Before I moved to Spain, I described my level of Spanish as enough to be a good tourist. I could order food from a menu and ask where to find a bathroom. Many friends encouraged me that full immersion in Spanish would be the best way to master the language quickly. They recommended reading the Bible in Spanish and advised me to avoid making friends who speak English. At the time, I agreed with them. Then I arrived in Spain and met other international workers who chose to attend English church services. I couldn’t understand it. Didn’t…
July 9, 2019
How Perceptions are Changing in Ngohé Features

How Perceptions are Changing in Ngohé

By Laura Newkirk Twelve ladies from the village of Ngohé just graduated from Formation Lois. These women are courageous, formidable, determined, and amazing! Some ladies came by horse cart and others walked far distances in the hot sand. None of them could read, but most of them worked very hard to memorize verses each week. They had their children or husbands help them. A’s husband got so frustrated that he told her she was too hard to teach. She stayed up at night and worked until she got it and memorized every verse assigned! At the graduation, she and four…
June 24, 2019
The Impact of a Gospel Rock Features

The Impact of a Gospel Rock

By Nikole Hahn In 2015, Megan Murphy started “The Kindness Rock Project.” She left a rock on the beach of Cape Cod with the words “You’ve Got This” painted on it. Facebook rock painting groups began where communities did a grown-up Easter egg-like hunt for hand-painted rocks, leaving pictures with hints on Facebook groups so a family or person could find it and report it to the group. Over the past year or two, I’ve participated in this trend as a form of community outreach for online connections. Last week, my prayers yielded phenomenal results. Kairi and her mom were…
June 11, 2019
Gideon-Style Missions Features

Gideon-Style Missions

By Nikole Hahn "Come back when you have a 4-year degree from a Bible school or seminary," Four to five mission agencies said in the 1990s to Rob and Lisa Atkins (currently in Bolivia). While students are the focus of most mission's mobilization, making up a robust 1% of the world's demographic (Pipeline: Engaging the Church in Missionary Mobilization; pg. 14), older missionaries (Over-Forty) encounter pushback from friends and relatives in a culture where people are expected to save for a comfortable retirement. "Occasionally, we hear subtle comments from people that our age concerns them. I also have issues with…
June 4, 2019
How to Discover Contentment Features

How to Discover Contentment

By Chelsi Johnson “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who…
May 10, 2019
Oh Sunday’s Comin’ Features

Oh Sunday’s Comin’

By Patrick LaPoint Cold, dark, bound by linen Enclosed in a borrowed cave, body lay still, dead. Sorrow, guilt, despair, and fear lovers, followers, family, hearts destroyed. But Sunday's Comin' Jubilation, evil vindication, demonic triumph Every demon, devil, and evil spirit rejoicing. Sadducees, Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Law teachers Herod, Barrabas, satisfied by a lawbreakers death. But Sunday's Comin' Roman soldiers stand watch and keep warm by the fire, All stand watch to make sure the man stays dead. Windows shut, doors locked, alert and afraid, upper room filled, crowded with tensions and questions. But Sunday's Comin' Wasn't he the…
April 20, 2019
Salt of the Earth in March Madness Features

Salt of the Earth in March Madness

By Bruce Swanson Jesus commanded us to be “the salt of the earth.”  How are we to be salt in our professions?  Here is a good example from March Madness, the 2019 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Auburn made it to the Final Four and was oh so close to winning their semi-final game against Virginia. With seven seconds to go and Auburn leading by two points, the refs missed a clear double dribble by Virginia. Calling the infraction would have given the ball to Auburn and all but guaranteed their victory and moving on to the championship game. But, the…
April 17, 2019
Why Random Acts of Kindness Aren’t Enough Features

Why Random Acts of Kindness Aren’t Enough

by Grace Sandeno The US is big enough to have many flavors to its culture.  I grew up in the northeast where one of the primary characteristics was bluntness. In the mid-west, people are “nice.” In the south, people are known for their hospitality. I’ve lived in Colorado for almost 30 years, so it’s home.  We pride ourselves on our independence here, but we also like to think of ourselves in another way – we are “good” people. That often comes with no religious connotation as we are a largely secularized society; nonetheless, we perceive ourselves as “good” by whatever…
March 29, 2019
Safely Caring For Your Missionary Features

Safely Caring For Your Missionary

By Ed Eby Do you support a missionary financially? That’s terrific! Would you like to know how to be a more active support for them? Your missionary is going through a real rough period right now. How do I know? I used to be that guy. I raised my children in a different culture, and I was always on guard for their safety. I always appreciated the financial backing of my supporters, and I coveted their prayers. But the thing that meant the most to me was when somebody reached out to me with a phone call, letter, or email.…
March 27, 2019
Loving Your Neighbor Through Cancer Features

Loving Your Neighbor Through Cancer

By Emily Roth Until last September, international workers Jon and Kathy Haley had over-the-fence friendships with their neighbors in a suburb of Barcelona. They greeted each other when they happened to be out on their back porches at the same time, and the neighbors would keep watch over their house when Jon and Kathy left on extended trips. Then during one of their trips out of town, their neighbor Eva* texted Kathy from the hospital. Eva had suffered from back pain for 15 years. Four years ago, her doctor diagnosed her with Multiple Sclerosis and prescribed medication to treat it…
March 25, 2019
Bringing Relief to Beira! News

Bringing Relief to Beira!

Make your DONATION right now and help the people of Beira, Mozambique! Cyclone Idai is being called the 'worst humanitarian crisis in Mozambique's history.' We need to raise funding to help support the communities that were affected by this disaster. And some of our very own international workers are doing ministry right in the heart of Beira! The situation on the ground in Beira, Mozambique is desperate. 35 kilometers (almost 22 miles) of the road into Beira are flooded, thousands of people are stranded, there is no electricity, clean water is extremely limited, and additional flooding in Zimbabwe puts Beira…
March 21, 2019
10 Tips for Keeping Your Computer Safe Features

10 Tips for Keeping Your Computer Safe

By Ed Eby For nearly twenty years, I was the Network Engineer for the USPS Engineering Center in Merrifield VA. One of my primary jobs was to be a White Hat Hacker for the Engineering Center. A letter signed by the Vice President of Engineering gave me the legal right to break into any machine on the engineering network. It was my job to play the bad guy. If I was able to break in, I would then notify the owner of the machine and help him to fix the problem. This would often result in upset and embarrassed engineers,…
February 25, 2019
3 Ways to Keep Your Missionary Secure Features

3 Ways to Keep Your Missionary Secure

(Photo at a church of David and Kristen Caucutt ) A Brief Guide for Partner Churches and Individuals By Ed Eby One day we had a visiting missionary come to our headquarters to share what God was doing in his field. He was from a closed country where the Gospel was not welcomed. He showed us a picture of a gathering of believers. Because of security concerns, he had all the people standing with their back toward the camera. But their name plaques were all sitting on the tables in full view of the camera. Oops. It wasn’t obvious to the…
February 23, 2019
The Impact of Jim Gould’s Death Features

The Impact of Jim Gould’s Death

By Linnea Boese Often, when things happen in one’s youth or childhood, they seem insignificant. What is thrilling is living long enough to be able to look back and understand their real impact. In 1964, during my family’s home assignment, when I was 11 years old, I had my first “call” to missions in response to a South American missionary’s message in Pontiac, Michigan. My parents had been missionaries, so I understood that God had a passion for reaching those who have not yet heard the Good News. We had gone through a traumatic evacuation from the Congo after turmoil…
February 22, 2019
Trusting God or Trusting Technology? Features

Trusting God or Trusting Technology?

by Ed Eby Do you trust God or do you trust technology to keep you safe?   What If What if that VPN, SSL, HTTPS, or encrypted message could be hacked? What if anybody could read your texts or posts? What if you could no longer trust technology to keep you secure? Would you still be okay, or does this thought cause you to panic? As a technologist, I’m often asked the question: “Is this thing (software, service, protocol, etc.) secure?” The average person tends to think in binary terms—either a thing is secure or it’s not. The reality is that security…
February 21, 2019
Going on Mission, Into Exile, and Back Features

Going on Mission, Into Exile, and Back

By Emily Roth What happens when the country God calls you to serve rejects you? After six months of waiting, Beth Horn received notice that her visa to Austria was denied. Despite this news, she held onto faith that God would open the closed doors. She had been reading Jeremiah 42 just the week before. The Israelites remaining after the Babylonian invasion asked the prophet Jeremiah to seek guidance from God. They were tempted to give up the Promised Land and relocate to Egypt, where they expected to find security and prosperity. Instead, Jeremiah delivered this message: “Do not fear…
February 7, 2019
How Francis Schaeffer Inspired 360 Missions Features

How Francis Schaeffer Inspired 360 Missions

By Bruce Swanson Forty-five years ago, Francis Schaeffer challenged all of us to do 360 Missions. “There is no dichotomy in the Bible between the intellectual and cultural on the one hand and the spiritual on the other. But often there has been a strong…tendency to divide man into two parts – his spiritual nature and everything else. We must take that conception like a piece of baked clay, break it in our hands and throw it away... God made the whole man; the whole man is redeemed in Christ, and after we are Christians the lordship of Christ covers…
February 4, 2019
Amazing God Features

Amazing God

By Emily Roth “You’re amazing,” she said. Immediately, I recoiled inside. We had been talking about my work in Spain, and this was her response. At first, I didn’t know how to explain why her compliment made me uncomfortable. Such compliments encourage self-pride, that much I knew, but it wasn’t until the next day that I realized the deeper truth. More than a temptation to pride, such compliments invite me to take credit for what God has done. It puts me in His place, steals from His glory, and ascribes it to me. This is exactly the sin that so many of the…
December 28, 2018
2018 End of Year Giving and Office Hours News

2018 End of Year Giving and Office Hours

Dear Partners, Thank you for your faithful support. God uses your prayers, encouragement, and financial gifts to take the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world! Our WorldVenture offices will be closed from 11:30 AM Mountain Standard Time (MST) on Friday December 28, 2018 through January 1, 2019 in observance of the New Year holiday. Our offices will reopen at 8:00am (MST) on January 2, 2019. During that time, our online giving platform, the "Partner Community," will be available to receive any last-minute year-end financial gifts at give.worldventure.com. If you would like personal assistance with your 2018 year-end giving,…
December 12, 2018
The Vendors of La Cancha Features

The Vendors of La Cancha

By Robert Atkins  The mom is what is called a cholita here. They are indigenous women, Aymara or Quechua. The term was originally a derogatory one--women of mixed blood; usually half Spanish or other white race. Even as little as ten years ago, they were not allowed to do many things like riding public transportation. They can be recognized by their long, twin braids and their hats. Their hats tell where they are from if you know the “code” (which we do not). The more typical bowler hats you often see in pictures are typical of La Paz, and you…
December 4, 2018
Ireland: Story of an Irish Couple Features

Ireland: Story of an Irish Couple

By WT The Emerald Island—a place where the history is rich and reminders of it are everywhere. You can easily find ancient stone artifacts lying in someone’s field or moved a few feet to be used as an addition to someone’s stone fence. This is where the people are incredibly warm and friendly but still enjoy privacy, where little white dots of sheep are spotted on green mountains and hills or through open stretches of bog. The churches in Ireland are a bit of a complicated puzzle with a thorny history. The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland…
December 3, 2018
Lessons Learned News

Lessons Learned

By Grace Sandeno The death of U.S. missionary, John Allen Chau, on North Sentinel Island has provoked a firestorm of criticism over his, or anyone’s, attempts to make contact with people groups that reject outside contact. Much of the criticism has focused on the potential health impact of introducing new diseases to an isolated people group with no previous exposure and thus no immunity. While a new report reveals that Chau was concerned about this specific matter and spent years in training, preparation and prevention (1), the larger issue is critically important; examples of significant de-population due to introduced disease…
December 1, 2018
Aha Moments in Ministry Features

Aha Moments in Ministry

by Grace Sandeno Years ago, I took a semester off from college and traveled to Burkina Faso (West Africa for those of you who aren’t geography buffs). It was an “aha moment.” Actually more of an “aha four months.” I was planning to be a doctor and went to work in a medical clinic to see what it was like. It was amazing--everything I hoped for and so much more! There were snakes, scorpions, wild dogs and millipedes the size of a hot dog. I saw malaria, hepatitis, river blindness, mental illness, birth, and death. We had no doctor, but…
November 15, 2018
How Busyness Consumed My Life Features

How Busyness Consumed My Life

By Rachel from Africa In America, we drill busyness into our heads from a young age. It isn’t enough just to go to school and study. We need to be involved in sports, music, and theater. On top of that, some of us had a job in high school. And it isn’t just a stage of life, it is the start of a lifestyle. We continued by always being busy, not resting. Who needs sleep when you can just drink coffee that at some point doesn’t affect our bodies anymore? We seek other ways to keep us going and turn…
November 13, 2018
Wearing God’s Name Features

Wearing God’s Name

By Doug Hazen I love the Shema.  It’s the blessing that Moses commanded the Levites to speak over the people of Israel.  And because it is SO personal, it is the primary blessing I use to bless people. “The Lord bless you     and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you     and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you     and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 The personal nature of God blessing or increasing me and keeping or protecting me is incredible.  And the fact that he would make his face to shine on me recalls a Bible school professor who described…
November 10, 2018
Two Pictures Features

Two Pictures

By WT in Jordan I want to tell you two stories by painting two pictures in your mind. The first might not catch your attention, but continue to read, the second will. Imagine a living room. We are sitting around a coffee table that is filled to the edges with food and I have a cup of tea in my hand. I sit with my friend whom I am staying with as well as a husband and wife who, after several years of marriage and five children, clearly still adore one another. We talk about their children, how each of…
November 8, 2018
Our Greatest Prayer Motivators Features

Our Greatest Prayer Motivators

By Doug Hazen  My prayer mentor says there are two things that motivate prayer: crisis and vision. Both are packaged in the person of Jesus through the cross and the resurrection and are our greatest prayer motivators since they affected both earth and heaven. Bigger than the awful storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis we have been seeing in past days, the cross was the convergence of unparalleled evil allowed, and even approved, by God, the Father. Isaiah says it pleased him! I’ve sensed the truth of this profound sacrifice before. Hopefully, it brought most of us to a saving knowledge of…
October 6, 2018
Dana Stucky: A Life of Passion and Impact to the End News

Dana Stucky: A Life of Passion and Impact to the End

Financial contributions may be made in Dana’s honor to the Institute of Albanian and Protestant Studies. Please visit www.worldventure.com/dana and select designation: “Dana Stucky Memorial Fund” to make your gift. (Denver, CO) – Earlier this week, WorldVenture announced the bittersweet news that Dana Stucky died at 10:05am (PDT) on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at the age of 66. “God commands us to ‘rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn,’” WorldVenture President, Jeff Denlinger, said. “Dana’s life and commitment to God and to others lead us to great rejoicing, even as we mourn deeply with her family. But our mourning is immersed in the hope of the…
September 19, 2018
Dana Stucky: A Lasting Impact Features

Dana Stucky: A Lasting Impact

By Jim Thorp  Americas Ministries Director As a person judges seasons of life, it might be said by some that it was a shame Dana did not make it to retirement, because after all the years of ministry effort, she should have been able to enjoy some rest on this earth for her and Larry to do some “fun” things. There are a few problems with this. First, Dana believed what she was doing all these years was fun. Secondly, she was never going to stop doing what she had been doing for so many years of active ministry. Then…
September 17, 2018
How to Praise God Features

How to Praise God

A Prayer Challenge by Doug Hazen They say that the names of God are a good basis for worship prayers. I think I know why. Let’s compare the one person I love and admire more than any other… my wife. Her names are Ruth Emeline. But her qualities especially describe her and are even more meaningful. She is quiet but determined. She is competitive. She is a servant. She is a provider. She is a mother and grandmother. She loves. She laughs. She weeps. There are many other qualities all of which describe this woman I deeply love. But, her…
September 13, 2018
How God Loves the Venezuelan People News

How God Loves the Venezuelan People

Recently, Venezuela made headlines again—headlines such as, “Venezuela devalues currency and raises minimum wage by 3,000% (The Guardian, August 20, 2018),” and headlines that stretch as far back as March, 2018 from The Washington Post called, “The Crisis Next Door.” Even as IMB workers say, “If you stay, you die,” and our workers and ministry partners experience hardship, God loves the Venezuelan people. When Jesus served on earth, the Jewish people expected a king who would overthrow the political oppression of the time. Jesus didn’t solve poverty. He didn’t take away the political oppression. “Jesus' willingness to suffer and die…
September 3, 2018
How to Build Resiliency Reviews

How to Build Resiliency

By Jerry (Staff) It’s no surprise that the character trait of resiliency and its development in ourselves, our families and our teams is critical to expanding God’s kingdom. I recently came across a TED talk by Jane McGonigal that began with the 5 top regrets that hospice workers heard from those literally on their deathbeds. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I wish I had let myself be happier. I wish I had the courage to express my true self. I wish I’d lived a life true to my…
August 30, 2018
How Hurricane Harvey Brought Unity Features

How Hurricane Harvey Brought Unity

According to CNN, Hurricane Harvey broke rainfall records in 2017, and by Sunday, August 27 of that year, experts said, 27 trillion gallons of rain fell over Texas before it downgraded to a Tropical Storm. One-third of Houston flooded causing 8 million cubic yards of garbage. The storm ravaged 100,000 homes, causing 30,000 people to seek emergency shelter. Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, and we reflect on God’s redemptive power through our workers and church partners. Terri Olson from Family Bible Church in Kingman, Arizona said, “Even though it has been almost one year, I still can't…
August 25, 2018
The Practice of Waiting Features

The Practice of Waiting

by Emily Roth When I moved to Spain last January, my roommate had an orchid plant on the dining table. Its flowers shriveled and died. We wondered if it would bloom again or if the whole plant would go soon. I don’t have much experience caring for plants, especially nothing as exotic as an orchid. So we gave the orchid water, moved it in front of the window, and hoped for the best. Jesus told his disciples, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can…
August 8, 2018
Remembering the Pals… by sending others in their place… FeaturesNews

Remembering the Pals… by sending others in their place…

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth... Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city" (from Hebrews 11:13, 16 ESV). Two years ago today, at about 11:30am (MDT) on a well-traveled stretch of Interstate 80 in Nebraska, Jamison, Kathryne, Ezra, Violet, and Calvin Pals were killed when a distracted truck-driver crashed into their mini-van. On their way to train at WorldVenture Headquarters for an anticipated…
July 31, 2018
Public Health Initiatives to be led by industry veteran, Grace Sandeno NewsPress Releases

Public Health Initiatives to be led by industry veteran, Grace Sandeno

WorldVenture is pleased to announce that Public Health Initiatives will be led by Grace Sandeno. Sandeno shares WorldVenture's passion for the unreached and underserved. But she also brings more than 30 years of experience in the industry at state and local levels that will benefit communities worldwide. "We're excited to have Grace lead us," remarked Bruce Swanson, WorldVenture's Director of 360 Initiatives. "Unmet health needs are present in every city, town, and village in the 65 countries where WorldVenture works. Strategic initiatives to provide access to public health makes sustainable changes that result in long-term benefit to individuals and communities.…
July 25, 2018
God’s Work to ‘Ekballo’ Jonah Features

God’s Work to ‘Ekballo’ Jonah

 Insights From the Worst Missionary Ever Whether you grew up in the church or not, you’ve heard the story of Jonah. God calls this prophet to arise and go proclaim divine judgment on the people of Nineveh. Jonah arises alright! But, demonstrating a remarkable misunderstanding of omnipresence, Jonah purposes instead to “flee from the presence of the Lord!” However, Jonah’s little cruise in the opposite direction gets interrupted by the storm of the century. Evidently, his travel agent didn’t know what Jonah himself told the terrified sailors: “I fear the LORD…who made the sea!” One might fault Jonah for not taking…
July 20, 2018
Samuel Gill: A Life Celebrated News

Samuel Gill: A Life Celebrated

Samuel Gill was the kind of person that filled a space with life, love, and enthusiasm. His unexpected passing in Brazil on Saturday, June 23, 2018, left a void in the world. His love of the Lord infused every life he touched. Even as Samuel Gill retired in 2017 from WorldVenture, he wasn’t done serving the Lord. While living in Prescott Valley, Arizona, Samuel began a new career in Life Coaching. He enthusiastically embraced his goal of helping others tell their story. On his website, “Your Next Step Ministries,” Samuel wrote this: “Personally I enjoy speaking to men and women…
July 3, 2018
Dr. Jim Bull
WorldVenture Hires New Advancement Vice President! NewsPress Releases

WorldVenture Hires New Advancement Vice President!

Signaling a new strategy for advancement, church partnerships, missionary recruiting, and donor development, WorldVenture president, Dr. Jeff Denlinger, announced the hiring of Dr. James V. Bull to the role of Vice President, Advancement. Dr. Bull starts July 1, 2018. “We are convinced that we must chart a new organizational direction,” Denlinger told the WorldVenture Board of Directors recently. “We must more closely align ourselves with others in our common journey of living out the Great Commission… I am very grateful to God for bringing Jim and Selma Bull to us for this next chapter in WorldVenture’s journey.” Dr. Bull will lead…
June 22, 2018
How Facebook’s big announcement can help missions… MediaNews

How Facebook’s big announcement can help missions…

On January 11, 2018, Mark Zuckerberg announced on Facebook to its 2 billion users that he is returning Facebook to its roots. The Facebook founder called it “time well spent” to return to helping, “… people stay connected and bring us closer with the people that matter to us.” While different organizations greeted this news with a variety of reactions, this change is great news for international workers, partners and churches! Until now, WorldVenture partners and churches easily enjoyed reading updates, viewing videos, and prayer updates about international workers from their personal Facebook feeds without any extra effort. According to…
January 25, 2018
Why Austria Still Needs Missionaries News

Why Austria Still Needs Missionaries

Austria has roughly the same population as New York City. Yet the number of evangelical Christians in the whole country couldn’t fill Yankee Stadium. Only 0.5 percent of the population is evangelical. Or about 43,000 in a country of 8.6 million people. WorldVenture workers Nate and Bethany Johnson hope to grow the Church by coming alongside Austrian Christians living in Vienna. “Church planting is still needed in Austria because there are areas of the country and in the city of Vienna with no evangelical witness,” said Nate. “There are many people here in Austria who will go their entire life…
January 31, 2017
Japan Celebrates 50 years News

Japan Celebrates 50 years

Japan recently celebrated the 50-year presence of its churches—complete with martial arts, gospel singing and the gathering of a large church family. On Sept. 14 and Sept. 15, 1,000 pastors, leaders and church members associated with the Conservative Baptist churches in Japan gathered in Fukushima.
January 5, 2015
Hope After Haiyan News

Hope After Haiyan

Eighty-six churches and 8,355 families with CBAP were severely affected by Haiyan. Now, many of these churches are thriving like never before, thanks to the efforts of relief teams focused on evangelism just as much as providing food, clothing, medicine and shelter.
January 5, 2015