The elite eight: meet the 2016 mission workers!

Find out how you can pray for eight new mission workers preparing to serve God and others around the world with BMS World Mission
 

This autumn, the BMS International Mission Centre (IMC) in Birmingham is abuzz. With 31 Action Teamers, a handful of mission workers back on home assignment and the eight-in-training mission workers, it’s a busy and exciting place to be. And we want you to get excited too, as today’s the day we introduce you to the Christians who are preparing their hearts and minds to take part in God’s mission around the world.

 

Jane Edwards, Mozambique

“I’ve got a passion for justice and overseas mission,” says Jane. “I’m really excited to be able to use my legal skills in a country in need.”

Jane has tapped into her passion for justice and overseas mission before becoming a long-term mission worker. She worked as a solicitor in Bournemouth and volunteered with BMS in Peru in 2010 to 2011. Now she’ll be combining the two, bringing her legal skills overseas to help some of the most marginalised gain access to justice.

Pray for Jane:

Jane would love you to pray for her while she is training. She’d like prayers to engage with the learning and reflection from the teaching at IMC, so that she feels fully equipped for her mission in Mozambique.


 

Ashleigh Gibb, Thailand

“There’s something so amazing that happens when you lay your life down for God,” says Ashleigh. “He listens and he talks.”

Answering God’s call is what inspired Ashleigh to commit to mission work in Thailand. When she arrives in the country she’ll spend some time in language training and then transition to begin her work. A former fitness instructor, Ashleigh will be working with an organisation that helps trafficked women escape the sex industry in Bangkok.
 
Pray for Ashleigh:
                                                                          
Ashleigh would like prayers that her language study would go well. Pray too that she thrives and has the confidence to do the work that God has planned for her in Thailand.

Robert* and Rose*, Kosovo

“We’re both excited,” says Rose. “We’re happy to be teaching in a new country where we’ll be able to focus on students more than the extra paperwork that we often find ourselves working on when we teach in the UK.”

Robert and Rose have taught for eight and two years respectively and will use their passion for teaching in Kosovo. They’ll work will children spanning a range of ages as the project they’re a part of relocates to a public school near to its existing site.
 
Pray for Robert and Rose:

Pray that Robert and Rose are able to practically prepare well in their time at IMC. Pray that Robert will be able to discern his specific teaching role in Kosovo and for a smooth transition to a new culture.


 

Dave and Michele Mahon, Peru

“We’ve heard really good things about the people that we will live and work with in Peru,” says Michele. “We can’t wait to meet those people and we’re excited for the opportunity to teach in the training centre.”

Dave and Michele will be heading to Peru with their three children: Jonathan, who is five, Ruth, who is two and Phoebe, who is one. They will be based in Iquitos and will work alongside the Loreto Association of Baptist Churches. They’ll also be involved in teaching and curriculum development at the Nauta Integral Mission Training Centre.

Pray for Dave and Michele:

Dave and Michele would appreciate prayers that they would settle well in Peru with their three children and that their Spanish language training would be a success.

 

Sophie*, Tunisia

“My journey as a mission worker at times might be tough and feel impossible,” says Sophie. “But I know that God will be faithful through it all.”
 
Sophie will trust in God’s faithfulness as she prepares to go to do mission in Tunisia. When she gets to the country she’ll be using her skills in project management, event organisation and administration to help co-ordinate the communications of a BMS partner organisation.

Pray for Sophie:

As Sophie prepares for mission she’d like prayers that she’s able to always keep her focus on why she is doing mission. She would also like prayer that her time training at IMC would be fruitful.


 

Kathryn Smith, Thailand

“I felt God calling me into mission when I was 17 years old,” says Kathryn. “At times I’ve questioned my calling, but now I’m ready. And the biggest thing that I’ve learned is to be patient and trust God’s timing.”

Trusting in God’s plan and timing has lead Kathryn to do mission in Thailand. She’ll be working at Hope Home, a place for children with learning disabilities. Kathryn will also work with the Church of Christ in Thailand’s Aids Ministry, where she will develop the palliative care work.

Pray for Kathryn:

Kathryn would like prayers that she is successful in her Thai language training she has when she goes to Thailand and that she is able to teach and communicate well when she begins to speak the local language.

Want to help support our wonderful new mission workers as they work to serve God and others around the world? You can when you become a 24:7 Partner.


*Names changed
 

This article first appeared on the website of BMS World Mission and is used with permission