Starvation, empty cupboards, hopelessness and depression make the COVID-19 crisis dire for refugee communities in South Africa and Greece.

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The International Mission Board is reporting a 2019-20 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total of $159.5 million, the second highest offering in history. This total exceeds by $4.5 million the 175-year-old organization’s budgeted goal of $155 million. IMB also received $97.2 million from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program for 2019-20.

Kristi Moore has vivid memories of growing up in Mission Friends, Girls in Action, and Acteens at her home church of First Baptist, Amarillo, Texas.

EAST ASIA (BP) – Abby Cavanaugh* had grown up hearing the story of how Jesus multiplied a little boy’s lunch to feed a whole crowd. But on Sept. 15, she got a whole new look at how He can take small gifts and make them grow.

EL CAJON, Calif. (BP) – “Pietàs” – sculptures of Mary grieving over her crucified Son – were so called because of the meaning of pietà in Italian: “compassion.” Other English words for pietà are “mercy, pity, and piety,” all of which are conveyed when one gazes upon Michelangelo’s Pietà.

PORTUGAL (BP) – In 2017, IMB workers Mark and Hannah Bustrum attended a retreat with missionaries from the region and invited national partners to participate. For more than a decade they had worked to strengthen relationships with Portuguese believers, but inviting them to this retreat was about more than building or maintaining those relationships.  

DURHAM, N.C. (BP) – SBC President J.D. Greear announced Monday (Sept. 14) that the theme for the 2021 Annual Meeting will be “We Are Great Commission Baptists.”

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The International Mission Board joined with Barna Group for an online workshop titled The Future of Missions. The workshop, hosted virtually on Wednesday (Sept. 2), included IMB President Paul Chitwood, IMB staff and Barna Group representatives. Nearly 1,000 people joined the online event from around the world.

KEDIRI, Indonesia (BP) – Southern Baptists have a long history in medical missions and have continued to bring hope and healing during the COVID-19 crisis. Field workers around the world use hospitals and clinics as ministry centers to serve communities and offer physical and spiritual healthcare.

CENTRAL ASIA (BP) -- Anim* remembers the day when an old fortune teller told her mother that Anim had the gift of sight.