Sowing seeds in your backyard and beyond

Like the sower who was focused on spreading the seed everywhere, North American missionaries know their message of hope needs to cover all of North America. The results may vary, but their commitment to continuing to share the gospel to all people is firm. And they need Southern Baptists’ help. People all over North America, even in your own community, are waiting for seed to be sown, waiting for someone to tell them about Jesus, and waiting for a new church to take root so that life-changing transformations can take place. In what areas are you sowing the seed of the gospel? Are there people in your own backyard who need to hear the gospel and be discipled?

PRAY

› For churches and individuals to stand with and support North American missionaries as they spread the gospel throughout North America.

› For obedience and strength to share the gospel with all people no matter the challenges or risks.

Growing the next generation of missionaries

Having enough missionaries to support Southern Baptists’ efforts to impact lostness in North America will require intentionality in developing the next generation of missionaries. To plant healthy churches, we must invest in an intentional, church-based “farm system” to train young missionaries who will someday become new church planters. NAMB’s farm system provides a way to identify individuals who sense God’s call to ministry and an opportunity for them to get hands-on experience and training with practiced church planters and pastors as student missionaries, interns and apprentices.

Learn more about NAMB’s farm system at namb.net/farmsystem.

PRAY

› For more young people to answer s call to serve as church planters and  be willing to build skills and experience through church planting intern and apprentice positions.

› That those serving through summer and semester missions will discover God’s path of ministry for their lives.

Jose and Mayra Nater

Baltimore, Maryland

NORTHEAST

Native Puerto Rican Jose Nater was pursuing a successful career in the hotel business until  a  career-advancing  move to Cambridge, Md., changed his life. Jose would find himself jobless, homeless and desperate for God’s provision. He learned God was in control of his life—not himself— and dedicated himself to serving the Lord. The   Naters   started   a   church with   four   people—Jose,   his wife and two sons. Three years later, Camino de Esperanza of Cambridge planted a second church, Camino de Fe of Easton. Another three years later, they planted Camino de Esperanza of Seaford, Del. Now a Church Planting Center, Jose is leading his church to develop leaders and strategies to continue the church multiplication process.

Learn more about the Naters at anniearmstrong.com/josenater.

PRAY

› For the Lord to confirm the calling of several leaders already seeking their places of service in the kingdom.

› For physical and spiritual strength to battle the enemy as they seek to advance the kingdom of God.

Patrick and Archalena Coats

Miami, Florida

SOUTH

 Grandson of Joe Coats, long-time pastor  in  Miami  and  one  of  the  first American   pastors to lead his church to be a cooperating Southern Baptist congregation, Patrick credits his grandfather’s leadership for his ministry journey. Paying that investment forward, Patrick is a mentor in the lives of others as he pastors Kingdom Covenant Church and serves through Urban Impact Ministries in Miami, where he assists churches in spreading the gospel through starting and growing new African - American and multicultural congregations.

Learn more about the Coatses at anniearmstrong.com/patrickcoats.

PRAY

 › For God to open doors for relationships and gospel presentations in the Miami area where many cultures and nationalities live.

› For Patrick and Archalena’s personal spiritual growth as they journey together as church planting missionaries.

 Ara and Anet Torosian

Burbank, California

WEST

Caught smuggling Bibles from Turkey to his Southern Baptist underground church in Iran, Ara Torosian was removed from his home, blindfolded, beaten and questioned about other Christian leaders. But he vowed never to reveal any names—even if it meant giving his own life. That day, Ara stood firmly planted in his faith and placed his entire trust in God.

By God’s grace, Ara was able to leave Iran after his terrifying experience and came to the United States as a refugee. Ara’s passion for church planting led him to start one of the first Armenian Southern Baptist churches— Armenian Fellowship Church of Burbank—a new congregation reaching Armenian-speaking people with the truth of God’s Word.

Learn more about the Torosians at anniearmstrong.com/aratorosian.

 PRAY

› For Ara and Anet as they minister to new Christians, and that they can safely and effectively share the gospel with others in their community.

› That Armenian Fellowship Church of Burbank can start more churches to reach refugees and Armenian-speaking people living in California.

Scott and Karen Blanchard

Detroit, Michigan

MIDWEST

An 80 percent hearing loss and speech t discourage Scott Blanchard from remaining committed to his calling. As a church planter and pastor of Lakepointe Church in Detroit, Scott uses his disability to encourage and connect with others. He proves each day that God can use anyone who is willing to be His servant.

Scott’s passion for church planting is firmly planted in the belief that reaching more people with the gospel is about multiplying churches. As such, Scott is investing in the lives of church planting interns and apprentices like Jimmy Jones, who will be planting a new church just 20 minutes from Lakepointe so more seeds can be sown in the Detroit area

Learn more about the Blanchards at anniearmstrong.com/scottblanchard.

PRAY

› For continued growth in the congregation as they seek to help church planters and interns start new churches in surrounding areas.

› For more workers to reach the harvest and see more lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lucas Aube

Montreal, Quebec

CANADA

Sometimes God calls people to faraway places to serve Him. In Lucas Aube’s case, God called him “home.” After two overseas mission trips, Lucas was struck by the vast lostness in the world, and more specifically, the vast lostness in Quebec, where less than 1 percent are evangelical Christians. As a fellow Québécois, Lucas understands the language and culture in ways outsiders often cannot. Through his ministry as collegiate minister at Bishops University and Champlain College and church planter of Encounter Church, Lucas is sowing seeds of the gospel among one of the most unreached people groups in North America.

Learn more about Lucas at anniearmstrong.com/lucasaube.

PRAY

› For the salvation of the many students who interact with Encounter Church on a regular basis through weekly outreach dinners.

› For the Encounter team to be the hands and feet of Jesus, spreading seeds of the gospel all over the campus and their city.

Andrew Mann

Bronx, New York

NORTHEAST

Raised  in  a  Southern  Baptist  church, Andrew Mann had his first taste of missions serving   with   fellow   NAMB   missionary Taylor Field at East 7th Baptist Church in New York City. Burdened by the number of at-risk children in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, Andrew became church planter and executive director of Graffiti 2 Church and Community Ministries. Graffiti’s goal is to revitalize, revive and revolutionize Mott Haven by enabling individuals to develop physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually so that they may become servant-leaders. Through ministries such as after-school and summer programs, family  advocacy   and   special  events, Andrew is spreading seeds of the gospel and mentoring future missionaries.

Learn more about Andrew at anniearmstrong.com/andrewmann.

PRAY

› Wisdom for the Graffiti 2 staff as they interact, lead and counsel children, teens and adults who face difficult circumstances in the Mott Haven neighborhood.

› For Graffiti 2 Church as they take steps to begin like-minded ministries and churches in the Bronx and across the country.

“Then He told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. Anyone who has ears should listen!’ …‘You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown’”
(Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23, HSCB)

FIRMLY PLANTED

ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL

The sower generously and intentionally spread seed upon many types of soil, with mixed results. Yet his focus and purpose was to spread the seed everywhere, not just choose the most fertile soil. North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionaries are just like this sower—they are focused on sharing the gospel with all people, remaining steadfast in their commitment to sow the gospel despite the challenges and risks. They are motivated by a passion to bring people to Christ and to see churches and individuals bear fruit and multiply. They are confident in their faith, bold in their witness and dependent on our prayers and support to encourage and motivate them each day.