2007 brings increased appointments, and new endorsements

As of May 2007, International Ministries has re-appointed three missionaries for service and endorsed three missionary couples for planned service with IM.

"We are excited about this new era of missionary appointments," said Reid Trulson, IM's executive director. "The appointment of Susan Linderman to Bulgaria, going back to March of 2006, started the dawn of a new day of re-appointments and new appointments. Scott and Tan Coates followed a few months later in Thailand," said Trulson. "So IM is well-positioned going into 2007 and beyond to respond to the Lord's call to send people for the harvest and make a significant impact in the world for the sake of the Gospel."

IM has a new process, with the advent of missionary partnership teams (MPT) and networks (MPN). Often, before missionaries are appointed, they will be endorsed. As an endorsed missionary, the person or couple then is enabled with IM's blessing to begin forming a core team and network to undergird the ministry.

An MPT is a small group of people from one or more churches, gathered by the missionaries themselves. The group provides reliable spiritual, emotional and financial support to a missionary or missionary family.

In turn, the MPT builds a network, or MPN, of individuals, congregations and regions to come alongside the missionary to pray for, participate in, and financially support their ministry.

"American Baptists have new opportunities for closer connections and deeper support of missionaries than ever before," said Trulson. "I pray they will enthusiastically lift up these missionaries and others who are waiting for the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and the love and support of our churches in order to be sent."

Here are the short bios on our appointed, reappointed and newly endorsed missionaries.

Bill Thomas has been reappointed to serve jointly with IM and the Bill Thomas Evangelistic Association. The Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France is the inviting partner. Thomas, and his wife Marion Thomas, formerly served as IM missionaries in France from 1972 until 1979. Thomas will work with the home mission department of the federation to train pastors and church leaders in evangelism and discipleship, as well as preach at evangelistic events.

David and Leslie Turley have been reappointed to serve in Okinawa, Japan. The inviting partner is the Okinawa Baptist Convention. The Turleys served in Japan from 1990 through 2004. After a time away from IM missionary service, the Turleys have returned to Okinawa. Turley works with the OBC in leadership development. His wife works with OBC women, and has added a new role as elementary school principal at Okinawa Christian School International.

Chuck and Ramona Shawver have been endorsed for reappointment to Mexico, where the couple had served for IM from 1987 until 2004. The Council of Indigenous Evangelical Churches of Mexico is the inviting partner. The Shawvers have rich missionary experience among the indigenous people of central and southern Mexico. They will serve in the field of leadership training at the Baptist Seminary of Mexico.

Nancy and Stephen James have been endorsed for reappointment with IM to serve in Haiti. In being reappointed, they will be jointly appointed by IM and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The Haitian Baptist Convention is the inviting partner. James and her husband both do medical work in different clinics throughout Haiti.

Gordon and Lee Ann Hwang have been endorsed for joint appointment to missionary service through IM and the Japanese Baptist Church of Seattle, WA. The inviting partner is the Soshin Girls School, Yokohama in cooperation with the Japan Baptist Union. Hwang will work in after-school programs and teach a Bible class at Soshin Church, while his wife will work full-time as an English teacher at Soshin.