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For Paul Wang, an integral part of discipling the Global Missionary Partners (GMPs) he is responsible for training is helping them understand the vital importance of evangelism.  

Wang runs a training center for GMPs in Southeast Asia. He leads an eight-week training course to help prepare them to serve alongside IMB teams all over the world as part of the Global Missionary Partner Initiative.  

Over the course of the last year, he’s seen how vital sharing the gospel together is to help the GMPs learn teamwork and dependance on God.  

“After doing evangelism together, GMPs have a very close relationship,” he said.  

One team of GMPs he trained went to work together in South Asia and had opportunities to share the gospel within their first few weeks. They messaged him with appreciation for all the evangelism practice they had during his training.  

Messages like this make Wang’s heart happy, he said. While he always knew evangelism was important, when the training center first opened, it was hard to make time for it while also adjusting to a new country and preparing training for the GMPs.  

Then, his team leader reminded him his priority as a missionary was to regularly share the gospel. It was a wake-up call he needed, he said. Wang discovered that inviting the GMPs he trained to come alongside him in his evangelism efforts was the best way to prepare them, as well.  

Now, Wang cherishes the weekly time he spends out at parks and malls starting gospel conversations with people in his community.  

Typically, the group will break up into pairs and pray for God to open doors for conversations.  

“Evangelism is not just our Christian duty, but also my spiritual refreshment and strength,” he said.  

Just as Wang has grown and learned from the weekly evangelism efforts, the GMPs have as well. He remembers one who was so shy at the beginning she could barely be heard. But, as the weeks passed, she became braver and more confident.  

“God blessed her courage,” Wang said. “Through her, many people came to know Jesus.”  

In total, Wang’s team shared the gospel with 220 people last year and saw 151 make decisions to accept Christ. They did their best to connect those who made decisions with local churches in their area so they could be discipled. 

“God is doing amazing, wonderful things through the GMP program and through our family,” Wang said. “We never could have expected this.”  

Some names changed for security.

This May, we are celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. We are thankful for the AAPI missionaries who serve around the world with the IMB. We are grateful for the 2,184 Southern Baptist Asian American congregations in the United States and their partnership with the IMB. Visit imb.org/asian-church-missions to learn more.