In their 15 years of faithfully sharing the gospel, Matt and Audrey Chism only baptized three people — their daughters.
The Chisms were ready to call it quits. So much so that Matt told Audrey he was not going to talk about Jesus at all when they went to a woman’s house for a meal.
Refugees flee through the desert. These refugees traveled for hundreds of miles to reach safety. International Mission Board worker Matt Chism followed them on this journey. IMB Photo
This was very uncharacteristic. The Chisms usually begin every new conversation explaining they are followers of Jesus and ask how they can pray for them. The years of pouring their hearts and souls into a hard-to-reach people group with nothing to show for it brought the Chisms, especially Matt, to a critical breaking point.
When the Chisms lived in the country of their people, sharing the gospel was difficult because of the political climate. The Chisms had to leave the country, and they went to a nearby country where they were able to continue to serve among the people. The Chisms continued faithfully sharing in this country, but a change in geography didn’t lead to a change in gospel interest.
Matt is a photographer and videographer, and several years ago, he decided to follow the refugee highway, documenting the mass exodus of people. He made the treacherous journey with the refugees, filming them as they crossed the Mediterranean in lifeboats meant to hold far fewer people.
When Matt arrived in Europe where many of the refugees would settle, a Korean pastor contacted Matt saying there were refugees attending his church. Matt, who is Korean American, planned to go and take pictures, but he ended up preaching the gospel to 20 Muslims in their language.
“God brought you here not only for political freedom, but also for the freedom that can be found in Christ only,” Matt shared with the refugees.
The revelation that he could share the gospel freely in a public venue without repercussions to the people group God placed on his and Audrey’s heart is what Matt calls a “touching heaven” moment.
When he returned, he couldn’t stop thinking about the more than 1 million refugees who speak a language he knows living in that European country.
The Chisms decided to move to Europe. From day one, the Chisms visited refugee camps, sharing the gospel. In their town alone, there were 13 camps hosting around 500 refugees. They shared with more than 350 refugees, but they still saw no fruit.
Refugees flee on foot from violence in their home country. Matt and Audrey Chism serve with the International Mission Board among refugees like these men and women. Matt documented their journey to safety with his camera lens. After his trip and spending time in prayer, the Chisms decided to move to Europe to minister to refugees. IMB Photo
A refugee Matt invested heavily in and who was like a brother to him decided he wanted to be baptized. The Chisms were elated. Finally, someone responded to the message. The Chisms planned the baptism and a celebration party afterward, inviting people and a volunteer team to attend.
The man ghosted them. Not only did he not show up, but they also couldn’t contact him. Months later, they learned he married a devout Muslim and did not show interest in following Jesus.
The Chisms entered a critical point in their ministry. Matt said he had an identity crisis, and that time was lowest of the lows. It was Mission Impossible, and no Tom Cruise-conjuring was changing the plotline. They’d poured 15 years of their life into ministry, and they thought it might be time to pack their bags and head home, where Matt, who was a pastor before going overseas, could pastor a Korean American congregation and make a greater impact.
Matt remembers thinking, “I don’t have two lives. We want to spend our life doing something of worth.”
Around this time, a prayer group from a Korean church asked if they could come visit them and pray.
Matt thought, “What’s the point?” They were about to give up.
But he accepted their offer. The team didn’t want to do any sightseeing. They slept on the floor of a local church and spent time praying from morning to night for one week.
“Then, all of a sudden, the wind began to blow,” Matt said. “The Spirit of God began to blow and touch the lives of the people.”
Not long after the team left, a refugee woman invited them to her home for dinner. Matt went begrudgingly, and that’s when he told Audrey he wasn’t going to talk about Jesus or the Bible.
The Chisms asked if they could pray over the meal. Matt asked Audrey to pray — his discouragement and defeat ran so deep he didn’t even want to pray.
Audrey prayed a simple prayer, asking the Lord to bless their food. After the prayer, Audrey said it seemed like the woman had something in her eye, but she later wondered if she was crying.
While Audrey and the woman washed dishes after dinner, the woman asked if God could forgive her sins. Surprised at the sudden turn in conversation, Audrey said yes, He can. The woman asked once more, and Audrey affirmed that He could. She began attending Audrey’s woman’s Bible study and then their church. She committed her life to Christ and told the Chisms she wanted to be baptized.
The transformed life they’d waited for had finally come.
Refugees attempt a perilous journey across the Mediterranean. Lifeboats are loaded far past their capacity. Matt Chism traveled the refugee highway, documenting the journeys of refugees. Matt and his wife, Audrey, serve with the IMB. IMB Photo
The forecast of the day of the baptism was snow and sleet. The Chisms asked if she wanted to postpone the baptism, because it would take place in the river.
“Even if there is ice, I want to break through it and get baptized,” she told them, resolutely.
This woman’s testimony was in stark contrast to the man Matt poured his life into, sometimes visiting him at 1 a.m. when the man needed a listening ear.
One by one, people finally began responding to the gospel.
Their ministry was the busiest during the pandemic. They began baptizing, discipling and teaching. They traveled to 13 cities across the country. During lockdowns, they met online, expanding their reach to refugees living in other cities. Soon, 36 people made professions of faith.
“We cannot do it, we tried,” Matt said. “We did everything we could do, but we didn’t see any fruit, but He was the one who brought the fruit,” he continued.
Audrey added that their mindset had been one of, “If I give this much, we’ll see fruit.”
The Chism are also involved with training and equipping Global Missionary Partners (GMPs).
Matt said he and Audrey can only do the work of two people, but by training others, they have exponentially increased the scope of the gospel.
Matt said their story can be summarized in one sentence, “It’s not about us.”
He continued, “It’s totally Missio Dei, God’s mission. He’s the one who called us, but He doesn’t need us, He can do it by Himself, but graciously, he invites us to join in His mission.”
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.