Thank you so much for your generosity to this ministry and people across the globe reached through businesses you support. Your prayers and sacrificial giving undergird a new, transformative missions model of developing businesses that improve local people’s livelihood and living standards while providing a natural means of gospel entry into certain countries. Through these businesses, long-term workers have opportunities to share the gospel with local people, from farmers or artisans who provide the raw materials or products to store owners and consumers who purchase the goods.

These business and non-governmental organizations are foundational for opening sustainable gospel access for our missionaries in countries, cities, and people groups that are usually closed to Christian missionary visas. IMB personnel provide business leadership and oversee the business and mission strategy.

Your gifts accomplish the primary missionary task by providing:

• Access—opening access for personnel into locations otherwise closed to them
• Identity—giving them vocational identity to help locals relate to them
• Engagement—offering opportunities to interact with local non-believers

Presently, nearly 300 Business-for-Mission entities are dotted throughout the IMB footprint, providing visa access for more than 1,000 of our missionaries and families. The Gospel Access fund provides these entities’ initial start-up and ongoing capital support.

We want to share with you some of the ways God is working through your generosity:

English classes through virtual reality. People worldwide want to learn to speak English. English learning makes up the largest number of our field-based business enterprises. Recently, we have found great enthusiasm for our new virtual-reality English classes, as they quickly grab the attention of students and adults in places in each affinity with significant lostness. Pray for new partnerships under development using virtual reality to teach English so we can share the love and truth of Christ as we connect with people across the globe.

Manufacturing and e-commerce: In various locations globally, we have established manufacturing companies that employ local believers, pastors, and other national peoples. These businesses produce and deliver products to U.S.-based consumers. Many are now available for purchase. Ask God to open new doors for manufacturing businesses so believers can provide for their families.

Sports and fitness activities: God has used sports for many years to help us develop trust, deepen relationships, and share the gospel. Whether through camps, clubs, or leagues, athletics bring people together. As we continue looking for innovative ways to engage lost people, we have established workout groups, gyms, and recreation centers. Your generosity to this project helps us connect with those who need the hope Christ offers. Ask God to use these fitness entities to deliver His hope.

Leadership consulting: Because of your gifts, we recently launched several pilot consulting firms in hard-to-reach locations. Local business leaders attend regular sessions that teach leadership solutions to improve business practices, employee retention, and customer engagement. Pray for doors to open in additional areas and with new businesspeople so we can share the gospel.             

Thank you for your generosity and prayers. Your sacrificial gifts and intercession are truly transforming lives as we partner together to solve the world’s greatest problem, lostness.