Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

After surviving attack, IMB missionary boldly proclaims gospel in South Asia

  • August 1, 2022
  • International Mission Board
  • Featured, International Mission Board, Latest News, Missions
(IMB Photo)

After surviving attack, IMB missionary boldly proclaims gospel in South Asia

Alexander Traverston followed someone he thought was a friend into a building. He sat down and was offered water. 

Then eight men entered the room with angry faces. They deadbolted the door behind them. Alarmed, Traverston asked why the door was locked. 

“Because we are about to beat you,” the men replied.

“What is this?” the missionary called out. “I thought we were friends.” 

One of the eight men replied, “You are no friend.” 

Traverston serves in South Asia with the International Mission Board. He had been threatened multiple times before, as had his wife, Lillian, his IMB teammates and their national partners. But this time wasn’t an empty threat. This was reality.

The missionary stood up and walked toward the door. That’s when the first blow came to his back. 

As he struggled to move about the room, blow after blow came. Someone broke a bottle over his head. He made his way to the still locked door before being pulled back and beaten again. 

His crime? Boldly proclaiming the gospel to people in a South Asian city in desperate need of God’s saving grace.

Peace

“I thought of my children and my wife,” Traverston recounted. His wife was one street over, discipling new believers alongside a national partner. Another IMB partner was with their children, leading a Bible club. 

A tremendous peace passed over Traverston. He knew God would take care of his family.

“Lord, I can trust You,” he thought to himself as the first blows came to his back and head. “God this is for You. I love You. I trust You.” 

The second time he made his way to the door, it was unlocked. Another group was waiting for him outside. They threw him in a vehicle and took him to the police station. 

A mob of over 100 people was waiting there. They shouted false accusations to the police. The police took him in for interrogation. Lillian joined him for the interrogation as soon as she could get to his side.

The police wanted to know why the Traverstons insisted on sharing their faith. 

“Thankfully I was able to tell the reason for the hope that I have in Christ,” Traverston said. 

After he was released, he spent a night in the hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening. 

Staying

These events happened several years ago. Instead of returning to the United States to minister to a people more receptive to the gospel, the Traverstons ultimately decided to stay in South Asia. 

The family was confident of God’s leading, despite hardships like emotional trauma for both Alexander and Lillian and anxiety in their daughter, who was old enough to understand and remember. 

They continued to work and sow seeds of the gospel in the South Asian city where they lived boldly for the sake of the gospel.

The work just outside their city grew exponentially. Through this steadfast presence, they saw churches planted and grow. The Lord opened new doors, and the team began working among various people groups where new churches were planted.

God allowed the Traverstons the favor to stay. Their team was strengthened and emboldened. Much of the motivation to remain in that city came from Scripture and their team of nationals, he affirmed. 

“Part of local ownership is when you’re asking your partners, ‘What should we do in this?’ And they’re continuing to say, ‘Let’s keep going.’ You go too,” Traverston said. 

In fact, Traverston shared that shortly after the incident, one of the team’s national partners led a training. When it came time to go out and share the gospel, one of the trainees asked, “Are you crazy, man?” 

The leader replied, “You can stay if you want.” 

The man at the training questioned, “Don’t you worry about your life with what just happened?” 

The leader’s words to him were, “I’m dead already.” 

Did Traverston and his team experience fear? Yes. But God gave them “the strength to move beyond it, to not be paralyzed,” he explained. 

The couple has been asked if they would do it all again. 

“I think Lillian and I and our teammates would all tell you, the answer is profoundly yes!” 

Traverston added, “I still can’t think of a more fun and fulfilling time in my life than in that year of broad proclamation. There’s a greater joy for the church for us to have to really step out in boldness and proclaim this message throughout all such lost communities.”

He continued, “The gospel must be preached among all peoples, throughout the whole world anticipating His return.”

Some names may have been changed for security reasons. 


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally written by Myriah Snyder and published by the International Mission Board. 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies

Paul Gregoire, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary registrar for 29 years, passed away March 21 after a brief battle with cancer. “Paul Gregoire was a

boy leaning on black wall

Endangered youth: When parents fail their children

Researchers today consider bad parenting one of the most important public health issues facing our society. Uninvolved, abusive, irresponsible, absent or immature parents are endangering

Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87

Samuel Shahid, professor of missions in the Islamic Studies program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1998–2013, died March 2. He was 87 years old.

a stack of money sitting on top of a laptop computer

Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows

After enduring difficult economic seasons recently, churches are better prepared for financial rainy days than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Lifeway Research study

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel