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 this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • SBC 2023
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • SBC 2023
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Missionaries persevere to be ‘present among the lost’ amid global inflation

  • January 12, 2023
  • International Mission Board
  • Featured, International Mission Board, Latest News, Missions
Global inflation is making a huge impact in many places where IMB missionaries live. Jonathon Sharp, missionary in Portugal, shops at a Lisbon grocery store in preparation for a volunteer team arriving from the United States.
(IMB Photo)

Missionaries persevere to be ‘present among the lost’ amid global inflation

Otis Newman opened the door and stared at the empty refrigerator. The kids rifled through the cabinets next to him. The family ate everything except dried goods before leaving for vacation.

The International Mission Board missionary cringed just thinking about how much it might cost to restock. Inflation has been a global hot topic for months. Experts try to predict how it will affect the economy, but for most people, it doesn’t hit home until they pay for groceries or utilities. For the Newman family living in Europe, restocking with the basics — milk, cereal, bread and lunch meat for a few days — cost 153 Euros, or $162.89.

“When we first moved here a baguette cost 90 cents but now it’s ($1.28) … I look at these basics and know every bit of it comes from the generosity of others,” the veteran missionary said.

Generous gifts

“We are able to remain present among the lost because Southern Baptists, who are also experiencing an increased cost of living, continue to be generous and give [to the Lottie Moon offering].”

IMB President Paul Chitwood admits staggering inflation rates at home and around the world have created some significant financial challenges for Southern Baptist missionaries.

Utility costs for missionaries in Europe skyrocketed, as have the cost of goods in many of the countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Lebanon’s inflation rate recently slowed to 158.46% from 162.47. In comparison, the United States’ inflation rate ended the year around 7.1%. Food in Lebanon has increased so much residents talk more about the “food inflation” that peaked at 280%, making it more than $20 to buy a gallon of milk.

Thankfully, Southern Baptists are rising to meet the challenges of keeping missionaries on the field, no matter how inflation impacts different countries. Churches gave more generously through the 2021 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering than any time in the IMB’s 177-year history. Every penny of the $203.7 million raised goes to missionaries on the field.

And every penny will be needed. The IMB has set a goal of increasing giving by 6% every year, just to keep up with inflation in ordinary years. The increase does not take into account the seasons of unpredicted global economic challenges, as the world has recently experienced. Even as prices soar, Southern Baptists remain committed to the primary missionary task.

“Our missionaries have gone to address the world’s greatest problem, the problem of spiritual lostness, with God’s solution, which is the gospel,” Chitwood said. “Without the presence of missionaries how will the lost hear the gospel?”

Prioritizing lostness

Sometimes this presence means putting missionaries in places that are expensive like the Middle East or France, where Kit and Stacy Klein live. They work with other IMB missionaries throughout Europe, the most lost continent on earth with less than 1% evangelical Christians.

“As an organization, the IMB prioritizes lostness and Europe is about as lost as it gets,” Kit said. “We want to help our neighbors see the greatest problem they face is not financial … it is being separated from God.”

Throughout these financial challenges, the Kleins walk alongside neighbors and friends. While they don’t face the same tough choices brought on by lost jobs, their family of seven has had to make cutbacks.

Unexpected rise in costs

They try to conserve gas by walking, taking public transport and riding their bikes. When utilities skyrocketed, they found ways to cut back on usage. The IMB also implemented a utilities supplement for those living in affected countries to help with the unexpected rise in costs.

The grocery bill, though, still proved to be one of the biggest increases in their family’s budget. With five growing kids, food disappears fast. As Stacy tried to stretch out meals, she discussed ways to use more beans and save money on groceries with other mothers in the neighborhood.

Shared experiences like these, Kit said, opens doors for spiritual conversations.

Because the group of women shared ways to save money, it became a safe environment to talk about other things going on in their lives. One mother shared the burdens brought on by this economic crisis. Stacy offered to pray and introduced Jesus’ love and compassion for the first time in their friendship.

“We are extremely grateful to Southern Baptist churches for continuing to give despite their own financially hard times,” Stacy said. “Our ability to be present among least reach peoples is invaluable.”


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

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • NextGen teams ‘on front lines of lostness,’ reaching nations with gospel
    NextGen teams ‘on front lines of lostness,’ reaching nations with gospel
    June 8, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Sixteen members of Nigerian church released after being kidnapped
    Sixteen members of Nigerian church released after being kidnapped
    June 8, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93
    Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93
    June 8, 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

NextGen teams ‘on front lines of lostness,’ reaching nations with gospel

Sticky notes plastered to the wall represented all the ways summer volunteers will embark on the missionary task in the next few weeks and months.

Sixteen members of Nigerian church released after being kidnapped

Sixteen members of Bege Baptist Church of Masala in central Nigeria were released June 4 after being kidnapped nearly a month earlier. Gunmen abducted 43

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93

Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, died June 8 at his Virginia Beach home. Robertson was 93. “Pat Robertson has gone home to

First Person: Gaining altitude — WMU celebrates 135 years of SBC missions

According to an insect identification database, 647 types of bugs and insects are found in Alabama. Some downright scare me. I looked at images of

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