International Gospel Missions: A Baptist Mission Agency

08/19/2026

Edoh Paul Assignon, Togo

DEAR FRIENDS,

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4
About the Family
The family has gone through a period of sickness while all of us have got malaria. We thank the Lord that we are getting back our strength.
Deborah is doing much better with her leg. But she continues with the re-education two times a week.
We have been in Lome, the capital town, since last night to see another doctor for Nicole’s hip pain tomorrow.
I was attacked by a small dog last Thursday in my garage. The dog died last Saturday. Therefore, I am taking rabies shots as a precaution. We need your prayers.
About the School
We are so thankful to the Lord that the school academic year 2025-2026 has ended with 100% success for the children of grade 6. And our school children occupied the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th rank in their examination center. This is a great success.
Parents are running to register their children in our school for the next academic year of 2026-2027. School will start next month on the 14th. But unfortunately, we no longer have rooms to take all these children because our classes are small. Please, continue praying regarding the new lot and buildings for the school.
From Some of Our Pastors
Pastor Bruce Agossou from Baptist Bible Church of Kagome, Lomé capital town
He wrote: Samira is a young woman who used to be a Muslim. One Sunday, one of her friends invited her to the church. During the sermon, the pastor addressed her in front of the entire congregation, saying that the braids on her head carried demons. She felt deeply humiliated that day. When she left the church, she said she would never set foot in the church again.
Glory to God, a sister from our church later met her and shared the message of Jesus with her. At first, Samira was reluctant because of what she had experienced from the other church. The sister reassured her, telling her that Jesus’ heart is not like that. He is full of love and that His grace is available for everyone.
Samira accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. She has been with us eight months now and she is currently attending baptismal classes. She needs your prayers.
Pastor Senghor, Paguedounssi, Sokode Central, a predominantly Muslim town
May 5 - people baptized
June 3 - people baptized
Needs: motorbike for the pastor as means of transportation and funds for the walls. His first motorbike was stolen a year ago. We need about $1,500 for a new one for him.
Pastor Seck Yayrameh, Sokode Central, a predominantly Muslim town, the 2nd church in the town
Need: concrete church building.
The Lord has promised to accomplish His will and He will do it. He is almighty to accomplish His plan.
“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Isaiah 46:10
The Lord continues leading us every day. We are walking in victory.
Pastor Kebe, Kpalime
The church gave out some books to some of the children to help them for the new academy 2026-2027.
Please, continue praying for God’s wisdom and His will to be accomplished in this ministry.
And also, continue praying for the funds for churches’ concrete buildings, for the new school buildings, and for the project of the Health Center.
Sincere thanks to each one of you and may His blessings be upon you.

In His Service,
Pastor Paul and Nicole ASSIGNON

08/19/2026

Larque Vaye, Liberia

We are again grateful to the Lord for His many blessings upon my family and the ministries here at Calvary for the past three months. This report summarizes the last three months’ activities of the church.
Family News
Thanks to all our prayer partners and supporters who continue to pray for us and give us financial support. Rose was very sick, but praise the Lord, she is much better. All the kids succeeded in passing to the next classes. Gifty completed the 12th grade and will be graduating later this year. One of our boys, Sammy, got married early in May.
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for the health of Rose and our elder son, Mac, who suffers from depression. Please pray for the children’s fees as we prepare for the next school year. The details for the next school’s year fees and requirements will be sent soon.
Church Report
April is the beginning of the rainy season in Liberia, but many people showed up for worship and church’s activities. We baptized 18 new converts and many trusted Christ as Savior.
Our Sunday School and AWANA programs remained active and functional during the quarter.
Calvary Mercy Ministry: Ministering to Disadvantaged Youths
Drugs and substance abuse is a serious problem in Liberia like many other countries around the world. It is estimated that Liberia has more than 200,000 drug addicts (zogos) many of whom are roaming the streets of major cities and towns. In response to this crisis, the Calvary Mercy Ministry was prayerfully organized to reach out to some of these youths in the community. The objective of the program is to demonstrate the love of God (Matthew 25:31-40) by feeding them, presenting the Gospel, and reuniting them with their families. Presently, we are conducting a weekly feeding session and Bible study. We are also involving medical doctors and professional counsellors to help with medical needs and counselling.
Calvary Medical Ministry
During the second quarter, the Health Team of the Calvary Baptist Church conducted a medical outreach by treating some individuals suffering from warts with a locally made herbal treatment. Up to date, a total of 16 persons have been included in the trial and 7 have completed with very good results. Dr. Nenyarker A. F. Vaye (MD), a member of the church, and medical doctor assigned at the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre in
Monrovia, has treated some of these patients with good results. Sister Josephine Freeman (RN, MSN), head of the church’s health team, has been very instrumental in working with medical doctors to use this herbal treatment.
Please pray for:
1. Our building project
2. Support to feed and care for these drug addicted young men. We need food and money
to care for them.

Year-to-Date Summary:
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH QUARTER ONE AND TWO REPORT FOR 2026
This report is a summary of major activities for the last six months here at Calvary and its fellowships. Thanks to all our friends and partners, who continue to pray and support us. May the Lord bless you.
1. Church attendance average 245; Visitors 42
2. Sunday School average 130
3. Children church: 122; AWANA 70
4. Wednesday Prayer Meeting average 21
5. Souls that got saved 60; Candidates baptized 35
6. Enrollment at our Christian Day Schools 647. 103 seniors will be graduating in October.
7. 20 Orphans and children living with single moms were supported in school.
8. The Second Calvary Baptist Church is building a new edifice.
9. The Crossroad Baptist Church’s construction works will soon be starting. We have made 4,800 bricks.
10. The Jake Memorial Baptist College’s enrollment is 49 students.
11. 750 copies of the Mah language Bibles were printed and distributed to 5 churches in B**g and Nimba counties. Brother Othello K. Weh, who now lives in the US, has translated the first five books of the Bible into the Mah language. Thanks to the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) for sponsoring the printing and shipping of these Bibles.
12. With the help of friends, I bought one used Toyota 4 Runner jeep in the US, and was shipped to Liberia in January. Praise the Lord for answering this prayer.
13. Medical Outreach. Our health team produced a locally made herbal treatment for warts and 7 patients were treated.
14. The church is ministering to more than 50 drug addicted youths. We feed and minister to them weekly.
15. Four (4) weddings were conducted.
Please pray for the following requests:
1. School fees for 20 students, USD$5,000. Two of the children are now in college.
2. Tuition Fees owed by some of the Bible college’s students, USD$2,350
3. Monthly feeding for the disadvantaged youths– USD$240; ($60 weekly)
4. 10 bundles of zinc for the roofing of Second Calvary Baptist Church USD$1,400
Rev. Dr. G. Larque and Roseline Vaye Calvary Baptist Church Monrovia, Liberia Cell: +231886515695 Email: [email protected]
Serving with the International Gospel Missions. 990 Calkins Rd Rochester 14623, NY, Phone. 585-334-9048
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23).

08/05/2026

Jim and Denise Arnold -- Ivory Coast and FMI

Dear Praying Partners,
We just continue to marvel at the goodness of God. This summer has already come and gone and we quickly move into the fall. I am looking forward to some cooler weather to start rolling in. I continue to travel and open up new churches to share about our church planting ministries in Cote D’Ivoire and our orphan ministries through Faith Ministries International. We continue to look for churches, individuals, and families willing to support our church planting efforts in Cote D’Ivoire and our many needy orphans in 22 countries around the world.
Cote D’Ivoire Ministries:
We have so much to be excited about in Cote D’Ivoire. Our pastors continue to work hard and are seeing much fruit and new churches starting up through our village outreach program. Our new church construction for Pastor Benjamin is in its final stages. We are currently finishing up the doors, windows, and flooring. We thank the Lord for the $30,000 to complete this building. Now, we raise funds to start Pastor Pacome’s church.
Pastor Mathias writes:
“The church in Vavoua, where I am based, is growing, and our evangelistic outreach and other programs are bearing fruit. We are planning to open branches in the outskirts of Vavoua in the coming months. For this project, we will need sound equipment, a tricycle for transportation, and a projector. The challenges in Vavoua are enormous, but thanks to our Lord, we will overcome them. Our major challenge is the growing opposition to Christianity. However, we are more than conquerors through Him Who strengthens us.” God has provided for the trike and sound equipment that Pastor Mathias was requesting. We thank Him!!!
Pastor Pacome writes: “Yesterday, we welcomed 6-day-old orphaned twins that the Lord sent our way. The pregnancy was unwanted and their mother (the father unknown, unfortunately) died after giving birth. The grandmother, being old and without means, gave us the children to raise. Please pray with us that GOD strengthens us in this ministry🙏. Too often, this is a familiar case we deal with through our orphan ministry. Our goal is to raise these children in a Godly manner for His glory.
In addition, we have finally cleared the land to construct our new church building. Missionary Jim Arnold has given us the funds to purchase the sand, cement, and gravel to make the brick to start constructing the building. We are praying the rains hold off so we can complete this stage of the building process. Please pray that the remaining funds to complete the building will come in. We will need about $15,000 more.”
Pastor Janot writes:
“We thank the Lord for our new church building and parsonage. However, due to the heavy rains, we are having some flooding issues with our church foundation. We thank God for providing the funds needed to care for this problem. Our church is growing and we are reaching many people for Christ in our small town and surrounding village areas.” God is so good!!
Arnold Family News:
Please continue to keep Denise in your prayers. Her health struggles continue to be real as she battles lupus on a daily basis. This past Wednesday, she spent 5 hours in the emergency room. She was unable to eat or keep anything down. They gave her IVs and gave her potassium IVs as well. She is feeling better and spends much of her mobility in a wheelchair. God is good in spite of our weaknesses.
Aiden is starting school as a sophomore on Wednesday. I just can’t believe how time flies. He is 6’3” now and I find myself looking up to him.🤣🤣 Aiden has a great love for the Lord. He loves his youth group and Christian friends. His favorite sport is soccer and he will be playing for his school team this year. Please keep him in your prayers this school year!!
We want to personally thank all of you for your faithfulness in praying and supporting our many ministries. God is so good and we give Him all the Glory!!!

With Much Love,
Jim for the Arnolds

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07/29/2026

Paul and Leah Manyara, Kenya
Psalm 105:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”
Jambo Ministry Partners. Trust that the Lord has continued to take good care of you. We have witnessed His goodness and faithfulness both in our lives and in the ministries.
In our last letter, we had requested prayers for different events and we wish to share that God answered prayers and we are grateful. On April 11-12th, we had the pastors wives’ conference. It was very successful and we were blessed and encouraged. From June 5th to 12th, we hosted a team of 19 people from Illinois, and we had a great time of ministry. Together we distributed food to families, most of whom were affected by the floods that killed over 60 people and many lost their livelihood. We built a house for a family that was in great need of a home. The team shared God's Word at the school with the students and encouraged the teachers. They also ministered in our local church where Pastor Lucas preached and the team sang a Swahili song. God used them in a great way and they were a huge blessing. Thanks for your prayers.
The men's prayer breakfast ministry is growing both in number and spiritually. The total now is six. Word has spread and some of the other churches have asked Paul to help them get started. About two weeks ago, he visited one of them and one of the men gave his life to the Lord. Please pray that he will grow in his faith. Also please pray for some who need to accept the Lord. A number of them are struggling with alcohol and drugs.
The feeding programs are going on well. The families appreciate the assistance, especially now that the cost of living keeps going up. They are also growing in their faith. Lord willing, our local church is planning to go on a mission trip to a place in northern Kenya where people are in great need of the Gospel. Please pray that the Lord will provide the funds needed to facilitate.
Family: We praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Everyone is doing well. Lord willing, our daughter, Miriam, who lives in Milwaukee, is planning to get married to Sam on September 19th and our son, Paul Jr, who lives in Chicago, also will get married to Karrie on September 26th. Lord willing, we both plan to travel to the States on September 12th. Our daughter, Ruth, son-in-law Stephen, and our grandchildren, Aziza and Zephaniah, will travel from Atlanta, Georgia. We would appreciate prayers for all the planning and travels and that the Lord will be honored in everything.
We wish to thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. You are very much part of what God is doing in the ministries.
Christ’s Love and Blessings,
Paul and Leah
Email: [email protected]

07/24/2026

Gary and Nancy Newhart

Our Faithful Warriors:
Our Encouragement. I have written often about the journey that we are all making. A journey that began in the womb to our departure from this earth. God’s desire is for every human is to be with Him in Heaven. But it is all contingent on our relationship being established with Him while on the journey. In Proverbs 4:1, there is the admonition of a father to his children and the imparting of sound advice in verses 20-27.
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”
There are certainly many challenges in our lives and advice is always free. Each of us has a choice and we can take it or ignore it. However, there is a day of reckoning, and no excuses will be valid. The father that wrote to his son gave good advice and it is worth pondering often. Cf. John 14:6; Romans 10:9-11
Our Comfort: There is no journey that doesn’t have its challenges. This past year and a half have certainly been one of the most challenging as a couple. Challenges enable us to see our true standing before our heavenly Father. They help us to be drawn to Him Who loves us, died for us, and is coming again! Nancy and I have great comfort from God’s work, His people, our family, and close friends. Nancy is progressing in getting around. I personally enjoy my Lord and know He is in control of our lives and what will be will be!
Our Ministry: For the last three years, it has been our desire to fill the role of Executive Director. As Acting Executive Director Emeritus with the Mission Council, the Lord gave peace in finding the one to take over the key leadership of IGM. The greatest desire was to find a man with a love for foreign and national pastors. Many IGM pastors encouraged the Council to look within the Council for one who has a heart for foreign pastors. God has given direction and Dr. Pasquale (Pat) LaBarbera stepped forward, a missionary to Ukraine for 20 years and accomplished church planter, along with being a successful businessman in the United States. IGM is made up of many moving parts, and Dr. LaBarbera brings with him experience that will bring the necessary improvements of creativity and encouragement. Our role in transition will be to help in providing information and helping with foreign national pastors coming to the United States. Nancy and I are so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to serve Him for 26 years with IGM together with you, upholding us with your prayers and financial help to us and especially to IGM pastors and their ministries. Your continued personal support will be deeply appreciated as we make the transitions. Please feel free to contact us at any time.
PRAISE
• Pasquale “Pat” LaBarbera on June 1, 2026, accepted the position of IGM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
• Nancy and I praise the Lord that He has given us, on June 2, 2026, 64 years of marriage serving Him to His Glory! –Proverbs 3:5-6
• Nancy and I praise the Lord for His strength and encouragement in serving the IGM family and will continue to serve the Lord until we go home or He comes.
• We praise the Lord for the IGM family around the world and the many relationships that have developed over these many years.
• For His sustaining grace, protection, health, and strength for both of us as we live during these aging years.
• Our entire family gathered here in Rochester for the 4th of July, which was a tremendous blessing, counting us there were 15 people.
PRAYER
• Transition time for Pat, Cheryl, Linda, Tes, Ginger, and myself as we all serve the IGM family.
• For all the IGM family as they adjust to our new Executive Director, Pat.
• Nancy still is recovering after a year having two hip replacements and pacemaker and other health situations.
• Gary had his right kidney CT scan on July 8 and now is waiting for the results. Pray that it is still no cancer. Also, his continued struggles with neuropathy in his feet, legs, and hands.
• For those serving in the 23 countries where IGM has a presence and especially those that are persecuting the Christians and trying to destroy their lives, homes, and churches. In IGM, India has become one of the most severe. Recently several were brutally murdered.
• For our country as non-Christians seek to destroy America as a Christian nation.

07/22/2026

Leroy Thompson, Caribbean
There is a truism that says, “Nothing worthwhile in this life comes easy.” The truth of this statement is evident in how we present the Gospel across different environments. Sometimes we underestimate the effort and prayer needed for the Gospel to go across the street and around the world.
For this reason, I am reminded that if we are going to fulfill the Great Commission, it will take something from us, as it did from our Lord Jesus Christ. In a small way, I have caught a glimpse of what that looks like.
Throughout the past months, I have seen the hand of the Lord at work in remarkable ways as He has guided and blessed the various roles, ministries, and projects in which we have been involved.
One important role I have as a missions coordinator with IGM is helping national church planters and pastors connect with churches here in the United States. In April, Flo and I had the honor of hosting Pastor V and his family from India. We scheduled meetings throughout Florida and transported them to various churches to provide updates and share the progress of their ministry. India is arguably one of the most persecuted countries in the world, where the Gospel witness is increasingly being suppressed. However, it amazes me to hear about and witness the number of people being saved despite the persecution that pastors and members of their churches endure. It is truly a blessing to serve faithful servants of God who continue reaching people with the Gospel despite the cost.
Another blessing I had was leading three mission teams to the Caribbean. I first led two teams to Jamaica to help Pastor Orville Monteith begin rebuilding Forest Mountain Baptist Church. Forest Mountain Baptist was one of the churches devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
From May 22 through May 30, an eleven-member mission team from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Florida, traveled to Jamaica to serve alongside the local believers. It was a joy and testimony to the surrounding community to have members of Cornerstone Baptist Church, the local congregation, and people from the community working together to rebuild the church building from the foundation up to window height.
A few weeks later, the second team arrived from Open Door Baptist Church in Rochester, New York. Building on the progress already made, the Open Door Baptist team worked diligently with members of the congregation and the community to raise the church walls to roof height, pour a concrete staircase, and install the electrical conduits before departing. It was inspiring to see how the Lord used two different churches, united in a common purpose, to accomplish what had once seemed an impossible task for the national pastor and local congregation recovering from a Category 5 hurricane. Although the roof has not yet been constructed, the congregation continues to meet in the unfinished building under tarps. They are pressing forward with the Gospel ministry in Forest Mountain and the surrounding communities despite the unfinished structure.
In addition to assisting with construction, our teams were prepared to share the Gospel with the workers and the surrounding community. As a result, we took advantage of opportunities to present the Gospel during devotional services at a primary school, witness and distribute Gospel tracts throughout the community, and preach at open-air meetings. Through these efforts, two adult community workers trusted Christ as Savior, while the seed of the Gospel was planted in the hearts of many other adults and children.
From July 3 to July 12, my wife and I led our third mission trip to the Eastern Caribbean, specifically to the Spice Island of Grenada. Our team from Lighthouse Baptist Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, partnered with Happy Hill Independent Baptist Church to host a week of Vacation Bible School and three nights of evangelistic meetings in two additional communities. We praise the Lord that thirteen people trusted Christ as Savior during this mission trip.
Our ministry over these past several months has reinforced the truth that “We can accomplish more together than we can by ourselves.” The Lord has so designed the family of God that, as we go, we can serve alongside others of like-Faith, so that the Great Commission can be fulfilled. As I Corinthians 12:24 says, “For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.”
As I reflect on these experiences, I am reminded that God continues to provide opportunities for us to be involved in worldwide missions. Regardless of what may be happening around us, God can, through willing volunteers, generous giving, and faithful prayer, send the Gospel witness to people who otherwise might never hear the message of salvation. You and I may never know what God is willing to do through us unless we take the step of faith and become involved, beginning in our local church. God has been restoring not only buildings but also the lives of people lost in sin. There is no greater joy than witnessing lives transformed by the Gospel, and we give God all the glory for what He has accomplished through us over these past months.
Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and partnership as we continue reaching the lost through missions. It has been a busy but rewarding season.

Yours truly,
Rev. Leroy E. Thompson
IGM Missions Field Coordinator to
The Caribbean and the Underserved.
Phone: 352 549 0959
Email: [email protected]
IGM website:

Together reaching the world for Christ Globally equipping the body of Christ by connecting national pastors, church planters, and missionaries with individuals, churches, and businesses in the US and abroad. About Us Our Partners Ways to get Involved You can help empower church planters and missiona...

06/30/2026

Anthony Juma, Kenya

Hello Prayer Partners and Supporters.
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
We really thank you folks for your continued prayers, encouragement, and financial support to us as a family and to our ministry. You really are a reason we have lived to see growth in our ministry numerically and spiritually.
Our outreach ministry remains vibrant in our villages and through prison ministry. Three weeks ago, we had six folks turn their life to Christ and currently, they are undergoing discipleship in our church. Through our prison ministry, we had five folks believe in Jesus. We really thank God for these harvests and pray for His continued blessing as we reach out.
All our church ministries remain vibrant and active for the cause of Christ. Our men’s ministry, women’s ministry, youth ministry, and children’s ministry continue to be active and through these ministries, we see our church grow for the cause of Christ.
We still trust the Lord for His provision to enable us to have a church van. This will really be a handy tool in helping many church folks who walk for long distances to come to church. Kindly pray with us as we trust Him to raise $20,000 for the church van. I know it is a lot, but little by little, by faith, we can, by God’s help.
Praises:
1. The confessions of faith
2. The continued growth of our church
3. The church folks for remaining firm in outreach
4. Good report from the doctor about my progress

Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for wisdom and strength to serve Him.
2. Pray for the provision of a church van - $20,000.
3. Pray for the new church plant, Galilee Baptist, which needs property - $3,500.
4. Pray for enclosing three Sunday school classes in Macedonia’s church balcony - $2,800.

If the Lord lays it on your heart to support any need, kindly make your check payable to IGM, 990 Calkins Rd. Rochester, NY 14623

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Anthony and Sister Sheilah Juma
Macedonia Baptist Church

06/30/2026

Paul Sitati, Kenya

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Dear Prayer Partners,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord. I thank our Lord Jesus Christ Who has called us to be undershepherds of the heritage of God the Father according to His own will.
I am deeply grateful for all your prayers and financial support of Highway Baptist Ministry. The church is growing spiritually. We are equipping many for Christ through our discipleship classes.
Our weekly house-to-house evangelism mission continues. We are witnessing many confess Christ as their personal Savior through this program.
Because of this, I cease not to “…thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,” Phil. 1:3-4
Brethren, I am reaching out to you today to humbly submit a prayer request seeking your spiritual covering and financial support as we navigate the challenges before us in ministry work.
As you approach the throne of grace, please present these special needs to our God.
Ministry Needs:
1. Pray that God provides the $17,000 needed for the construction of a permanent church building. We are looking forward to undertaking it in four phases:
a. laying the foundation and building the wall - $8,000
b. roofing - $5,000
c. doors and windows - $2,000
d. plastering and painting - $2,000
2. Pray that our God provides the needed funds to build the pastor’s parsonage - $8,000.
Personal Needs:
1. Pray that God provides the school fees needed for my children - $1,000.
2. Pray that God provides a motorcycle for easy movement in ministry work.
Please pray that God will grant me the strength to endure and will provide wisdom in every step I take in the presence of His church.
Thank you for your time, your prayers, and for being a trusted family in this journey of faith.

In His Love,
Paul and Selina Mukinisu Sitati