“My hope is dying. I’m giving up now.”
These words came in response to a simple question: “How can we pray for you in Jesus’ name?” It was part of our digital engagement campaign during the Olympics, and the message was a desperate cry for help.
The response came from a woman in South Africa, and across the globe, a digital responder named Mary in Indiana was ready with words of hope. But soon, Mary realized she needed someone closer to take over.
That’s when the European Olympic digital engagement team connected Sara to IMB missionaries Patti and Doug Irvin, who were serving in South Africa. Sara hadn’t eaten in days and was starving. Without hesitation, Patti and Doug bought groceries and made the hour-long trip to her home, meeting both her physical and spiritual needs.
Sara was astonished by their care. She wept when she found a fruitcake in the grocery box—something she had prayed for just to taste. After failed suicide attempts in the past, Sara was now overwhelmed with gratitude to be alive. She felt seen, heard, and loved by God.
This beautiful moment was made possible by many people playing their part around the world.
Today, Sara is a believer who spent years in hiding, but now, filled with renewed hope, she is sharing her story with other women, pointing them to the life-changing hope found in Jesus.
“There are so many more ‘Saras’ out there who need our prayers. And countless more people who may never hear the gospel unless we go to the digital mission field.”
— Brant Bauman, IMB digital engagement strategist in Europe
The story of Sara is just one example of how a simple Facebook ad during the 2024 Olympics can bring hope to someone in desperate need. Nearly 50 people made decisions to follow Jesus as a result of the gospel shared online. Hundreds more engaged in conversations or requested prayer.
One surprising detail: many of these online conversations took place between US-based volunteers and people overseas. In fact, over 120 volunteers from the US responded to messages that originated from our Olympic digital engagement efforts. This opens exciting new doors for partnership between those in the US and those of us living overseas.
We praise God for the work He accomplished through this campaign and look forward to what’s ahead!
As we move forward, we’re preparing a new digital engagement project to reach people in Lima, Peru. We ask for your prayers, specifically for God to connect us with people who have not yet believed but are open to hearing the gospel.
We’ve made significant progress so far, including:
However, the most crucial piece is still missing—our national partners.
Please pray for me and our team as we invite Peruvian brothers and sisters to join us in this effort. Personally, I’m feeling a bit unsure about my ability to communicate and lead in Spanish, which will be a stretch for me. But I know this is an opportunity to lean on God’s strength.
God has already placed a desire to help on the hearts of at least two individuals, but we continue to pray for more volunteers to join us in this mission.
It’s been an exciting time for our family!
Amy has made a new friend—another missionary mom with twin baby girls. She’s been helping with babysitting and offering support, which has led to future ministry opportunities and answered prayer.
As for me, I’ve been working on:
Amy and I also had the chance to attend a marriage retreat and reconnect with some close friends from language school. We enjoyed a short vacation together, though saying goodbye was tough.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Below you’ll find some photos from the past month. We are so grateful to walk this journey with you!
Did you know that for just $30, you can help us reach up to 18,000 individuals in Lima? Your generous contribution will fund targeted digital ads that spread the message of hope and transformation.
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