IMB President Paul Chitwood gave a report from the IMB to more than 11,000 messengers at the 2023 SBC annual meeting in New Orleans. Chitwood asked messengers to think of IMB missionaries “as your own.” IMB Photo

Paul Chitwood speaks with newly appointed missionaries, Tyler and Rachel English. Along with their daughters, Asher (5), Graycen (3), and Wrenley (1), they will serve as missionaries in Guatemala. Tyler grew up on the mission field, and Rachel’s uncles (D.Ray and Daren Davis) serve with the IMB. IMB Photo

A fifth-generation missionary stands with her husband, sharing the testimony of how they were called to South Asia as missionaries. These missionaries’ identities are obscured because some missionaries are called to people groups that may be hostile toward the gospel. For their safety and those they serve among, they are not publicly connected with IMB. In their countries of service, they are generally known by their real names or sometimes by a nickname given to them by local friends. IMB Photo

Terry Pedigo, IMB staff and a fellow church member of Tyler and Rachel English, prays over the newly appointed missionary couple during a backstage prayer time led by IMB President Paul Chitwood after the Sending Celebration. IMB Photo

Alba Mosquera is fulfilling a call she felt from the Lord in 2008. The former teacher will be using the cross-cultural experience her job and church have given her to share the gospel with Europeans. IMB Photo

In college, Natalie Nation realized that God could use her skills and passion for swimming to impact places where few are choosing to follow Christ. She is headed to Yokohama to serve Japanese college students as a swim coach. IMB Photo

“Our hearts ache for the Japanese people, my people,” Hiromi Price said. She and her husband, Rick, are headed back to Japan, this time as missionaries, “so that Heaven will be more crowded with Japanese,” they said. IMB Photo

Saleem and Sue Ellen Bhayani are being appointed as missionaries to France. The Bhayanis are sent by Sugar Land Baptist Church in Sugar Land, Texas. IMB Photo

Tyler and Rachel English, along with their daughters, Asher (5), Graycen (3), and Wrenley (1), will serve as missionaries in Guatemala. Tyler grew up on the mission field, and Rachel’s uncles (D.Ray and Daren Davis) serve with the IMB. IMB Photo

Tyler and Rachel English, along with their daughters, Asher (5), Graycen (3), and Wrenley (1), will serve as missionaries in Guatemala. Tyler grew up on the mission field, and Rachel’s uncles (D.Ray and Daren Davis) serve with the IMB. IMB Photo