Around the World
Ensure a Great Harvest
By Tammy Swailes
In the following article names of countries, languages, and names have been redacted to protect the people involved.
George was born and raised in MMMM, a Muslim-majority country in South Asia. His ID card identifies him as a Christian, and he is from a country where Christ-followers are some of the most persecuted on the planet. George and his brothers in Christ know what it is to be denied medical treatment, be held hostage by rebels, have difficulty getting a lease on a house or even get their children into a school – all because they are Christian.
Along his journey George was introduced to an Open Bible missionary who told him about INSTE, a discipleship and leadership training program used throughout the world. George was interested in the program, and the missionary formed a team that included George, me, and two others. The team soon began to translate INSTE materials for use in his country. Over the past several years George and the INSTE team have developed a close relationship, partnered with a translation team on the ground, raised funds, and trained a handful of leaders from this country. Translation of the fourth INSTE book is currently being completed.
In 2019, six nationals were brought out of their country to a neutral location where our team trained them to start the first INSTE groups in their country. They told us their experiences of hardship and persecution because of their Christian faith. They shared with us testimonies of how God had spared their lives in dangerous situations and of their resolve to continue to go and evangelize despite the danger. Although they were there to be trained to lead INSTE groups, their stories taught us about bold faith and courageous Christian living.
Those six nationals went back to their homeland and immediately started INSTE groups of people eager to be discipled. We have planned another training in a neutral country for this year where our team will train one last group of leaders before the nationals begin to manage the process themselves. These leaders will provide the local team a qualified base from which to work to continue to disciple believers and train Christian leaders in a place where nearly 400 unreached people groups remain.
Instead of simply being concerned about their own country, George and his team came back to our INSTE team almost immediately and asked if we would consider translation of INSTE materials into MMMM, yet another language for another South Asian nation of people who are even more persecuted, more restricted, and in greater need of discipleship materials. We prayed and asked God to guide and help us.
About six months later, one of our team members got an email from a former INSTE leader who had traveled in some of these difficult Muslim-majority countries. He asked if INSTE had been translated specifically into the “MMMM” language — the very language George‘s team had asked for! Having seen the great need, the Holy Spirit put a desire in this INSTE leader’s heart to see the Church more fully equipped through INSTE. He backed up this desire with some seed money, and with that money we have started translation of the first book of INSTE into the MMMM language!
Our budget for translation and training is modest. Some money has already been pledged, but we still need $15,000 to cover translation costs and provide the initial training as we did for the other South Asians. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will speak to you and you will partner with us by investing in this project. If so, donate online at Global Missions or INSTE. Be sure it is tagged for “South Asia 2 INSTE.”
As with anything, we ask you to cover this project and our brothers and sisters with whom we partner in prayer. Their risk is great. Their sacrifice is great. May we help ensure that their harvest is also great.
To learn more about this project or to donate, click here.
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is the European Director for INSTE. She lives with a Ukrainian family in Ukraine but gets to work on various projects with INSTE around the world. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Intercultural Studies, Tammy loves black and white photography, languages, and meeting people from different cultures. Her life’s passion is to help the Church more effectively fulfill the Great Commission.
In parts of Nigeria today, land is no longer just a livelihood – it’s a battleground. In search of increasingly scarce water and grazing land, semi-nomadic Muslim herdsmen are moving their flocks south into areas already inhabited by Christian farmers. This encroachment has intensified conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, increased kidnappings, and deepening ethnic tensions. This is the environment in which Open Bible’s ministry continues day after day.
Despite these challenges, the Gospel is advancing.
Okon Obot, Open Bible’s Superintendent in Nigeria, shared the following story with me:
Recently we held an evangelistic crusade in one of the affected regions. Despite security concerns, people came looking for hope and peace. Evangelistic crusades remain a powerful and effective way to share the Gospel in village communities where fear and uncertainty are a part of daily life.
The theme of the crusade was “Arise and Shine,” and over 300 people gathered. By the end, sixteen people had given their lives to Jesus and fifteen were immediately baptized and welcomed into the church, each a testimony to God’s faithfulness.
A high point of the crusade was the reconciliation of a family of brothers divided for five years. Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God was shared, they chose forgiveness and were restored to one another. They returned to their homes with joy and peace.
In response to God’s work in their lives, the brothers donated a large piece of property in their village, Mbabuu, for the construction of a church building.
This is where the 2026 Global Harvest Offering, “Build Hope for Africa,” comes in. When we reach our goal of $200,000, Nigeria will be one of the recipients. Open Bible will partner directly with Pastor Okon to build a new church building in a place like the village Mbabuu.
This is more than a construction project – it is the next step of what God is doing. Despite hardship, churches in Nigeria are growing and new buildings are needed to serve expanding congregations and reach their communities.
Your gift to “Build Hope for Africa” can help provide a visible witness of Jesus in a region marked by instability and equip local leaders like pastor Okon to continue evangelizing where the need is great.
In a place where land is fought over, God continues to build His Church!
Snapshots of the vibrant ministry happening in Nigeria:
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Have you ever wondered, What in the world are our Open Bible missionaries doing now? We wish we could visit every church or sit down over coffee and share what God is doing where we serve—but that isn’t always possible.
So this month, we’ve gathered brief notes from missionaries around the world. As you’ve read these updates from around the world, we invite you to pray for our missionaries—their families, their ministries, and the communities they serve. Please also share these stories with your church so others can join in prayer.
Use the interactive map below to see the updates:
Trouble seeing the map? Click HERE
About the Author
Tammy Swailes is passionate about cross-cultural Christian education, so working with INSTE Bible College to disciple and equip leaders throughout Europe and beyond is a great fit! Tammy has lived in Europe since 1999 – first in Hungary and now Ukraine. Before that, she was in Japan, as well as Spokane, Washington. She now serves as INSTE regional director in Europe, assisting INSTE programs in five languages. Tammy has her undergraduate degrees in both Missions and Christian Education and a MA in Intercultural Studies. Photography, good coffee, multi-cultural experiences, and the family’s Yorkie are some of Tammy’s favorite things.
Ask Open Bible pastors in Africa what the biggest problem in their church is and most reply with one word: REVIVAL! Just as Saul once ravaged the early church in Acts 8, our African brothers today face similar conditions: harassment, arrest, and even death for following Christ. But in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations. They’re calling for our help, not to alleviate the suffering, but to build new church facilities to serve their expanding congregations and communities.
The Global Harvest Offering of 2026 is “Building Hope in Africa,” and it is our opportunity to participate in this revival. In this initiative, we will partner with our missionaries and national directors to fund thirteen new church building projects across the continent. God is using faithful missionaries and nationals to plant churches, raise leaders, and reach communities with the hope only found in Jesus!
… in the face of persecution, our churches are experiencing rapid growth in thirteen African nations.
Our missionary partners are many: the Godwins, the Kopps, the Parkers, Okon Obot, Peter Mahoye, the Moores, the Welches, and our brothers and sisters throughout the Antioch Network.
Thirteen churches.
Thirteen countries.
One goal:
to raise the $200,000 needed to
cover the costs for all thirteen projects.
With over 230 Open Bible churches in the United States, we can meet the financial goal of the Global Harvest Offering if each church gives $875. Alternatively, just 2,000 people giving $100 this year would meet the goal. Your support in this effort helps build more than walls; it builds hope, community and the Kingdom of God. Look for the QR code or this link to give to Building Hope in Africa today. Thank you for your partnership to build hope for Africa.
