Around the World
Fighting for a Victory
By Mike Lumbard
Eunice Campos is an unlikely champion. At a time when everything seemed to be against her, God showed her how to turn a crisis into victory. Her story is about fighting for a breakthrough and becoming a champion for both God and her country.
In November of 2021 in Guadalajara, Mexico, Eunice Campos would become a Mexican boxing champion, earning the title Mexico’s National Champion First Force Elite 2021 (45 – 48 kg weight class). However, without God it never would have happened.
This 22-year-old college student, who is studying law at the University of Baja California in Mexico, was reared in a Christian home. Her family was active in church and ministry. When Eunice was young, her family would watch boxing on television, and Eunice discovered a passion for the sport. Immediately, she put on boxing gloves and began punching her brother, who quickly found himself on the receiving end of her newfound passion. Her parents saw more than just passion; they saw real potential in her.
That same year, a boxing club opened close to her home, and at age eleven, Eunice began training to become a boxer. Tijuana and the state of Baja is a major center for boxing in Mexico. In this environment, Eunice’s passion for the sport of boxing continued to grow as she put her body through the discipline of training.
At age 18, Eunice developed a serious dedication to God and desire to know God on a deeper level. She became actively involved in church and joined the worship team. Little did she know that both her faith in God and her passion for the sport of boxing would be put to the test. In 2020, God told her that He was preparing her for something. She did not realize what she would have to go through for that preparation to take place.
A loved one’s moral failure caused her family to fall apart. Eunice was devastated. She fell into a season of depression, unable to eat or leave her home. The Covid pandemic just added more pressure to her predicament, enticing her to give up on life and boxing. During these darkest of days, Eunice called out to God for strength.
She made the hard decision to put God first and to train hard, to not let the outside things distract her from her goals. She learned that even when everyone and everything seemed to be against her, God was faithful to give her the fortitude she needed. It was a daily battle. Some days Eunice’s faith wavered, and she wanted to give up on everything. Instead, she chose to continue to trust God and train hard.
At this time her family had stopped attending church because of their situation, but she met Pastor Rolando Coronado of the Parousia Open Bible Church in Tijuana, Mexico. Pastor Rolando had been selling items close to his home when Eunice “happened” to stop by. Rolando became another huge source of spiritual encouragement for the young athlete.
Eventually, Eunice’s faith in God, her discipline and hard work resulted in her winning the Mexican National championship. Her first social media post after becoming the national champion expresses her priorities:
Once again, it was the reflection of His grace in my life. I could not be more grateful at this moment to God, my family, my coach . . . and all the people who were part of all this. It is never simple, but I simply leave everything in the hands of God. I gave my part. He took care of the rest. All glory to the Father.
Grateful and blessed, National Champion First Force Elite 2021.
In 2022, Pastor Rolando invited Eunice to teach kids boxing at the church. It would become part of the church’s daily ministry for orphans and other children called Hope for Sons and Daughters. Eunice views boxing as an important part of the lives of children and young people. She feels that kids are involved too much in technology. They need to learn physical and spiritual disciplines as a means to release the daily stresses of life, and boxing can help them prepare for the future God has for them. Ten to fifteen young people participate in her boxing classes.
Personally, Eunice has found that boxing has taught her discipline and consistent training. She said, “It is demanding work every day. You learn to focus because you cannot box and think about anything else, especially your emotions. Boxing has taught me to turn to God. He is my priority. When you do not have the motivation to go on, ask God. When you cannot see your dreams coming through, turn to God.”
Eunice is currently training for the Olympic trials and to become a professional boxer. Her philosophy of life is this: God first and then boxing or whatever you are doing in your life. During your crisis, ask God for peace. Don’t let go because God won’t let go of you. When you trust God, He will always surprise you. Eunice Campos is a great coach and role model for young people.
About the Author
Mike Lumbard and his wife, Pamela, are directors of the School of Global Leadership, a missions training school in Trinidad and Tobago. They train future missionaries to have God’s heart for the world and God’s heart for the lost. Through on-the-job training and missions intensives, they show people how to live and minister cross-culturally. Mike and Pam are visionary leaders with a heart for the lost and hurting.
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.
