Around the World
Rejuvenating Leaders for Today and Tomorrow
By Vince McCarty
This past June, ninety-two Open Bible people, including Open Bible missionaries, field directors, Global Missions board members, and special guests from around the world gathered in Frisco, Texas, two days before the 2023 Open Bible National Convention to take part in a special Field Directors Congress.
As a result of the COVID pandemic, many of our pastors, missionaries, and other national leaders endured some very challenging, difficult times. The Department of Global Missions’ goal was to bring these key leaders together to “Rejuvenate” them and to provide them with tools to help them not only overcome the obstacles of these challenging times but to also to thrive and grow. We wanted to provide the training and atmosphere for our leaders to rise up as if on eagles’ wings and to be rejuvenated and empowered to fulfill God’s calling on their lives and help their ministries grow.
The Bible says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).
Our special presenters included Open Bible President Randall Bach, who shared “Principles of Servant Leadership”; Pastor Terry Reilley from Creekside Open Bible Church in Martinez, California, who talked about “Building a Ministry Dream Team”; Pastor Karl Francis, pastor of Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, Florida, who shared on “Faith Works”; Aaron Keller and David Bethany of MOVE Ministries; Drs. Nick and Leona Venditti, co-founders of INSTE Global Bible College, who shared on “Finishing Well”; and finally, Pastor Monte LeLaCheur from Turning Point Open Bible Church in Spokane, Washington, who taught about “Staying Healthy in Ministry.”
It was a beautiful time of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. We could feel the unity and camaraderie among everyone. We all needed this time to share together especially after the separation anxiety created by the pandemic.
We closed our two days of meetings by asking the Global Missions Board members and Open Bible’s Executive Leadership Team to pray for our missionaries and other international guests. We praise God for the mighty outpouring of His Spirit and for the renewed vision and focus attendees experienced as they were empowered to continue the work of the Great Commission.
I praise the Lord for making our Field Directors Congress so successful. I thank my wife, Lois, who helped set up the translation schedule and assisted in so many other areas as well. We thank Pastors Pablo and Ximena Urra, pastors of Templo de la Biblia Abierta in Miami, Florida, for helping us organize the distribution of the translation equipment. I am grateful to Areli Estrada, my executive assistant, who worked so hard before, during, and after the Field Directors Congress and National Convention, and to all our volunteers.
Thank you so much to Pastor Duane and Rachel Sayre for their help during our entire time in Frisco. They eased the load in so many ways by assisting with transportation, setting up and organizing all the schedules, and so much more! We are grateful for our translators, who translated all the major events into the “heavenly” language (Spanish) 😀: Lois McCarty; Pastor Frank Contreras, pastor of Primera Iglesia de la Biblia in Rosemead, California; Areli Estrada; Pastor Edgar Figueroa, pastor of First Spanish Church of the Open Bible in Hialeah, Florida; and Pastor Gina Reyna, co-pastor of Agape Church of the Open Bible in Urbandale, Iowa.
We thank our drivers: missionary Del Brown; MOVE Director Aaron Keller; Dustin Hanson from First Church of the Open Bible in Clear Lake, Iowa; Pastor Will Hunsaker, pastor of First Church of the Open Bible in Clear Lake, Iowa; missionary Mike Lumbard; Areli Estrada; and Pastor Duane Sayre.
I greatly appreciate all our Global Missions board members who attended our Field Directors Congress and interacted with our missionaries and national field directors from around the world.
We are excited about the future of Global Missions, and I look forward to serving with you all as we see the great things God will do through us and Open Bible’s works around the world.
We thank all our pastors, churches, and other individuals who gave so sacrificially to the Global Harvest offering “Rejuvenate.” Your generosity made it possible for us to host this special event. Thank you so much!
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.
