They used to come to me with fear in their eyes. They called me N’kayi—the one who speaks with spirits. I held the charms, the chants, the power. Or so it seemed. Mothers brought sick children to my doorstep. Men asked me to curse their enemies. I wore fear like a crown. But no one ever asked how I slept at night.

When I first heard about the Bible studies happening in our area, I was curious. I had heard people whisper that the Makuwa—the white missionaries—were teaching about a God who forgives sins and gives eternal life. I had spent my whole life fearing spirits, offering sacrifices, and doing what our traditions demanded. But inside, I always felt empty and afraid. So one day, I decided to go.

We live in a very remote place, and for many years our lives felt marked by limitation. I, Juan Carlos, cannot walk and depend on a wheelchair. My wife Martha can walk, but because she is visually impaired, she cannot see the path ahead. Each day, we faced our challenges together: I would guide the way, and she would push my chair. It was our simple rhythm of survival.

When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he said, “I thank my God every time I remember you… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” His words reveal something more than appreciation for financial support. They express deep affection for a church that had joined him in heart and mission–a true partnership in the gospel.

I was born into a Muslim family, and as a teenager, I was required to follow all the rules of Islam. At first, I wanted to obey those rules because I wanted to be like my parents. But after years of trying to do everything that was expected of me, I realized I had no real relationship with God.

In the heart of Tabora, Tanzania, the sound of the gospel drifts softly through open windows every Sunday morning. From Radio Uhai, voices rise in worship, Scripture is read aloud, and the message of Jesus Christ is spoken with clarity and love. For many, this broadcast is more than just a radio program—it’s a lifeline. Among those forever changed by it is a man named Soki.

My story begins in one of the hardest seasons of my life. I was battling stage 4 breast cancer, and I was full of anger and bitterness. My life had been hard, and now this diagnosis felt like the final blow. I blamed God for everything–my pain, my struggles, and my cancer.

Last month, the jungles of Petén, Guatemala–once home to longtime BMA missionary Marvin Loyd–were alive again with the sound of laughter, joy, and gospel hope. Through Everlasting Smiles Shoeboxes, the ministry that began years ago in this region continues to bear fruit for the glory of God.

My name is Manar. I’m a pastry chef, a mother of three–ages 10, 11, and 12–and a widow for eight years. When my youngest was still a toddler, my husband became a believer in Christ. I, however, wanted nothing to do with it. In fact, the more he talked about his faith, the more resistant I became. I dug in my heels and eventually declared myself an atheist.

I never imagined that cleaning hotel rooms would change my life. One day, as I was tidying up a guest’s room in Boca Chica, I noticed a small paper on the nightstand titled “The Most Important Question of Your Life.” I picked it up and began to read. As I read each word, something stirred in me a sense of conviction and curiosity.

My name is Akeem Ayuba. I am 29 years old and from the Republic of Benin. For many years, I lived as a wizard, bound by the powers of darkness, until I encountered the gospel of Jesus Christ on January 2, 2021, at Word Alive Missionary Baptist Church in Ibadan, Nigeria, through Brother Joseph Eniowo. That day, my life was forever changed.

Every generation of believers must rediscover the power of the gospel. It is not simply a message to be preached but a force that transforms every part of life. When the gospel enters a heart, a home, or a community, everything changes. This new series, The Gospel Changes Everything, will highlight stories from the field and principles that remind us why we exist as BMA Global, to make disciples of all nations through the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

When Nathan Heintze first joined a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2024, he didn’t expect it to change the direction of his life. But what began as a simple step of obedience has become a calling, a way to serve God and others with both heart and hands.

2025 has been one of the busiest and most fruitful years for BMA Global’s Missionary Care ministry. We have hosted numerous activities to encourage and support our missionaries, and we have one main goal: to care for those who serve. But right now, this ministry itself needs some care.

Short-term missions (STM) have become one of the fastest-growing trends in global ministry. From their roots in the 1960s and 70s with pioneering youth movements like Operation Mobilization and Youth With A Mission, short-term trips now send millions of believers across the globe every year.