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News & Mission Stories

News / Mission Story
News Kristine Neil News Kristine Neil

ABHMS issues appeal for donations following deadly tornadoes in Central U.S.

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 05/20/2025)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has issued a call for prayers and financial support for residents of Kentucky and Missouri devastated by tornadoes May 16-17. The storms left upward of two dozen dead and many critically injured, according to local and state authorities. Kentucky was especially hard hit, with more than 19 fatalities.

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News Kristine Neil News Kristine Neil

'And how are the children?': Rev. Daryn Bunce Stylianopoulos leads a sacred reimagining of faith formation for the youngest among us

VALLEY FORGE, PA (05/13/2025)—For the Maasai people of Kenya, the subject of societal health is broached with a simple question: “And how are the children?”  Reflecting a cultural conviction that the health of a community is best measured by the well-being of its youngest members, it is the Maasai’s way of asking, “Are we well as a people?”

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Mission Story Kristine Neil Mission Story Kristine Neil

Oakland Baptist church offers lifelines of aid and community to Burmese young people

VALLEY FORGE, PA (05/12/2025)—As of April 2025, the situation in Myanmar (also known as Burma), which operates under a military regime, has become a full-blown humanitarian and political crisis. Since the military took over in a 2021 coup, the country has been in turmoil. Armed resistance has spread, and violence has escalated. Even after an earthquake struck in March 2025—and the junta promised a ceasefire—the military continued launching deadly attacks, including airstrikes and shelling that have killed civilians.

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News Peter Bickel News Peter Bickel

The Christian Citizen, ABHMS receive multiple communications awards at latest RCC annual conference

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 05/01/2025)—American  Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) and its publishing ministry The Christian Citizen were honored with a total of five DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards from the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) at its annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The awards were presented April 24 during a banquet held on the first evening of the three-day gathering.

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Mission Story Kristine Neil Mission Story Kristine Neil

ABHMS supports serving the stranger, building community in ABCMNY Haitian American churches

VALLEY FORGE, PA (04/22/2025)—Across the United States, many Haitian Baptist congregations and fellowships minister to Haitian Americans' spiritual and cultural needs. These faith communities are concentrated in states with substantial Haitian populations, such as Florida, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois.

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Mission Story Kristine Neil Mission Story Kristine Neil

More than words: ABHMS-backed ESL program equips Haitian immigrants for U.S. life

VALLEY FORGE, PA (04/22/2025)—Even though the United States did not have an official language at the federal level, that changed on March 1, 2025, when Donald Trump issued an executive order making English the official language in the country. Although the primacy of English is diminishing, it is the first language for 78 percent of Americans, and Spanish is the first language for 13 percent. For immigrants from countries like Haiti, the ability to speak English is paramount to succeeding and feeling at home. It increases employment and educational opportunities, helps with daily communication and social integration, and facilitates civic participation.

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