news around the world

IM serves churches, pastors, and people by helping them fulfill their role in establishing churches beyond North America so unreached peoples can know the joy of a relationship with the living God. To find out more about the ministry of IM, visit www.IMINC.org

Partnership Formed in Togo

Togo, West Africa — October 17, 2025, representatives of four partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Ivory Coast Association of Free Will Baptists, St. Nazaire FWB Church (France), Fleur de Sel (a FWB non-governmental association created in Togo), and IM, Inc. joined to establish a partnership in Togo.

The partnership is the culmination of two years of preliminary work, testing the viability of opening Togo to Free Will Baptist efforts. Though around 11% of the population professes Christ as Savior, many follow the health, wealth, and prosperity teachings. Free Will Baptists can meet the urgent need for sound theological training.

The partnership interviewed prospective leaders and selected ten local leaders with whom to work. These leaders will undergo further training under the leadership of pastor Samuel Ouattara and his wife Nina, missionaries from Ivory Coast to Togo. Those being trained will form the nucleus of the Free Will Baptist movement in Togo.

New IM Global Partner

Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico — In October, IM partnered with a Cuban couple to establish Free Will Baptist work in Merida, a metropolitan area of 1.25 million people on the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula. Yucatán, one of three states on the peninsula, is home to 2.4 million people with no Free Will Baptist church. The largest ethnic group is Mayan or Mestizos (a mixture of Mayan and Spanish). Some still practice the ancient Mayan religion. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religious influence with 78% of the population practicing. About 10% of people claim to be Evangelical Protestant.

Pastor Samuel Ramos and his wife Ana Belkis immigrated from Cuba to Mérida, Yucatán, in 2018. In recent months, the couple began holding services in their home. About 30 people gather in their backyard each week. They want to see this group become the core of a FWB church.
The partnership aims to establish a church in this strategic city to then reach other parts of the Yucatán state. Pastor Samuel has a passion for training leaders in Bible and ministry.

Change of Direction in Kenya

Antioch, Tennessee — November 7, 2025, IM announced the IM Board, upon the recommendation of the IM Leadership Team and in accordance with its authority to commission and recall missionaries, officially released Eddy and Amanda Simmons from service with IM.

Though thankful for the Simmons’ dedicated ministry and gospel witness among the Samburu people of Kenya, Africa, the IM Leadership Team, following a period of prayerful evaluation and consultation, determined service with IM no longer aligned with the spirit of unity, cooperation, and accountability essential to our shared mission.

The couple’s years of service in Kenya produced lasting results for God’s Kingdom. The Simmons moved oversight of the Samburu ministry to IM Global Partners, effective January 31, 2026.
General Director Clint Morgan urged, “Refrain from speculation or divisive discussion. Let’s continue to reflect the love, humility, and integrity of Christ. Thank you for your continued trust, prayers, and partnership in IM’s global mission of equipping the saints to reach the world.”

Snapshots Around the World

• Cuba: Sunday, October 5, ten members of the Jibacoa Free Will Baptist Church publicly declared Jesus Christ as Lord through baptism.
  

• France: September 28, the St. Nazaire church began a new member’s class with around 25 people attending the first class.
  

• Bulgaria: Trif Trifonov led E. in a prayer of repentance on September 10. A Russian from Germany, he started reading the New Testament at the drug and alcohol rehab center.
  

• Spain: The Alpedrete women's Bible study resumed in September after its summer hiatus with ten women meeting each Tuesday morning. Lea Edgmon asked, “Would you pray for this group of women each Monday night as you go to bed? Ask God to provide encouragement through His Word and that each of us will be eager to obey what we are learning and be excited to share the Word with those He places in our paths.”

• Côte d’Ivoire: On September 3, the Témoins de Christ (Witnesses of Christ) held an evangelistic campaign in Oumé, Côte d’Ivoire. Many received the gospel message.
  

• Japan: September 7, Daniel Speer joyously baptized his daughter Analeigh at New Life Church in Hokkaido, Japan. He affirmed, “She has learned much about Jesus over the years at church, and through our regular Scripture reading and discussion around the family dinner table. She said she loves Jesus and wants to follow Him all the days of her life.”

• Asia: A Hindu priest in an Asian country came to Christ and was baptized by an IM partner. As a result of his testimony, many others came to Christ. In October, 37 others were baptized and a church established in the village.