VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/18/15)—Ann and Bruce Borquist, International Ministries (IM) missionaries since 1987, are beginning a new ministry as regional missionaries for Southeast Asia. After serving for the last 11 years in Brazil, focusing on local church empowerment and economic development, the Borquists will now work with IM partner organizations in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand and the Philippines. They will provide training in servant leadership, integral mission, cross-cultural mission skills and economic development.
The Borquists’ new home base is in New Zealand, where Bruce has begun a Ph.D. program at Massey University. His dissertation focuses on faith-based social entrepreneurship as a strategy for addressing social problems in Asia.
The Borquists write, “We are excited about the many opportunities we will have to work alongside our Baptist sisters and brothers in this region. Please pray for agile minds as we begin Burmese language study. We also praise God for the capable leadership of our Brazilian colleagues in the National Baptist Convention. They are building on the foundation we laid by training local church leaders and the leadership of the Baptist young adults’, women’s and men’s ministries, and by equipping Brazilian missionaries in cross-cultural ministry skills.”
Regarding Bruce and Ann’s new ministry, the Rev. Leslie Turley, IM area director for Southeast Asia and Japan, commented, “God has been at work as he has led the Borquists in ministries and experiences that have prepared them for this new and unique service. We are excited to see how the Holy Spirit will use Ann and Bruce as they respond to the call to equip our brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia to face the many challenges in their world today.”
Words of encouragement for Ann and Bruce may be sent to ann.borquist@internationalministries.org and bruce.borquist@internationalministries.org.
Learn more about the Borquist’s ministry and see photos and videos on their profile page on the IM website.
Download a bulletin insert with their ministry information, prayer requests and more.
American Baptist International Ministries is celebrating 200 years of ministry in 2014. Organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America, it began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.