Overflowing in Thanksgiving: ABWE 2021 Annual Report

I have a confession: I love statistics and data.

In fact, recently, right after getting back from an exhausting overseas trip, I logged onto my computer and spent hours poring over reports, analyzing ABWE’s missionary family, global impact, and financial stewardship. Perhaps I should have been resting, but I’m always fascinated by the way numbers can tell a story.

Of course, numbers don’t always paint the entire picture. It’s faithfulness, not just measurable fruit, that our Lord wants from us.

But the story our numbers do tell is nothing short of astonishing. And it fills me with immense gratitude.

Every salvation, baptism, church planted, or initiative undertaken is a reason to rejoice. How much more, then, should we glorify God for all he has done—hundreds and thousands of times over, all across the globe?

The Apostle Paul said this about ministry and those who financially support it:

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-12 ESV)

We must overflow in many thanksgivings.

So, I’m asking that, before you put this report down, bow your head for a moment, and thank God for a few of the things you’ve read about. He deserves all of our praise for what he’s doing in the world.

One last note: our gratitude should lead us to service. Consider these words from the father of modern missions, William Carey:

“I was once young and now I am old, but not once have I been witness to God’s failure to supply my need when first I had given for the furtherance of his work. He has never failed in his promise, so I cannot fail in my service to him.”

On behalf of ABWE’s missionary family, headquarters team, and board: may the Lord richly encourage you as you give thanks for all he has done.

Paul Davis, ABWE President

Global Impact

With eased COVID restrictions and fields opening up, we saw God produce a great harvest through our teams around the globe as they diligently worked to spread the gospel and lead others to Christ.

New Ministries Launched

Short-term trips. Long-term impact.

Launch Point reignited the short-term missions ministry of ABWE in 2021. As a ministry of ABWE, Launch Point leverages resources and ministry partnerships built over the last 94 years ministering in 84 countries to provide long-term opportunities through short-term trips.

Launch Point maximizes short-term missions trips to ensure the greatest long-term impact on ministry and participants.

Learn more at launchpointmissions.org.

Opening Closed Countries. Reaching Unreached People Groups.

We believe God is calling a generation to go to the hard-to-reach areas of the globe and reach the unreached with the gospel. Started in 2021, the Open Initiative is working to deploy new workers to closed countries and unreached, minimally-engaged peoples in each major region of ABWE ministry worldwide.

Learn more at abwe.org/open.

ABWE Missionaries