Dear friends,

The Baptist Mission Australia story is very much a shared one. Partnership is at the heart of our faith and serving story, and over the past 150 years we have seen God’s Spirit work in amazing ways through Australian Baptists sharing the transforming love and hope of Jesus by word and deed across the globe.

Baptist churches and supporters in Western Australia have played a vital role in this shared story, actively participating in God’s mission across the street and the world. At Baptist Mission Australia we are deeply grateful for all the support we continue to receive from the west – prayerful, financial and practical.

With this gratitude in mind, I write to all WA Baptist churches and supporters with this update and to invite you to consider new opportunities to partner with us.

We appreciate there are many good causes and organisations that churches can support, but the reality is, as the intercultural mission arm of our national Baptist movement, we can only do what we do with Australian Baptist churches continuing to partner with us.

As some of you may be aware, some of our WA sent team members are moving through a season of transition. Two families, the Blacks and the Beecks, are concluding with Baptist Mission Australia after long, faithful, and fruitful service. Both families have discerned it is a season to be in Australia to prioritise the wellbeing of their families. While we’re very sad to see them conclude, we support their decision and we’re providing support during this time of significant change.

Both families leave a significant Gospel legacy. We look forward to seeing how other team members and local leaders they have walked alongside will continue to shine the light of Jesus in Thailand and Mozambique.

Glenn and Liz wrote to their supporters: “We are so grateful for the support you have given us over the years. It has made this incredible journey of serving God possible, and we do not take that for granted. As we step into this new season we want to continue to encourage you to support our team and projects in Thailand.”

Cam and Kath shared with their supporters: “As we close this chapter, we simply want to say thank you. Thank you for believing in the work in Mozambique. Thank you for praying when things were hard, celebrating with us in moments of joy, and faithfully walking alongside our family over these fourteen years.”

Many of you have cheered on Liz and Glenn as they have established and grown Baan Sawang English Language Centre and this vial ministry will continue. Liz will assist in the centre’s transition period and you can still support the project on our website.

I deeply appreciate the amazing support many in Western Australian Baptist churches have provided to Kath and Cam, Liz and Glenn and their children. Their faithful ministries have been empowered by many strong supporters in Western Australia. Thank you! And please join me in praying for both families in this time of transition as they settle back into life in the west.

As we farewell the Blacks and the Beecks, we’re excited for the next season for our other WA based team members.

Scott and Bek Falconer and their children are preparing to return to Mozambique for another ministry term.

Bek and Scott authentically walk alongside local Yawo neighbours and friends through discipleship, teaching, hospitality, business coaching, life skilling, sports ministry and everyday community life. It has been a joy for me to spend time in Mozambique with the Falconers and see how they bring God’s love to life in so many ways.

You can find out more about Bek and Scott’s story here. We are looking to build their team of prayer and financial supporters so they can continue to share the good news of Jesus in Mozambique.

And we’re excited that a new WA family is preparing to join our Baptist Mission Australia team! With their son Quentin, Nick and Carrissa are looking forward to serving in Northern Thailand, responding to God’s leading to walk alongside the Thai people. They are sent by their home church, Riverton Baptist Community Church.

Nick works as a therapy assistant and has a heart for practical care and supporting people through vulnerable seasons of life. Carrissa is an artist and small business owner, using art to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Our Thai team is looking forward to Nick, Carrissa and Quentin joining them in 2027. Can I please encourage you all – as WA Baptist churches and faithful supporters – to get behind this wonderful young family.

You can watch a video, read more of Nick and Carrissa’s story and join them as prayer and financial partners here.

And as we share news of our WA based team members, I’m also pleased to let you know that much-loved team member, Sally Pim, will continue her service with Baptist Mission Australia in Kenya.

Sally will return to Perth as planned in July and she will spend 12 months completing her Master of Counselling. During this period, Sally will also be contributing to Baptist Mission Australia’s ministry in WA and beyond, and we will share more details about this in the coming months.

Following her studies, Sally has been invited to return to Rift Valley Academy to continue her important role in the counselling team. The Academy has recognised Sally’s skills and gifts in working with young people, particularly those living in the boarding community. Sally provides excellent care to the students, helping them navigate various aspects of growing up in intercultural contexts. Sally will be representing Baptist Mission Australia at the South Pacific Member Care Conference in New Zealand in July and is looking forward to connecting with her supporting churches and individuals in WA over the coming months.

As I travel to the places  where our people and partners serve, I am reminded of how desperately our world needs the love and hope of Jesus. I know you share this burden, and as Australian Baptists we are at our best united and focused on God’s mission – across the street and the world. More than ever, we need people like you investing in our life and community transforming vision.

Some of you reading this update are already faithful Baptist Mission Australia supporters. Thank you! I deeply value your partnership. If you or your church don’t currently partner with us – can I ask you to please prayerfully consider joining us today.

You can do that through partnering with Scott and Bek, Nick and Carrissa, supporting the Baan Sawang project, or investing in another Baptist Mission Australia ministry, like our new Global South Leadership Fund or First Nations Leadership Fund.

You can find out all you need to know here.

For pastors and churches wanting to know more, we would love to start a partnership conversation. Please contact our National Church Relationship Manager – Pastor Lisa Cornish: lcornish@baptistmissionaustralia.org

For individuals wanting to walk alongside our people and partners, our team is ready to assist you. Please contact our national office at info@baptistmissionaustralia.org or 1800 329165

Thanks for taking the time to read this update. We value and celebrate our relationship with the Baptist Churches of Western Australia, under Victor’s leadership, and the faithful and generous partnership of many local Baptist churches and supporters.

Responding to God’s world – as it actually is – has always been part of the Baptist Mission Australia story. We’re excited as we look to the fresh winds of the Holy Spirit and continue to step out in faith seizing new mission opportunities. We invite you to join us today so more people can experience and express the transforming love and hope of Jesus.

Thank you!

Grace and peace
Scott

PS: Increasingly we want our partnerships to be centred on mutuality. You can read more here about how our team can assist your church to more effectively participate in local and global mission