February 2012

Dear Faithful Supporter,

God has blessed Baptist International Missions with tremendous leadership during its almost 52 years of history. One of the men God has greatly used at BIMI is Dr. Ray Thompson. It has been my privilege to have Dr. Thompson serving as my Vice President since I became President in 2010. On January 1 of this year, Dr. J.B. Godfrey became the new Vice President of BIMI. I am excited about this transition—not only because I know Dr. Godfrey will do a tremendous job as our new Vice President but also because Dr. Thompson has agreed to continue serving the Lord through BIMI as our Executive Director Emeritus. I have asked Dr. Thompson to use the rest of this letter to update you concerning his ministry. Publically, I want to say Thank you to Dr. Thompson for his many years of faithful service. May the Lord richly bless you!

In Christ,
David H. Snyder
John 15:16

Dear Supporters of BIMI,

I want to thank you for your prayer and financial support given to the ministry of missions through Baptist International Missions. It has been a privilege for my wife, Jean, and me to be a part of this wonderful faith Mission for 48 years.

We went to the West Indies in 1955 as church planting missionaries, commissioned by Highland Park Baptist Church and Worldwide Faith Missions of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jean and I were both graduates of Tennessee Temple College.

In 1964 we joined Baptist International Missions. I was appointed to serve as the Caribbean Director and commissioned to help expand the work of Baptist missions throughout the West Indies. In 1977 I was asked by BIMI leadership to direct the Caribbean ministry from the BIMI World Missions Center. This gave opportunity to promote missions in churches and schools via meetings and conferences in America as well as other parts of the world.

Before relocating to Chattanooga, we served in the Virgin Islands 22 years in church planting, Bible camp ministries, radio broadcasting and training national workers. I helped establish Bluewater Bible College & Institute on the island of St. Thomas, where I served as president for 16 years. Many churches have been planted in the Caribbean by men who were trained at BBC.

I was elected Executive Director and Vice President of Baptist International Missions in 1983. As an officer of BIMI, I have been engaged in administrative responsibilities. My duties included preaching in church missions conferences in America and foreign countries, ministering in Bible colleges and seminaries, and participating in BIMI Field Conferences.

For 28 years I have been blessed to serve in this capacity under Presidents Don Sisk, James Ray and David Snyder. In June 2010 my resignation was submitted and accepted by the Trustees of BIMI to be effective at the end of the year. After much prayer and consideration, the Trustees chose Dr. J.B. Godfrey as my successor.

I am confident that the timing of these changes has been according to God’s will. Retirement from BIMI has never been my desire. I want to continue serving our missionaries and their churches in any way that is available to me. The Trustees have graciously permitted this.

Jean and I need your prayers as we continue to serve our Lord in the ministry of missions—not retiring but re-tooling. God bless you!

Yours in His Harvest,
Ray Thompson
John 3:30

Saturday, February 4, 2012

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Richard & Elizabeth Conrad -  JAPAN
David & Marilyn Cook -  USA
Douglas & Michelle Cook Jr -  MILITARY - GERMANY