God is at work in Huntington, IN, and people are starting to take notice. Twenty-two years ago, God began a new work in Huntington, IN, through Pastor Jimi Staton. He planted New Life Baptist Church, and soon God laid a bigger vision on Pastor Jimi’s heart. Over the years, his ministry has expanded to include a soup kitchen, a men’s transitional house, two women’s transitional houses, and a newly started respite house for children in foster care. He has seen God working in the lives of people from his community as they get back on their feet and receive the good news of Jesus. New Life Ministries now owns seven buildings and works with multiple community churches to impact their town with the hope of the gospel. But Jimi had a prayer that God would send him additional partners to support this ministry.

Two months ago, Sammy Simmons from Send Relief contacted the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana and shared about a new initiative through NAMB. They are looking for Affiliate Ministry Centers with which to partner. “Send Relief works alongside churches and partner organizations to build up the communities they are serving.  Through these partnerships, Send Relief can support future ministry leaders and the ministry they do so they can develop skillsets, take part in specialized trainings, and engage in unique missional opportunities that will prepare them to continue serving people in need with compassion and confidence. Their goal in identifying affiliate ministry centers is to provide a larger network of ministry centers engaging in compassion ministry for mutual support, trainings, and encouragement. They also hope affiliate ministry centers will allow them to greater inspire, resource and support churches to take their next step in compassion ministry.” Sammy was looking for a ministry that might need a partner and that was already hard at work reaching their community.

Dr. Ryan Strother, executive director of the SCBI, has a vision that our state convention is connecting for kingdom advancement. He had met with Jimi and knew all that God was doing in Huntington and so when Sammy Simmons called, Dr. Strother knew what to do. He connected Send Relief to New Life ministries and this week they have entered a new partnership together. New Life Ministries is becoming the first Send Relief Affiliate Ministry Center in Indiana! There are exciting days ahead as this partnership gets underway. This partnership will provide support and resources for New Life Ministries, and it will also provide a way for Indiana churches to get involved in compassion ministry in their home state. We have much to celebrate!

As this new partnership begins, Pastor Jimi shared several prayer requests for New Life Ministries. Here are ways we can join in prayer:

  • Pray for a staff member who can manage fundraising and financial support
  • Pray for local teachers who can volunteer to teach courses for the transitional homes
  • Pray for financial needs of the ministry to be met
  • Pray that the staff can keep their strength as they ministry to the hurting in their community
  • Pray for Indiana churches to plan mission trips to serve with New Life Ministries throughout the year