By Tami Hubler - 

“Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” John 4:35 (KJV)

I was fortunate to interview our sister in Christ, Lori Jones, prior to her return to the mission field. Below is a brief article of Lori and her husband Garry's journey back into IMB service.

Garry and Lori Jones felt the pull to serve (again) with the IMB in 2022. As former IMB missionaries, it was not unusual for the IMB to be on their minds, but this felt different. The Joneses reached out to the IMB to discuss the possibilities and began a year-long journey of prayer and discovery to discern God's will for where they would serve and in what capacity. 

During this time, the IMB launched the Alumni Advocacy role. This role was created to provide mentors to support new missionaries when they first arrive in their adopted country. The IMB and the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana also began a joint effort to identify and employ the use of those in Indiana who had previously served in the IMB. The goal? To raise missions awareness in Indiana and connect individuals to the IMB directly. God used the IMB Alumni Advocacy role as part of the Jones’ journey toward discovering God's call to return to the mission field. Garry and Lori’s role will be to mentor new missionaries during their first year on the field, as they prepare to take the Gospel to the nations throughout Latin America. 

The Joneses encourage individuals who receive the call to serve on the mission field to reach out to the IMB. There are many ways to serve: age, career, and lack of skills are not obstacles! When asked how to pray for them, Lori answered by saying, "Please pray that God will give us wisdom and attention to detail as we transition into the field and say goodbye to family and friends. Also pray that God would be glorified as we acclimate to the new culture and language." 

Looking for a way to support Garry, Lori, and missionaries serving around the world? The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is a vital part of the IMB Missionary's experience. 100% of the funds go to the field. None are spent for administrative purposes. This is one of the greatest supports of missionaries on the field, along with the Cooperative Program. Lori gratefully shared, "Thank you for your LMCO giving! Southern Baptist missionaries are fully funded. It's humbling to think that Southern Baptists would support us in this way. It's like a trust to us that we do not take lightly - that we would be entrusted with the gift of being financially supported and trusted to do this work."

To connect with Garry and Lori, use their Facebook pages and Facebook Messenger. Future plans include a newsletter and creating a prayer group to stay connected with friends in the United States. Remember to respond to any communication you may receive from them - it lets them know you care!

For more information and resources on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, contact your Indiana WMU team or go to imb.org/generosity/lottie-moon-christmas-offering/.

To invite an Indiana Alumni Advocate to speak at your next event, contact Scooter Kellum at skellum@scbi.org.