Celebrating the faithful ministry of Rev. Dr. Charles Jones (with wife Miamah Jones) — grateful for the many doors God opened through his service.

A glimpse into the ministry God has led me into through this open door in South Africa – a training session with church leaders as well as a marriage conference

A few days ago, I attended the retirement celebration of Rev. Dr. Charles Jones at International Ministries. As I listened to Charles reflect on his journey, I was reminded once again that God often guides our lives through doors we never expected to open—doors we may not even have noticed until we stepped through them.

During his remarks, Charles shared how, after completing his theological studies, he had every intention of returning to his home country of Liberia. He was ready to serve, ready to invest in his people, ready to follow the path he believed God had placed before him. But then civil war erupted. The door back home suddenly closed—painfully and decisively.

In that moment of uncertainty, God opened an unexpected door: a call to serve through International Ministries. That open door became the beginning of decades of faithful global mission work.

His story resonated deeply with my own journey.

Your support helps open doors like these for engagement with global leaders – at the Baptist World Congress in Brisbane, Australia

God opened a door for me to collaborate with North East Christian University

After completing my theological studies, I too fully expected to return home to South Africa. My heart was there. My passion was there. My calling—so I thought—was there. The president of the seminary asked what he could do to help me remain in the United States. I told him simply, “Please pray.” My family and I committed to pray as well.

For an entire month, I waited for a call from a church in South Africa. None came.

Slowly, gently, God began shifting my heart. I returned to the president and said, “It seems God is leading me to ministry here in the United States.” At the time, I did not understand the fullness of what God was doing. But today, serving with International Ministries, I can look back and see clearly that God had closed one door to open another—one that would allow me to serve globally in ways I never imagined.

This year alone, God has opened remarkable doors: doors to global partners, doors to intergenerational conversations about mission and spiritual formation, doors to engage emerging leaders in India, South Africa, and the United States, and doors that have allowed the World Class podcast to reach 28 countries and 163 cities worldwide. Each door reminds me that God is not finished writing the story of this ministry.

God continues to open doors—my World Class podcast now reaches 28 countries and 163 cities.

God opened a door in Ukhrul to work with the Wung Theological College and the Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association

As I continue in this calling, I do so with a deep sense that God Himself opened this door. Yet, to walk faithfully through it, I am currently working to make up a ministry support shortfall. This support is essential—not only for sustaining my ministry—but for ensuring that these open doors continue to bless leaders, churches, and communities around the world.

Your partnership—through prayer, support, and encouragement—helps keep these doors open. Together, we participate in God’s mission of formation, empowerment, and global engagement.

Thank you for walking with me. Thank you for believing in the vision. Thank you for partnering with me as we follow the God who closes doors out of wisdom and opens new ones out of grace.

To God be the glory—for every closed door that protected us, and for every open door that leads us forward.