International Ministries has received an emergency relief grant of $8,500 from One Great Hour of Sharing to respond to the critical needs in Latin America following the deadly volcanic eruption in Guatemala and the violence in Nicaragua.

The Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer, general secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA, in consultation with leaders and global servants from International Ministries, wrote a letter to the Consulate General of Nicaragua in Washington DC to express American Baptist concern over recent events in Nicaragua.

IM Area Director Adalia Gutiérrez-Lee received the following update on the unrest in Nicaragua from Tomás Téllez R., vice rector general and Dr. Lydia R. Zamora, rector of IM’s partner university, Politechnic University of Nicaragua (UPOLI), on April 29. Spanish translation follows English.

Drs David and Laura Parajon work to make sure preventive and curative health services get to remote and vulnerable communities through the training and support of health promoters who serve where there is no doctor.

Many of you have asked about the safety of our missionaries and partners in Nicaragua. We are happy to report that they all are safe and being instruments of God’s peace in the midst of violence. The following is news that Area Director Adalia Gutiérrez-Lee received from our partners and missionaries this week.

Gustavo Parajon was one of my heroes and role models. Gustavo and his wife Joan were International Ministries missionaries in Nicaragua where Gustavo pastored the First Baptist Church of Managua and led in many medical and community ministries.