February 2026 – Executive Director Jennifer Lau gives an update on the latest news from CBM.
Hello friends. As we begin a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect with you on what God has been doing among us and to look ahead with hopeful anticipation for what is to come.
Last summer, I had the privilege of representing Canadian Baptists at a global gathering of the Baptist World Alliance in Brisbane, Australia. Being present in that space was a powerful reminder that we are part of a wider family of faith, connected across cultures and contexts as part of God’s global Church. That same sense of belonging was echoed when our team spent time with many of you here in Canada, at the assemblies and gatherings of our Canadian Baptist denominational partners across the country. Whether its globally or here at home, these moments of listening, sharing, and mutual encouragement continue to shape who we are together as Canadian Baptists, as we discern a vision for what God is calling us to be and do in this time and place.
Over this past season, there were several comings and goings among our CBM colleagues, each reflecting how God continues to shape and evolve our shared ministry. In the Fall, we welcomed Global Staff Byron Velásquez from Guatemala and Kathryn Scott returned from the Dominican Republic. They spent time with Canadian churches and helped deepen the relationships that sustain our global partnerships. Several of our Global Staff will be coming to Canada this year, so watch out for more information on who might be visiting your area.
I also want to let you know that there is also an important leadership transition happening within our Middle East and North Africa team, as our Team Leaders Elie and Mireille Haddad retire from CBM at the end of May. We give thanks for their 21 years of faithful service in that region and Elie’s 18 years as the President of Arab Baptist Theological Seminary.
One of the most joyous moments of the year has been the appointment and sending of our newest Global Staff, Jean-Marie and Hortense Atitso, from Canada to Togo in West Africa. Their calling reflects a deep commitment to walking alongside local churches and communities in the country of their origin. Please keep them in your prayers as they spend these early days nurturing relationships with their new ministry colleagues.
Alongside this, we are also grateful to welcome Nepal as a new field of engagement. This new partnership with the Nepal Baptist Church Council represents an important step forward in our global work. Though it is still taking shape, we look forward to discerning together how God may grow this relationship in the years ahead.
Over the next month, we invite you to turn your attention to food security through our Matching Grant Appeal. Across our world, hunger continues to be one of the clearest signs of its brokenness. At CBM, we believe faithfulness means responding both to immediate needs while also investing in long-term solutions that help communities flourish. Through our membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and shared ministry with many of our global church partners, we are working to extend the table by equipping families with skills and resources, so they can strengthen their livelihoods and build greater resilience. Here’s the good news: For a limited time, your gifts given for this campaign will be matched, up to 4 times, extending the impact of what you offer through the shared generosity of others.
As we begin a new year, we want to invite both churches and individuals to reflect more deeply on stewardship. That includes how we pray, how we listen, and how we give, trusting God with what has been entrusted to us and seeking to offer the use of resources both wisely and generously. One of the ways we can live into this together is through Seasons of Prayer, our year round prayer guide, which helps us to slow down, remain attentive, and listen to God’s voice as we engage in God’s global mission. We invite you to continue journeying with us through prayer, reflection, and generosity, as together we seek to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts in a world that needs to hear and experience the good news of Jesus.
Thank you for walking with CBM. Your prayers, your participation, and your faithfulness matter deeply, and we are grateful to step forward into this new year together with you.
