Global Missions

At Spotswood, we are passionate about shining a Gospel light locally and globally by partnering with missionaries and organizations who are making disciples. We don’t do “mission trips.” We value partnerships that last years or even decades to advance the Gospel.

Scroll down to learn more about our partners, their prayer needs, and how you could participate in the incredible work they’re doing. In the meantime, get a passport!

Mission Offerings

2026 GOAL: To keep 4 families on the mission field. That’s a total of $240,000.

Newfoundland, Canada

Spotswood Partners with Mile One Mission, a church planting network led by Steve Bray. Church planters are Matthew Lahey, Adam Diamond, John Lewis, and Kurtis Rogers.

The next trip will be July/August 2027.

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM THE LAHEY’S

800 Churches

They need 800 churches to partner with $200 per month to fully fund 17 church plants throughout their province.

Endurance

Pray that we would faithfully lean upon and trust in the Lord to provide us with the strength and endurance to continue ministering to a people that are lost, in the dark, and are hurting.

Mature Believers

Ruth and I don’t have a complete ministry team in the sense that I can have someone to lead music, or Kids Ministry, etc. In a lot of ways, it’s just Ruth and I and, although we are extremely blessed to do this, it can be taxing. Pray for the more mature believers in the faith to take up the mantle and serve in a sacrificial way.

The People

The vast majority of the 20-30 people we minister to on a Sunday (and throughout the week) are unbelievers or extremely new to the faith. Pray that the Lord would continue softening hearts to the Gospel.

Our Protection

Jesus in Matthew 16:18 said that He would build His church. He didn’t say “Matt, build your church.” One of the temptations I face every week is to build my church instead of seeking His Kingdom. I think every church planter and pastor wrestles with this. Pray that the Lord would make His voice resound so much louder than the thoughts and whispers from the evil one; pray that the tides of discouragement would give way to a constant and overwhelming flood of grace and encouragement in Christ Jesus.

Guinea, West Africa

Missionaries are Brian and Emily Shores (and family).

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM THE SHORES’

1. The Association of Baptist Students

Our team just kicked off its second year of this association of students that is aimed at discipling, strengthening and providing community for believers who are living in and going to university in Conakry. Last year there were about 5 faithful members. This week was the first week of the 2026-27 school year and praise God there were 20 students!

Pray these students continue to come in great number, that they grow in their faith and begin sharing their faith with friends and family around them.

2. Fulamadina Cell Group

Last year our team tried to start a cell group (in hopes of seeing it turn into a church plant in the future) at our learning center (which is located near the university as well). It struggled to take off and, despite faithful investment each week by our partners, only a few would regularly attend. However, those few want to continue trying and are dedicated to growing the cell group this year.

Pray that this cell group grows, that families in the surrounding neighborhood of Fulamadina would see the importance of joining in community to study the Word and that they would come as families to worship and study each week.

3. “Tous debouts pour Christ” (Standing up for Christ)

One of our church partners started a monthly discipleship group with Baptist church members in Conakry, open to believers between 20-35 years old. The goal is to disciple them, teaching them how live out their faith and share the gospel in their neighborhoods, etc.

Pray for these meetings the last Sunday evening of each month: may these young men and women be bold in their faith, boldly proclaiming the gospel where they live, go to school and work and may the Lord strengthen and protect these leaders as they sacrifice their time to pour into the younger generation.

4. Lower Guinea

We are beginning to look beyond Conakry to the people groups who still have little to no engagement with the gospel. We are in the research phase, gaining understanding of what peoples are already being engaged with the gospel and which peoples still have little to no gospel presence.

Pray that we discern and find persons of peace in each of these regions in lower Guinea and that the Lord raises up national partners who will go with us with the desire to plant churches in these regions in the future.

5. Guinea Baptist Convention

September 2025 was the kick off of the Guinean baptist convention (of which members of Spotswood were a part of) and we praise the Lord for way the churches here desire to work together to see the gospel go forth.

Pray that there is more and more unity and longterm vision as the council works together to lead in a way that not only unifies the churches but also ultimately sees missionaries sent out of the existing Baptist churches so that more and more churches are planted across Guinea and beyond.

Sapporo, Japan

Missionaries are Carlton and Cornelia Walker.

PRAYER REQUESTS FROM THE WALKER’S

Boldness

Pray that the missionaries will be bold and be faithful to share the Gospel with everyone they can possibly reach. Pray for divine opportunities that many will be saved.

London, England

Our high school ministry is sending a team to London, England to share the love of Jesus to the city as they partner with some of our IMB missionaries! They have said yes to going. Will you support them by praying and giving? Your generosity helps cover trip expenses and makes it possible for students to take part in this life-changing opportunity. Thank you for investing in the next generation and helping them make Christ known around the world!