The Fourth BBFI Missionary Regional Retreat was held at the Baobab Resort in Diani, Kenya, October 2-6, 2023, with 26 missionaries from six countries in Africa attending.  Also attending was the BBFI Mission Director, two Associate Directors and their wives.

Each day included a good mix of free time for visiting together, relaxation and recreation as well as joining together for spiritual encouragement.  During the ladies’ time together, each one was given a gift bag containing goodies from the US and were encouraged from the Word of God as delivered by Jenell Bender, Mychelle Garrison and Pam Konnerup.  Each evening, one of the directors spoke with a goal in mind to lift Jesus high and encourage those present.  Every evening the sessions ended with everyone breaking into small groups and praying together. 

Being located on the coast of the Indian Ocean, the Baobab Resort afforded great opportunities to relax by the pool, board a glass bottom boat and ride out to the sandbar for snorkeling, shell hunting, camel rides on the beach and much more.  In that the resort was “all-inclusive”, the huge buffet offered three times a day was hard to resist and delicious to enjoy.

Knowing the lives these missionary men, women and children lead and the obstacles they face daily living in a foreign culture with one purpose in mind — to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ — this Regional Retreat was planned and hosted by the BBFI Mission Office and funded from the Missionary Care Offering.  The stated goals were that each person attending would be encouraged emotionally, rested physically and strengthened spiritually.  From the words spoken to me by those in attendance, I believe the goals were met.

The desire of the BBFI Mission Office is to hold one or two Regional Retreats a year to minister directly to our missionaries where they live.

-by Associate Mission Director, Steve Bender