We are Travis and Beth Burkhalter and are currently serving with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Medellin, Colombia, with our four children. Our home church is University Baptist Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas. We have served with the IMB for over 11 years. The first eight were spent in a small jungle town on the Amazon River, and the past three have been spent in the city of Medellin in the Andes Mountains.
Our focus has been on evangelism and discipleship among indigenous people groups. We are currently working with different Embera people groups. We are learning one of the Embera indigenous languages and sharing the Gospel through Bible storying. Our team has partnered with a local Baptist church to plant an indigenous church in the city. We also started The Embera Bead Project to help the indigenous families who are displaced from war and violence and living in the city as refugees. Through the sales of the artisan jewelry online we are able to provide humanitarian aid to these displaced families. From the profits of the sale of one pair of earrings we can provide food for a week for a family, while also giving work and a fair wage to hurting families.
During our weekly workshops we are sharing the Gospel with these families in their heart language through Bible storying and discipleship. The people are hearing the stories for the very first time. Recently, when we were going through the story of Moses, our language helper was desperate to know the end of the story. Did God rescue the people from the Egyptians? What a joy to share with people who have never heard the Good News!
Thank you to Southern Baptists of Arkansas for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program. We could not do what we are doing without your support. We are grateful for your support!
How can you help us?
- You can pray, shop, share, or host.
- Pray for the unreached Embera people groups.
- Shop Embera Bead Project: https://www.restaurantsonmission.org/shop/#embera-retail
- Share our project with friends.
- Host an online missions/jewelry party to help us share with ladies in the USA about what God is doing here.
2 Responses
I just left the Embera village where I met the children and bought some of their handmade items. I wish I had known all this before I went. Such kind people