Panama in Focus: Crossings Partners with IMB for Global Impact

By Myles Parker

Since its inception in 2000, Crossings has been deeply committed to missions, taking the Gospel to those who have not heard it. This commitment is part of Crossings’ DNA, and has driven the organization to give over $2,229,036 to global missions causes. For the last three years, our missions support has focused on Eastern Kentucky, where campers have given nearly $500,000 for work in Appalachia.

The Beginning of a New Partnership

Last summer marked the beginning of an official partnership with the International Mission Board (IMB). Partnering with the IMB has been one of the most significant steps Crossings has taken regarding missions over the last decade. The IMB’s resources and experience only help propel us forward into continual mission impact.

Our partners are IMB missionaries Kenny and Cheryl Morris, whose mission is to mobilize indigenous believers of Panama into unreached areas of Panama and Colombia. Their ministry center in Jaqué, Panama, serves as a hub to reach the Emberá people group—an indigenous people group in South America. 

Challenges and Opportunities

One of the significant challenges North American missionaries face is getting into Colombia. The areas where the Emberá communities reside are closed off to people not native to Panama and Colombia. This is why it is crucial to support indigenous believers in Panama who can access these areas more easily and without as much danger. The local missionaries are familiar with the terrain, culture, and language, allowing them to navigate mission work challenges more effectively and build relationships with the local communities.

This year, our Crossings team took two trips to Jaqué, Panama, to meet and encourage the Panamanian Missionaries. We saw first-hand how God is working through people like Otoniel and Raquel, two indigenous Panamanian missionaries based in Jaque, Panama.

“For me to go to Colombia to share the Gospel among my people, which is the Emberá people, is very important,” Otoniel said. “It’s super important because the roots of the Dóbida people (a subgroup of the Emberá) are in Colombia. There are thousands and thousands of Emberá-Dóbida dying without hearing the Gospel.”

To the Ends of the Earth 

This partnership allows Crossings to leverage the extensive network and resources of the IMB, ensuring that our mission efforts are well-supported and impactful. The IMB’s experience and established presence in regions like Panama and Colombia, as well as through longstanding missionaries like Kenny and Cheryl, provide invaluable guidance and support to Crossings’ initiatives. This collaboration enhances the effectiveness of Crossings’ mission work and fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose in spreading the Gospel.

Our partnership with IMB is not just about the present but also the future. Crossings is already making plans to continue supporting the work in Panama and Colombia in the coming years. 

The Crossings and IMB partnership in Panama is a testament to our aligned goals, shared passion, and confidence in the work being done by Kenny and Cheryl. Missions have always been part of Crossings’ DNA, and this partnership is a natural extension of our commitment to taking the Gospel to those who have not heard it.

God is working in South America. We’re excited to see how God will continue to use this partnership to make a difference in Panama and beyond.