(If you are seeing this post under the NEWS/Blog Section, please click on the picture to read the full 2025 News Updates.)

2025 was a year of both profound sorrow and immense joy for BMI:

We said “goodbye,” for now,  to our beloved founder and father, Dr. David Lansen Burnham. Dave, as many affectionately called him, was a truly remarkable individual. His unwavering devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his life left an incredible mark on our hearts. The void he has created will never be fully filled, but we eagerly anticipate the day we will reunite with him. On our website’s homepage, you may have seen a short video that captures Dave’s life. We hope this nostalgic glimpse will evoke fond memories for all who knew him.

BMI also experienced a year filled with extraordinary ministry opportunities. In fact, it was one of the most encouraging ministry years in the history of our organization. We cannot comprehensively recount all the events and the ways in which the Lord has provided for us. However, we have compiled a few glimpses of what transpired below.  We are definitely “not about the numbers,” but some of our Ministry Directors and Ministry Partners have kept some track of their conferences held this year. BMI held:

• At least 50 training events on the 7 Steps of Christian Living (the mentorship course designed to become a big part of denominations’ and churches’ DNA)
• Over 20 Encountering Christ Training Events
• 10-15 Practical Material Training – such as Living with Your Emotions, Technology and the Family, and Marriage
• The BMI Core Curriculum is being incorporated into the largest Christian university in Africa, Daystar University, as part of the training that EVERY student will be taught (11,000 students)

Jonathan, himself, traveled to many countries in Africa, Indochina, South Asia, Eastern Europe, East Asia, and Central America. BMI also has the opportunity of partnering with a unique church building organization as well as churches who are joining with us to plant between 25-30 churches this year in Indochina!

Before specific updates, here is a word from David Burnham Sr. and his grandson, David Burnham Jr.:

“‘Joy to the world…; ‘To many, joy at this season of the year is a traditional carol or the
emotion that comes from the warmth of family and friends sharing expressions of love
and appreciation. These experiences do provide joy, but the discovery of lasting joy is
not found in an activity. The familiar carol continues, ‘Joy to the world, the Lord is
come.’ Joy is found in a Person – the Lord Jesus Christ. The angel announced to the
shepherds, ‘…good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, for there is born to
you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ (Luke 2:10-11).
Amazing. The story never grows old. The Father’s gift of a Savior who forgives our
sins and gives us the gift of eternal life through faith in Him, is truly the ‘joy unspeakable
and full of glory.’ (1Pet. 1:8)”

My grandfather penned those words thirty years ago. He
always claimed to be a terrible writer – I disagree – but, as in his sermons, he had a
beautiful way of adding meaning to simple words like “joy.”

I remember asking my grandfather years ago what he thought Heaven would be like. He
laughed and said that he had no idea, but one thing he knew for sure is that it would
involve relationships. And he seemed to think that the closeness of relationships on
earth would carry over somehow into eternity. It was relationships that brought my
grandfather the most joy; with friends, family, his beloved wife Sue, and with his Savior,
Jesus Christ.

Our family will have an empty seat this Christmas, and it is a big one – an impossible
one – to fill. Yet, we can find joy in knowing that my grandfather is, right now, with the
One whose birth we join together to celebrate! Psalm 16:11 says, “…in your presence
there is fullness of joy.” My grandfather is experiencing that fullness of joy right now, but
we can get a taste of it here on earth. God has given us relationships with friends,
family, and Himself as reflections of His love, and has given us His own presence, the
Holy Spirit, within us. May you and your loved ones find great joy this Christmas in
remembering the birth of our Savior who invites us into relationship with Him, dwells
with us through His Spirit, and in whose presence is fullness of joy.

In loving memory of my grandfather, Merry Christmas and Maranatha!

David Burnham

UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD:

(Want to see the pictures larger?  Click on the first picture in the group, and arrows should appear on the right, enabling you to scroll through.)

AFRICA:

DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

2025 has been another year of blessing for ministry in the immense continent of Africa. BMI has been involved in the countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Uganda, and Zambia for many years now. Our Regional Director for Africa is Dr. Lincoln Chirochierwa, who is a medical doctor by training, but also was mentored by Dr. Vitaliy Sorokun while Lincoln was a medical student in Ukraine. Dr. Lincoln and his wife, Melisa, are dedicated to biblical training and the mentorship/multiplication philosophy of BMI. Dr. Lincoln is currently working with Daystar University as they have embraced the BMI curriculum and seek to implement it into their curriculum for EVERY student! Jonathan has trained the top leaders of the university in the materials.  The university is the largest Christian college in Africa. This would mean that at least 11,000 of their students would all mandatorily be trained in the 7 Steps of Christian Living and Encountering Christ! Dr. Lincoln also trains leaders, mentors others, and in addition, he and Melisa work with SMM (Sustainable Medical Missions) to bring help and healing to impoverished areas of Africa.

In addition, our ministry partners held many conferences in their respective countries, and Jonathan held 4 training conferences in Africa in 2025; in Zambia with participants from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe; Rwanda with participants from Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda; and Kenya with the Daystar University professors, and another group from Kenya of denominational leaders.

INDOCHINA:

Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Myanmar

The BMI Regional Director for Indochina is Dr. Joshua Nguyen. Joshua and his wife, Linh, are passionate about ministering to people of all ages in all these countries called Indochina. They are in the 10th year of the Marketplace Biblical Mentoring Program (MBMP) which trains select young professionals in the 7 Steps of Christian Living, Encountering Christ, and also principles of leadership for Christ in the business world.  Joshua additionally has City Light ministry where these young professionals break out and have started over 10 small groups (meeting weekly) throughout Ho Chi Minh City and now beginning the same program of 10 more in other parts of  Vietnam. This year, he and Jonathan traveled together to Northern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam introducing and networking with more leaders in specific regions of those countries.

Jonathan also held conferences in Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand with leaders from Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

SOUTH ASIA:

Nepal, India, Nepali Diaspora

Sadly, Nepal has faced some very violent political upheaval in recent years which includes greater persecution for Christians. Because of this, we cannot continue detailed updates. Our Regional Director for Nepal, and his wife have worked with BMI for 25 years and both of them are influential Christians leaders in Nepal, India, and also areas of Nepali diaspora in other countries. They have sacrificed and dedicated their lives to serving the Nepali people in many areas: school, church, and training. They believe and teach Christ-centered theology as well as the mentorship multiplication style of ministry. Please pray for them and their country!

EASTERN EUROPE AND THE SLAVIC COUNTRIES:

Central Asia Countries, Republic of Georgia, Russia, Ukraine

Most of you know that BMI has continued to have a large ministry footprint in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. However, because of the war, there have been adjustments, although ministry continues in those countries through the Ministry Partners who live there. Dr. Vitaliy Sorokun has been with BMI for over 25 years and is now continuing his role as Regional Director for Eastern Europe and the Slavic Countries as well as assuming the role as the Director of Mentorship Multiplication for every area where BMI reaches. He bases now in Poland, which serves as an easy travel hub for him to travel to many areas in the region and beyond.

In November, Jonathan traveled to Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia to train a group of pastors and leaders from Belarus, Central Asia, and Russia. Because we cannot hold conferences in Ukraine, Tbilisi has become a good city to replace this.

Russia:

BMI Regional Director for Russia, Sergey Naboychenco, is a very active and influential leader all over Russia. He and his wife, Diana, work together in various areas of ministry and are focusing on the BMI model of Mentorship/Multiplication.  Sergey is a very active member of the Baptist Union, a very large denomination in Russia, and he is progressing in the propagation of mentorship movements all over this large and vast country.  Diana, is also a leader in mentoring and directing Christian women!

Ukraine:

BMI Women’s Director for Ukraine, Nadia Morokhovets, continues to reach out to the beloved people of Ukraine, even amongst the horrible tragedies and pains of war. She has conducted women’s conferences this year along with encouraging women in the area of mentorship. She also serves on the European Baptist Women’s Union. We are thankful for Nadia and her husband, Vitaliy, who is a seminary leader and pastor of their church in Kharkiv, Ukraine (which is very near the border with Russia). Please pray for them and the people of Ukraine and Russia!

Republic of Georgia:

CENTRAL AMERICA:

Panama:

Two events were held in Panama City, Panama. In April, Faith Burnham taught the BMI curriculum, Technology and the Family, for a group of leaders, encouraging them to train others in the safe use of technology, especially in the use with children and families. In August, Jonathan returned to Panama to train on the 7 Steps of Christian Living. We are thankful for these warm and influential leaders for Christ in Central America!