Hawaii's Own Natalie Nation Commissioned as Full-time IMB Missionary

Natalie Nation was Commissioned as Full-time IMB Missionary

Natalie Nation, a member of Pawa'a Community Church, was one of 79 IMB Missionaries commissioned at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting in New Orleans on June 13, 2023.

For 20 years, swimming was Natalie's identity. She came to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa on a swimming scholarship. After a career-ending back injury in December 2013, God brought several Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) students into her life who showed God's love and shared the gospel. They helped her see that God loved her in a way she had never been loved before, and she understood that she had value in God's eyes though she could no longer swim competitively.

Natalie surrendered her life to Christ in May 2014. Two weeks later, her father died suddenly while Natalie visited family in Texas. She knew she could either run to or away from Christ. In the middle of her crisis, God gave Natalie peace she could not understand, and she ran to Jesus.

After returning for the fall 2014 semester at UH Mānoa, Natalie became involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), the BCM, and Pawa'a Community Church. She was discipled by committed believers who modeled what it meant to follow Christ and what it meant to be fully surrendered to Him.

The week before she was baptized in November 2014, she realized how God had graciously and radically transformed her life, and she said to Him, "If you can transform my heart like this, I want to follow you wherever you send me." Natalie spent two years as a Journeyman with the IMB (Oct. 2020 to Dec. 2022). These two years helped her understand that God was calling her to full-time missions.

She has joined the IMB Yokohama, Japan team, where she begins her Japanese language training. Her heart is to serve Japanese college students as a swim coach.

As an IMB missionary, Natalie and her ministry are fully funded by your gifts through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

Twenty messengers from Hawaii Pacific Baptist churches gathered at a restaurant in New Orleans Tuesday night, June 13, to celebrate with Natalie and her mom, Susie.