For decades, John and Jan Baxter have been at the forefront of a quiet but powerful shift in global missions. As John steps back from his role as Director of Diaspora Initiatives at Converge, it marks a moment to celebrate a career defined by innovation, collaboration and a deep passion for connecting with people on the move. While his formal role at Converge is ending, his influence and work are far from over.
The Baxters’ journey has always been about following a call, wherever it led. It started in college, as Jan recalls.
“We both went to the University of Florida, and that’s where we became believers through Campus Crusade for Christ,” she said. “We got married our senior year in college, and then went on staff with Cru.”
This path eventually led them to become Converge global workers, serving in the Central Philippines with a focus on leadership development. It was there that they recognized the immense potential of Christians from the Global South who were moving into new countries for work. This observation sparked a new direction for their ministry, one that would shape the landscape of modern missions.
Pioneering a New Frontier
John’s work began to center on what is now known as diaspora missiology: reaching unreached people groups as they migrate around the world. He became a key leader in helping churches and mission agencies understand and engage with these communities.
“We were helping the missions world see opportunities in global migration,” he said. “And we formed a group called the Global Diaspora Network. Our goal was to get mission training, schools and seminaries involved in teaching about diaspora and missions.”
This work was groundbreaking. John embraced the challenge of navigating uncharted territory with humility and a collaborative spirit.
“We didn’t have any experts, because none of us had ever done this before,” he said. “We just said, ‘We’ll bring people together and create our content together, since none of us know what we’re doing.’” This approach of learning together became a hallmark of his leadership, empowering others to step into this new field.
John also helps lead NextMove, a ministry that helps mission leaders address complex issues in reaching migrating peoples. This work has had a global impact, with leaders like Ashraf I., a Converge global worker helping to train pastors in Egypt, benefiting from his guidance. These relationships highlight the global trust and respect John has earned.
A Lasting Impact on Converge
Within Converge, John’s role was to equip global workers and churches to effectively minister among the least-reached, migrating people groups in North America and abroad. The primary goal was always clear: evangelism and discipleship.
Jan saw the practical results of this focus, especially during recent global disruptions.
“During Covid, a lot of missionaries were coming back to the U.S., and were asking, ‘What do we do with these people?’” she said. “Next Move was helping people plug in with whatever people group they were working with overseas here in the States, which I thought was phenomenal.”
John’s work empowered the local church to see the nations at its doorstep. His focus was always on practical application, on “assisting local churches to create ministries…that will help Christians migrating into the unreached countries.”
The Next Chapter
Retirement from Converge is not an end but a transition. John will continue his vital work through NextMove and his role as an international representative for the Lausanne Movement’s Global Diaspora Network. The passion that has driven the Baxters for years remains as strong as ever.
Jan reflects on their current mindset and views their own neighborhood with fresh eyes.
“We definitely see who’s around us,” she said. “We attend a church a couple blocks away from us, and they don’t have anything going on right now with internationals. And we’re thinking, ‘What can we do?’”
This simple question captures the spirit of John and Jan Baxter’s life and ministry. They have never been content to sit still. From their college days to the Philippines and onto the global stage, they have consistently moved toward the need. They built networks, trained leaders and inspired countless others to see the world not as static, but as a dynamic tapestry of people on the move, all in need of the gospel. Their legacy is one of motion, and it continues to move forward.