08/23/2025
How it all began. . .
Jim & Bonnie Johnson felt led to start HeartB.E.A.T. International Missions in November of 2010, while he was still the pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Palm Harbor, Florida. What started as an effort to take missions teams to the Philippines has now grown into a clearing house to assist national pastors (in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Thailand at this writing) to reach these areas in the uttermost part of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What began with a half dozen Filipino national pastors now is an army of over 100 pastors who are also helping an additional 200 pastors to plant churches all over Asia. HeartB.E.A.T International Missions made the commitment from the very beginning of the ministry to give each missionary 100% OF ALL DONATIONS that were designated to them, and to trust God to meet the needs of facilitating these donations to the missionaries each month.
Upon retiring as a pastor after 44 years of church planting in the U.S. and the Philippines, the Johnsons moved to Elizabethton, Tennessee, to establish this ministry. As they faced the challenges of aging as well as health issues, they began to ask God to bring someone into the ministry to help the continuation of the ministry.
That prayer was answered in January 2023, when the Johnsons became acquainted with Pastor Jeff Wilson and his wife Michelle.
The Wilsons had also been visiting the Philippines for several years and were involved in medical missions and a tent revival ministry on the island of Negros Occidental. They saw hundreds of souls saved during these meetings and the Lord allowed them to be instrumental in building a small hospital and clinic to reach out to people in need, both physically and spiritually. As the Lord continued to work in their new friendship, The Wilsons came to Harvest Baptist Church, where Jeff became the pastor in January 1, 2023. He is also serving as C.E.O. of HeartB.E.A.T International Missions. Along with this answer to prayer God has raised up several folks in the Elizabethton area who are becoming "hands-on" co-laborers in the daily workings of the ministry. The ministry has only one paid employee, Becky Birkner, who manages the office and takes care of bookkeeping and facilitating the monthly donations. It's an amazing thing to watch God put all the pieces together in just the right way at just the right time. The Lord also continues to expand our Heartbeat Team, made up of over 600 donors who pray and give so these national pastors can reach their people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are interested in becoming a part of our Heartbeat Team, please contact us. What an honor it is to serve our Savior and to see hearts and lives transformed on the other side of the world! Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
