Mission History
From his first mission trip in 1995 to Honduras, Central America, his walk with the Lord Jesus was forever changed. Brother Gene Graves was instrumental in the organization and development of International Mission Builders (IMB). The Internation Missions Builder’s was formed in 2003.
In 2005, Gene felt a call on his life for full time ministry. He surrendered to that call and sold his local business. As a result, Gene was ordained by Raiford Road Church on December 3, 2006, where he faithfully served as Mission’s Pastor. Gene dedicated many of his years serving in Honduras, in 2003 Gene was elected President of the IMB where he faithfully served for many years.
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few” Matthew 9:37
During this same time, the Lord began preparing the heart of George Maddox while attending Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. George surrendered to a tugging in his heart to shift his degree towards Missions in 2004 and focused his Major there. During this time, as a prerequisite for graduation Geroge spent a semester in Peru. This is where God solidified His calling on his life to fulltime missions. After marrying his wife (Kara) in 2006, they began praying about the possibility of serving in Honduras, which led them to move to Florida to begin working with the IMB Ministry.
“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!” Psalm 96:3
In July of 2008, the IMB purchased 17 acres located in El Cerron, Honduras which would serve as a Mission compound. The property is located in a mountainous area of Honduras with a pleasant climate and lots of ministry opportunities close by. In 2009 teams constructed a dormitory to house 40 team members with a kitchen, a care takers house and a missionary house.
After an extended illness, on November 17, 2009, the Lord called his faithful servant and friend, Gene home to be with Him. He was self-taught in the Spanish language, lead the building of 65 churches, 2 children’s homes and ministered to tens of thousands of women and children while serving with the International Mission Builders. At such time, Tommy Dale Johnson became President of the IMB (2009-2018).
Upon becoming President of the IMB, Tommy Dale led many trips to Honduras, including but not limited to Veterinary Trips, Men’s Construction Trips, Youth Trips, and Ministry Trips. In 2018 a Youth Trip began construction on a church where Armando Rodriguez is from. Armando and his family currently serve as the IMB Missionary living in Honduras caring for the compound and ministering daily to the people.
In 2019, God opened the door for George Maddox to serve as IMB President after Tommy Dale Johnson resigned due to health conditions and a tug in his heart to allow George this time to minister. George had been faithfully serving as a missionary in Honduras since 2009, after six months of language school. George led several teams to Honduras where they ministered to the people on ministry trips, medical trips and construction trips. After becoming President of the IMB, George returned to the United States where he was voted Missions Pastor of Raiford Road Church.
In 2025, after George Maddox’s resignation from the IMB, Johnny Raulerson was elected to serve as the President. Johnny expressed that his heart and passion had always been for missions, and he felt strongly about the organization and it’s future. Johnny is passionate about seeing what the Lord will do in the upcoming years.